AfterSchool Programs ASP Meeting ESL Students Needs Zoriana

After-School Programs (ASP): Meeting ESL Students’ Needs Zoriana Selepina Georgetown 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, followup 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 staffstudent 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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