Eagan High Seeks English Tutors for Immigrant Students

Imagine being a teenager, walking into a new high school with more than 2,000 other teens swarming the halls, not knowing a single one. The moment can be frightening. Now, pretend you don't speak English very well. How easy would it be to get through the day and make new friends, let alone fit in?

Steven Lonning, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Eagan High School, saw firsthand the difficulties immigrant students face in a new school and wanted to do something about it.

Lonning offers a "Peer Tutoring" program for English-speaking students to tutor their peers with lesser skills in the English language.

Called English Learners, the class this trimester features 32 students–tutors and those learning English. During sessions, the room is filled with students from eight different countries including China, Mexico, Vietnam, Colombia, Eritrea, Somalia, Cambodia and the United States. Right now around 30 of the 2,200 students at Eagan High School are immigrants.

"We have a significant amount of (foreign) students at Eagan High School, enough where we needed a full-time teacher. This class is so important for students, especially for their future," said Principal Paulette Reikowski. 

The tutors, all native English speakers, are mainly juniors and seniors who earn credit toward graduation based on their attendance, written communications and are willing to offer support to immigrants struggling with English. Some of the best tutors are not necessarily the top students in English class, Lonning said.

"I've learned that simply caring about and helping another student makes a successful tutor. I don't look at GPA at all," he said.

The tutors and their students meet every day for 50-minute sessions to practice English. They end each class by writing in journals. The tutors write about the tasks they focused on that hour. Their students write what they learned and did that day.

"Sometimes the (immigrants) don't always know the right questions to ask in a classroom setting, making learning difficult," Lonning said.

For some, studying is unfamiliar and learning how to ask the appropriate questions helps their comprehension of the subject. The new relationship between tutor and student provides both with teamwork skills and the foundation to  trust one another. They view each other as people and friends, a huge step for the students who have already gone through plenty of adjustments and changes just to enroll at Eagan High.

"This class is essential. When the students arrive to our school, they have a lot of catching up to do," Reikowski said.

Knowing these students have a place they can interact and work with their peers brings Lonning joy.

"To hear these immigrants weren't able to make friends anywhere else, but once they got involved in English Learners, they (were able to discover that) American classmates are nice people and developed friendships (is amazing)," Lonning said. "And in turn, the Americans become somewhat ambassadors and will debunk myths that all immigrants are all the same."

Through the English Learners program, students also participate in activities beyond textbook learning and teaching.

"We've carved pumpkins, sung Christmas carols, made valentines, and gone cross-country skiing. As you might expect, it's a popular part of the class," Lonning said.

The immigrant students also take turns teaching their cultures to the American students. They bring in ethnic food and teach the class their native languages. The experience is great because the tutors cultivate an interest and passion for teaching and a few have continued pursuing degrees in education. A few immigrant students feel confident enough to become English Learner tutors themselves.

Thanks to donations from the local chapter of Rotary International, Lonning hangs flags from the countries his students immigrated from. Currently, there are 14 flags hanging from the wall.

"I let them know they get their country's flag on my wall once they graduate. It's a feeling of great success when the tutees walk in and admire their flag hanging from the wall," Lonning said.

However, the greatest problem Lonning faces is getting the word out about the class. He wishes more students knew about it. There is a registration guide listing the class and he sends out letters to students and talks to all the foreign language classes. But he's always searching for more ways to get students interested.

Interested in learning more about the winter or spring English Learner class? Contact Lonning at steven.lonning@district196.0rg. Or register during Eagan High School's schedule review Nov. 8-12.