Who are our newcomers?
The first day in a new school can be an overwhelming experience for any child. For a newcomer—an English learner recently arrived from another country—it can be even more of an adjustment. Besides learning to navigate a new school and making new friends, a newcomer may also come with limited knowledge of the English language and a different cultural background and understanding. Teachers can prepare in advance to help make this transition easier for the student.
It is important to make your new student feel welcome. The prior experience of a newcomer will vary greatly depending on the student’s country of origin. The student may have attended school and even been learning English as a foreign language. On the other hand, the student may never have attended school—making your classroom not only your student’s first formal experience in the United States, but also with education.
It is important to make your new student feel welcome. The prior experience of a newcomer will vary greatly depending on the student’s country of origin. The student may have attended school and even been learning English as a foreign language. On the other hand, the student may never have attended school—making your classroom not only your student’s first formal experience in the United States, but also with education.