High school is difficult enough without language barriers. McNeil has the most non-English speakers in Round Rock ISD and there are many ways staff are helping non-English speaking students, but there is still room for improvement.
“I think that it significantly affects students, it’s got to be so hard to come into a class and not really understand exactly what’s going on or what’s being said or even sometimes not being able to read everything,” business management teacher and DECA sponsor Ryan Norwood said. “I’m sure there is a sense of isolation and frustration that comes from that.”
Teachers use all types of technology, such as Google Translate, to help non-English speakers understand the lesson and assignment. However, the technology is not enough to give non-English speaking students the experience they deserve.
“Well luckily in the big class that I have with kids that don’t speak English well, I have a kid that writes the Spanish notes on the board, so that helps,” math teacher and assistant football coach Justin Lookingbill said. ”I can also learn Spanish at the same time so hopefully at some point we can at least get through a math class without having to pause.”
Teachers try to pair non-English speakers with students who know their language. In this manner, the non-English speakers not only get help with instructions and have the opportunity to make new friends and connections.
“I think that the biggest thing is trying to form connections with the students even if they speak a different language,” Norwood said. “That doesn’t stop you from being able to use translation tools to ask questions and get to know them and what they like to do for fun or what their hobbies are in that form to make a connection.”
Ideally, there would be multiple bilingual teachers per class focused on helping the students, or at least bilingual books and assignments. Even a virtual version of this would help.
“You can tell when they get together they can get enough bits and pieces and put it all together, which is still not super fair but it’s the best that I can do,“ coach Lookingbill said. “I can only do so much with what I know how to do.”
