By Miriam McPhail

Staff Writer

   For students arriving at R.J. Reynolds High School from around the world, language serves as both a challenge and a tool. The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program gives non-native speakers the opportunity they need to build skills in English.

   “Everything we learn is through [the English language], it’s like the road that we follow,” ESL and Latin teacher Michael Thaxton said. “You just have to imagine yourself going to France and not knowing any French. When you’re expected to take a science or an art class, it would be very difficult.” 

   The first day at a new school can be daunting, especially in a new country with a new language. For many students, however, the ESL program makes that adjustment easier.

   “At the start, I was really, really nervous,” Angel Urvaez, a junior originally from the Dominican Republic, said. “I didn’t know where to go, and I was scared that maybe I wouldn’t make that many friends. But in the past few years, I have met a lot of people in ESL. I really think I belong here.” 

   Despite language barriers, the ESL Program is a tightly-woven, supportive community where students’ shared experiences bring them together.

   “Students understand each other even if they are not speaking the same language,” sophomore Rasha Basem Al Rushidat Abazed said. “We don’t feel shy making mistakes, because we are still learning English.” 

   Inspired to share this sense of belonging with the rest of RJR, Abazed founded the Global Connections club as a space where people from different backgrounds could connect. Members of the club get to learn about new foods, languages, and traditions from around the world. 

   “I hope the club will build understanding, reduce stereotypes, and create friendships across cultures,” Abazed said. 

   Emerson Crichton, a first-year high school English teacher, has taken on a new challenge by teaching an English immersion class. This kind of sheltered course makes academic content accessible to students who are not native speakers by “scaffolding” the language used in lessons.

   “I speak zero Spanish, so I was worried that this would hinder my ability to communicate with students,” Crichton said. “However, we have all worked super hard as a classroom to find a tactic that works best for us.” 

   The ESL program helps students not only academically, but also in their personal lives by empowering them to get involved in the social and extracurricular aspects of school. Speaking English allows them to share their voices. 

   “I have seen so much improvement in the students’ confidence and willingness to smile,” Crichton said.

   The language skills that students learn allow them to pursue their future ambitions, opening doors to higher education and successful careers. 

   “My advice is to never, never give up,” Abazed said. “It’s not just about English, it’s about building a future.”