Our digital story By: Tiara Vega, Yesenia Menjivar

The Story Behind Our Topic Just as many other Latinos that come to the U.S without any knowledge of the English language, I (Yesenia) was one of them. At first I felt so lost and didn't know anything on what was going on in my class, especially in one specific class where according to my teacher the material had to be thought in English, which I found very intriguing because the teacher was from Guatemala and she did know Spanish very well. That quarter of the year was frustrating because I didn't’t know English and we had to take exams which I would fail. However things changed and I was put into ESL classes which where very helpful and now somehow I know English even though sometimes it is a very broken English. Just as many other Latinos that come to the U.S without any knowledge of the English language, I (Yesenia) was one of them. At first I felt so lost and didn't know anything on what was going on in my class, especially in one specific class where according to my teacher the material had to be thought in English, which I found very intriguing because the teacher was from Guatemala and she did know Spanish very well. That quarter of the year was frustrating because I didn't’t know English and we had to take exams which I would fail. However things changed and I was put into ESL classes which where very helpful and now somehow I know English even though sometimes it is a very broken English.

The Story Behind Our Topic On the other hand I (Tiara) did not have to go through ESL. Both my parents were first generation Newyoricans(term for New Yorkers who are of Puerto Rican decent) who grew up knowing the English language. My experience form my partner was very different. English is my first language so I was able to pass my class. However I did have several friends who did take ESL to learn the English language. I always wondered how ESL worked and how children were able to learn English. On the other hand I (Tiara) did not have to go through ESL. Both my parents were first generation Newyoricans(term for New Yorkers who are of Puerto Rican decent) who grew up knowing the English language. My experience form my partner was very different. English is my first language so I was able to pass my class. However I did have several friends who did take ESL to learn the English language. I always wondered how ESL worked and how children were able to learn English.

Our Concept The concept for our video is to show how Latino children were put in regular class without any form of transition to learn the English language and failed the classes they were in. The second half of the video is showing how ESL helped Latino children learn the English language.

Our video