July 2, 2024
Challenges Faced by English as a New Language (ENL) Students in New York City
By John Myers
By Natalia Oseida
The Urban Assembly Academy of Government and Law (AGL) has seen a rise in immigrant students over the last few years which has been most noticeable during the 2023-2024 school year. The changes have been drastic for the city, educators, and students. Changes to the school system have been made to accommodate English as a New Language (ENL) students.
In 2016 Mayor Bill de Blasio launched 88 bilingual programs which increased the number of ENL teachers added into the public-school systems. There needs to be at least one ENL teacher per school. Not only have the number of these teachers grown but the curriculum has also changed. According to Jesse Rhinehart, an ENL teacher at AGL, this year has been the first year where they have started going over the foundations of the language, using the alphabet as an example. “We’re starting from the ground up,” he states. The newest students need to have 360 minutes of ENL class per week, which involves one-on-one with teachers like Rhienhart, in addition to help during their regular classes which are taught in English. ENL students are integrated in regular classes to not make them feel so isolated. Rhinehart also helps them integrate by urging them to be part of the school community, such as joining school sports.
Navigating homesickness, unfamiliarity, and feelings of solitude are three main issues that are present in many ENL students regardless of their age or time spent in the country after they immigrated. Maksim Gavrish a 17-year-old high school student immigrated about 5 months ago from Russia and has been in the public school system for about 4 months. Thanks to Rhienhart’s advice, Gavrish is on the basketball team, which has helped him get to know the students and start to create bonds. One of the key differences he has noticed between public schools in NYC and Russia is that the teachers in Russia are very strict and their attitudes towards students are not very kind and encouraging. On top of that the school day is much longer, 13 periods in the day instead of the 8 he now has. The workload is also much more intense. Even though there is a language barrier here he feels that the material is easier to understand and translating his responses is what takes up most of his class time.
Some general education teachers also try their best to make the new students feel seen and heard. Nicolas Viscomi, chair of the social studies department, states, “I have really tried to help these students by being as welcoming as possible and working with them the first few days they arrive in class especially to make sure they feel seen and welcome to the community. I have done this by using Google Translate or asking another student who speaks the home language to stress that we are all here to help and that they should not hesitate to ask questions.” He also says, “Our school is at its best when welcoming in new students, I have seen freshmen step up and really welcome and help the new students.”
