A growing interest Why ESL students fail in schools Why research ESL students? Churches make a difference Negative effects (academic focus,

After-School Programs (ASP): Meeting ESL

Students’ Needs

Zoriana SelepinaGeorgetown College

“After-school program?”

Literature Review

A growing interest Why ESL students fail in schools Why research ESL students? Churches make a difference Negative effects (academic focus,

training/self-confidence, motivation)

Successfully meeting ESL needs

Effective ASPs

Warm and family-like atmosphere Involve students’ families Bridge communication gap

between schools and parents Meets students’ academic needs Academically and culturally

knowledgeable staff

Research Question

What characteristics are portrayed and strategies implemented in a church-based after-school program to meet the needs of the attending ESL students?

Methodology Case study 3 methods of data collection:

interviews, observations, and collection/study of documents (triangulation)

Data analyzed using the constant comparative method

Connections to literature, limitations, questions, findings and implications

Findings

History and overview Attendance and volunteers Funding Diversity Program description and routine ESL outreach (knowledge about personal

life, family involvement, cultural aspects, desire to attend, atmosphere, motivation, communication)

Limitations

Short amount of time for data collection (4 days, interviews, follow-up questions)

End-of-school-year activities Amount of parents who

participated More interviews of staff members

Questions

What are the specific needs of the attending ESL students, and how are schools/the ASP meeting or not meeting those needs?

Do parents want to be directly involved in school or the ASP?

Are there no noticeable academic benefits to the ESL students from attending the ASP?

Conclusion

Shows warm, comfortable, and supportive staff-student relationships

Situated in community, allowing for closer relationships and easier access to attend

Life values taught and sense of belonging created

Intimate, family-life quality Efforts made to engage and motivate students

to attend and work hard Tutors professionally trained in their work and

know how to confidently work with students

Implications

More knowledgeable about the ESL students’ personal lives and learn about their hardships and pressures in school

Students’ families included more to reinforce cultural ties

Literacy-rich activities that promote and enhance success in school

Systematic approach to promote students’ attendance and work ethic

Increase in communication with students’ mainstream teachers

Communication

COLLABORATION is KEY Program and staff members work

together to learn about ESL students’ lives outside schools

Use knowledge to create culturally relevant learning environments

Ensure optimal language and literacy support through communication

ASP staff meetings

Final Thought

Regardless of program, there are still some sort of benefits

Individual no set formula that can be completed to meet everyone’s needs

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