Self-Motivation and Parental Involvement Needed For Student Success

Photo: downey.dusd.net Warren High School teachers Ms. Smith and Ms. Carroll explain English language concepts to their class.

Jimmy Santana moved to the United States from Cuba more than three years ago to be with his father. He arrived just before the start of his second semester freshman year. And just like many other immigrants who come to this country, Santana had very little knowledge of English.

“At the beginning, I really, really felt scared…because you don’t know the language,” Santana said. “People might be telling you something that I don’t understand.”

In the state of California, all students are required to answer four questions during enrollment that would indicate that they speak or know of another language. If they answer yes the students are tested for English proficiency and placed into one of five levels—Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, and Advanced—in the English Language Development program.

"I only interacted with other people in English."

— Jimmy Santana

One in every five students in the Downey Unified School District is in the ELD program. About 95 percent of them speak Spanish.

“We have kids that come from all over Latin American countries,” Rosa Casillas, ELD Director at Warren High School, said. “Some come with a great deal of literacy, others don’t.”

Santana tested into the lowest level in the ELD program when he first arrived. “Teachers would tell you ‘Take out a piece of paper’ and (I was like) what is (she) talking about?” Santana said. He would copy the actions of other students to get by during the first couple of weeks in school.

The majority of ELD students never advance all the way through the program. However, Santana broke the trend from day one. He was highly motivated to acquire the language because he realized he was establishing his new life here. According to Santana, you can only visit Cuba once you request to leave the country.

Santana placed into Early Advanced by his sophomore year and completely tested out of the ELD program the following year. Since then, he has taken mainstream college-preparatory classes.

Santana, who is the president of the Salsa Club, now speaks English with ease although he gives a slight pause sometimes before he responds. He insists he still struggles in writing and interpreting text, but is still confident about his new language.

He contributes his success to his own motivation and parental involvement since he moved to Downey.

“What helped me a lot was the fact that I only interacted with other people in English.” Santana said. He also watched television and listened to radio whenever he could. “Cartoons helped me a lot,” he said.

Santana went to his father, who is a doctor, for help with his reading homework. And aside from the interaction he had with students, Santana would speak in English with his stepmother. She is originally from San Salvador, but has been in the United States for over 20 years.