ESOL Peer Tutoring Club by Christina Mirda

English may be second nature for some, but for people who have moved here from foreign countries, English is a hard obstacle to overcome.

English as a Second Language Peer Tutoring Club has been a club for four years. The goal of this club is to give students who speak English as a second language a chance to get help in their academic lives. The club occurs every Charger Time in Mod-21 with ESOL teacher Naseema Sait as the club sponsor.

“The main focus is English, but we help with all subjects as well,” Sait said. “The whole idea is to help.”

Sait was inspired by the students who are in need of more help with school and wanted to create a club to help them accomplish their goals.

“I felt there was a need for the teaching of the English language,” Sait said. “It’s just not enough to do it in class.”

The ESOL Peer Tutoring Club has a give-and-take aspect to it. The students are also tutors and the tutors are also students.

“Since I am taking Spanish 1 class this year, I can get help for Spanish class as I help the Spanish ESOL students with English,” junior Ryan Kim said. “And also, I can experience other cultures and interact with them.”

Students have found the ESOL Peer Tutoring Club to be very beneficial with improving their English speaking skills and their grades. 

“The club helps so much with academics,” senior Nelson Barahona said. “They help me for my future.”

Barahona’s first language is Spanish and the ESOL Peer Tutoring Club helps because by learning English, employment will be easier for him.    

ESOL tutors use various methods to help their fellow ESOL students learning the English language.

“If I am helping a student learn the English language I do scenario and word flashcards,” senior Wendy Sura said.

Tutors also use multiple techniques when helping the students learn to read English.

“If I am helping someone with reading, I help to translate,” junior Niltron Carranza said. “I explain to them what a word means if they don’t know it.”

Students can volunteer to be a tutor in the ESOL Peer Tutoring Club.

“This club is also a great opportunity for students who need to get community hours to get them,” Sait said.

The ESOL Peer Tutoring Club is diverse, a community of people.

“Sometimes I will have 13 students come in here and all 13 of them will have a different nationality,” Sait said. “It is amazing.”

clubs, ESOL, ESOL Peer Tutoring Club Academics, Issue 3, Online