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Department ofSociology

Stories

Teaching ESL to Students from All Parts of the World

Georgie Garner graduated in the Winter of 2018 with a major in ethnic studies and double minors in sociology and urban education. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee for summer training with Teach for America. She writes:

"I am teaching 7th-grade reading and writing in a charter school in Nashville. I am the ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher for these students as well. I have students from all over the world, including Burma, Uganda, Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Southern Sudan, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and more. Most of my students are below a third-grade reading level and do not have English as their first language. It has been very tough but extremely rewarding. I am also the Head coach of a program called Girls on the Run. This program empowers young girls by teaching them life skills as well as exercise and running practices. I am also currently enrolled in a Masters of Education program at Lipscomb University and will be finished next fall. I have realized just how valuable my SCU education, including a background in sociology, has been when working with underserved populations."