Nicholas Allen | August 4, 2020
We continue to explore new ways to teach our English learners. Through virtual field trips around the world, exploring global issues and topics and increasing our own global awareness, we will use this time to strengthen our ESL program by integrating global content into our lessons and expanding our worldview.
In the spotlight during August is Kim Meza, the ESL/Migrant Director for Vance County Schools since 1999. Most of Vance County Schools’ 430 English learners speak Spanish as their first language, but students who speak Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog/Filipino, Japanese, Urdu, Portuguese, French, Tarasco, Swahili and Thai bring the county’s impressive diversity into perspective. Serving Pre-K through 12th grade, Vance County Schools’ ESL team comprises educators from Columbia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Venezuela, and the U.S.
The ESL team holds two summer programs for English learners each year, ESL Summer Adventures and Mi Centro. The latter is designed for 3- and 4-year old students preparing to enter Pre-K in the fall; the former focuses on first- and second-year English learners and Migrant students grades K-12, enhancing their skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing English.
Mi Centro was preparing to celebrate its 20th anniversary in June, but had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. Thankfully, Meza and her team were able to pivot ESL Summer Adventures into a virtual program, expanding its length from two weeks into four. Meza noted the high engagement of her students. “It was amazing to see students logging into their Zoom class every morning at 9:00 a.m. and not wanting to log off at 12:00 p.m. when the class ended. This program ended on July 17 and I still see students logging into the Google classroom posting messages and assignments.”
A longtime UNC World View participant, she has been attending Fall Symposia and Spring Seminars since Robert Phay’s tenure as director. Meza noted that attending seminars and symposia is one of the highlights of the year. “We, meaning myself and my ESL and World Language staff, enjoy meeting new people in the field and making connections that will strengthen our ESL and World Language Programs,” expounded Meza. The benefits drawn from UNC World View programs are not limited to networking for her and her team, however. “I left each session that I attended with so many ideas and strategies on how to integrate global content across the curriculum.”
Meza’s team has been challenged by the pandemic adding another communication barrier to an already fraught field, but as a program built upon the idea of overcoming communication barriers, Meza and her team remain undaunted. “We continue to explore new ways to teach our English learners. Through virtual field trips around the world, exploring global issues and topics and increasing our own global awareness, we will use this time to strengthen our ESL program by integrating global content into our lessons and expanding our worldview.”
A special thank you to Kim Meza, her team, and ESL educators across the state for their perseverance and dedication to global education and global students.