My Why: Where Experience Meets Passion.

When we think about moving to a new country as adults, we think about the positive and wonderful experiences; however, for children this change can shape the future. With the right techniques, we can create resilient biliterate individuals. 

What are emergent bilinguals in education? They are the students that immigrate from one country to another with limited knowledge in the new country's language. For example, someone moving from the United States to the little island of Puerto Rico at the age of seven with no repertoire of the Spanish language. Back in 1997, Puerto Rican schooling placed this child in second grade classes with the exception of her Spanish class which she attended with first graders. The goal was to teach this child to converse in the Spanish language because she was already academically on-level. A gap was visible and the school provided the girl with a catered schedule. Today, we have the same gap with more innovations to use. 

That little girl was me; I was able to prevail because the education system sought to help me. I am proficient in two languages; therefore the academic accommodation worked, especially with the resources and knowledge the town had. I look back fondly of my big move; it shaped who I am today, yet as days progress, I think about how my education would be today in comparison to the 1990s. Technology, social emotional learning, and having the internet at my disposal, my experience would have the same outcome, but with a more precise plan. Using AI to converse or gamify content would tailor to my strengths and likes. I can learn academic information while learning skills I will need for future careers. Now, it is my turn to pay forward what my educators could do for me, by guiding the students I have.

Because I experienced immigrating to a new country and recall my journey; I have an understanding with my students. I know their struggles. I know what their success will be. I want to make their journey more productive than mine. (My class speech is always “I want you to be smarter and more successful than me. What kind of mentor would I be if I stomped your growth?). The innovation plan is my lasting impact on emergent bilingual education. It is important to me for my kids to be happy and confident with themselves.