Profile on Tillie Uribe
“I think it’s important to recognize that your MLL kids might be slower to acquire some academic skills because they’re code switching, but you should have the same expectations for them.”
Not a minute had passed before Tillie Uribe, a determined and passionate kindergarten teacher, entered my private zoom room. Short, blonde, excited, and more than willing to share her experience as a teacher working with MLL students.
“They’re called MLL students now.” was one of the first things Uribe informed me of. “We changed it about a year ago from ESL to MLL to be more inclusive.” MLL stands for multiple language learner. It was changed to be inclusive for all students learning another language at school, not just students learning English.
After that brief moment of education on the new, proper name for students learning another language, we properly started the interview. Uribe started by telling me about her daily routine. Right now--because of the pandemic--she is teaching expanded model.
“I’m teaching on zoom and in person at the same time.” Uribe explained. She has to go to the school and teach the kids who come to school in person, but some kids cannot come back to school yet, and she has to teach them through zoom as well. She has a computer set up facing her smartboard so that her students on zoom can see what she’s writing.
Expanded model teaching is not the only difficulty teaching during the pandemic Uribe has faced. Educating five-year olds through zoom is a difficult feat.
“It’s hard to teach five year-olds because they have never been to school. You have to teach pencil grip and letter formation and it’s hard to do that when they’re not in front of you. You can’t even improve their form.” Uribe grieved. “You can’t teach them to focus.”
We discussed the difficult trials everyone has had to overcome during the pandemic a bit more before moving back to the subject at hand: MLL students.
“About 95% of my class is MLL.” Uribe told me. She went on to share all the different languages her students speak: Korean, Limai, Korendi, Samali, Spanish, a form of Swahili, Tongan, and Samoan. Somehow even more intrigued, I began asking her about the difficulties teaching MLL students.
Uribe first told me about working with MLL parents. The involvement of MLL parents is about the same as the involvement of the English-speaking parents. Some parents are very involved, and others are hard to reach.
She then started talking about the actual MLL students themselves and what it is like teaching them.
“Language acquisition usually takes three to five years, but it really depends on the environment and the kiddo.” was one of the first things Uribe said about MLL students. It is extremely important to take your time with MLL students and to let them take their time. “Some kids go through a silent period, and then they just take off.” Uribe tells me. As a MLL teacher, you need to watch your students' progress and have patience. You never know when the language will just click.
Uribe also gave me her opinion on separate MLL classrooms and immersion.
“Your newcomers who have never experienced English do need some time in a smaller setting by themselves or functional acquisition.” Uribe continues, “But kids are much better off in a full classroom and practicing with peers.”
Nearing the end of our interview, Uribe informs me of some ways parents and the community can help MLL kids.
Uribe suggests that parents encourage their children to speak as much English at home as possible.
“All parents want what’s best for their kid. Some parents want their kids to speak their native language at home, which is great, but then they’re not getting to practice English.”
Uribe also encourages others to help by talking to MLL students in English, but refraining from using slang or idioms. It is best to be as clear as possible to help MLL kids learn English quickly and effectively.
“I think it’s important to recognize that your MLL kids might be slower to acquire some academic skills because they’re code switching, but you should have the same expectations for them.” Uribe tells me at the end of our interview.
MLL students do not need special treatment. They are just as smart and capable as any other student, and it is important to remember that, whether you are an educator, a classmate, a parent, or a member of the community.
