English as a second language students are mostly comprised of international students who have chosen to live and learn abroad in the United States, away from their family and the familiarity of their homes.
Assimilating into a new culture and learning a different language can be intimidating for these students. Not fitting in nor adapting to the unfamiliar, or feeling discomforting shock, can impede learning.
Kathy Flores, an ESL instructor at De Anza College, understands their frustrations and tries to guide and nurture students in the right direction for a brighter future towards learning English and succeeding.
As an ESL instructor and published author, Flores uses the book she wrote in 2008 titled, “What Every ESL Student Should Know” in her classes. It outlines and advises students on how to improve their vocabulary, read without a dictionary, and deal with classroom diversity and different learning environments.
Her next book is still in the works. It is a fictional story based on her own life growing up and being raised between two cultures: her Latino father and Caucasian mother.
The book was written during her three month sabbatical in Chile, South America late last year, made possible by a Fulbright Scholar Grant, a U.S. and Chile government sponsored program. The U.S. fosters a cultural understanding between countries by offering these grants and opportunities for scholars to teach abroad in different countries.
Flores chose to teach in Chile to improve her Spanish and learn more about the culture, while teaching methodology to university students at La Serena University and conducting presentations on vocabulary, classroom management, and brain-based teaching and learning for fellow educators.
Her sabbatical in Chile was only the second installment of her three part sabbatical. Her first was five months in Argentina. She plans on spending her third taking online classes during the fall quarter.
Upon her return winter quarter, the De Anza ESL program will possibly face a 20 percent cut in classes across the board. Fewer ESL classes hurt not only the students, but part-time instructors as well.
“The sad thing is our classes usually have waiting lists, and how upset will our students be if they can’t even get in,” said Flores.
Having taught ESL for 15 years, she continues to leave her legacy at De Anza with her unconventional teaching methods and the absolute love and care she puts forth into each of her classes and students.
“I love teaching ESL, my students are so dedicated and determined to learn, and I get to learn about many different cultures and countries from them in the process. They inspire me and make me feel better. I don’t say that I’m going to work, I say I’m going to school,” said Flores.
