Задание №23107 ЕГЭ по Английскому языку

A great ESL teacher

Being a student of ESL - English as a second language - can be an arduous ordeal. Many of us who have experienced being ESL students understand the embarrassment of being taken out of class in front of everyone to learn how to master verbs and reshape our tongues to speak differently from what our parents taught us. What we truly need is an exceptional educator who allows us to make mistakes.

"Any student, especially one who is learning English as their new language, requires great courage to say, 'I don't know, but I want to learn,'" explains Whaley.

Whaley, impeccably dressed with a distinct Long Island accent that elongates vowels, doesn't appear to be someone who dabbles with markers. Before becoming a second-grade teacher, he worked at a public relations firm in New York City. He started contemplating a career change during his daily commutes on the Long Island Rail Road. "I would converse with people on the train at 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on my way home," he reminisces. "They were individuals who had completely disconnected from the younger generation. They were solely focused on adults and the rat race. And I realized that this was not the path for me." That was 16 years ago, and he has been teaching ever since. In addition, Whaley has managed to find time to write a novel titled "Leaving Montana" and is starting to work on children's books. Last year, he received the prestigious New York State Teacher of the Year award.

This second-grade presidential campaign exemplifies why Whaley is such an exceptional educator. He tells me that he got the idea when he asked the children one day to raise their hands if they believed they could never become the President of the United States. Their response broke his heart. "Almost every single English-language learner in the classroom believed they couldn't," recalls Whaley. The presidential speech project aims to teach the students more than just reading and speaking in public. Whaley wants these kids to learn how to celebrate their own accomplishments. "It's challenging for a child who initially lacked any confidence to stand up and read three or four words," says Whaley.

Juggling the needs of native English speakers with those of ESL students is no easy task. It requires numerous late afternoons and early mornings. On a Tuesday morning, I drive through Long Island before the traffic builds up. The school is quiet, except for Whaley's class. Many parents have dropped their kids off early, and Whaley is already there with them.

"A towering statue, known as the Statue of Liberty, stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor," he reads, his voice resonating through the empty hallway. Today, his students are learning about a history they are now a part of. "And last but not least, 'immigrants,'" says Whaley. "Now, this is an immensely important word as we have been exploring our ancestors."

Whaley himself is the grandchild of Italian immigrants who settled in Long Island. He often wishes they had taught him to speak Italian, so he could be bilingual like many of his students.

"Did all of our ancestors always reside in the United States of America?" he asks.

A resounding "No" echoes through the room.

"My mom and dad were born in Ecuador," a girl chimes in.

"There you go," says Whaley. "So many of your ancestors are from Ecuador. They all share this common label: immigrant. Immigrants. Someone who comes from a different country to a new country..."

"To have a better life," the little girl interrupts.

"To have a better life," Whaley smiles. "You are absolutely right."