New Hope-Solebury School District "Building Bridges" Through ESL

NEW HOPE, PA — New Hope-Solebury School District recently concluded its inaugural course, “Building Bridges through ESL,” designed specifically for the families of students learning English as a second language (ESL).

The course was offered through “Lions Community School,” an adult education program launched by the district in March to offer educational experiences to local residents in a range of subjects, such as technology, fitness, and literacy.

“Building Bridges through ESL” is aimed to enhance language proficiency for the parents and guardians of English learners and to foster stronger bonds within the diverse tapestry of the school community. Families were able to develop their language skills within a welcoming and safe environment and had the opportunity to connect with fellow parents facing comparable language barriers.

“The inspiration behind proposing the ESL course for families stemmed from a profound belief in the transformative power of education to enrich lives and fortify communities,” said Maria Bennett, one of the course instructors. Bennett continued, “We proposed this class because we want our students’ parents and guardians to be able to confidently chat with their children's teachers, to actively participate in community activities, and to find better job opportunities with their improved language skills.”

Enrollment exceeded expectations, with 20 participants registered and attending the evening classes twice weekly. The course instructors were Maria Bennett and Maria Tzemintimpi, New Hope-Solebury High School faculty members who work routinely with English learner students.

Course instructors Maria Bennett and Maria Tzemintimpi and New Hope-Solebury Superintendent Dr. Charles Lentz engage with students in the Building Bridges through ESL program.

The instructors covered an array of topics, ranging from fundamental language skills such as verbs, colors, and numbers to more nuanced subjects like conversation starters. They also showed families how to navigate school resources, such as the district website and school events calendar.

“We were very happy that so many of the families accepted our invitation to the class,” said Tzemintimpi. “It was also a meaningful opportunity for us as teachers to learn the stories and backgrounds of the families of students we work with in the classroom.”

Feedback from the participants was positive, and in anonymous surveys, comments included, “It was a great and productive experience,” and “The teachers were fabulous.” There were requests to expand the programming in future sessions.

For their final session, the class was asked to present, in English, their family tree and to share their family story. The participants each received a participant certificate and enjoyed pizza together. There are plans to offer supplemental learning opportunities in partnership with the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury and to provide additional courses next school year.

“We are deeply committed to our school district’s Equity Initiative and to meeting the diverse needs of all learners. ‘Building Bridges through ESL’ is an important example of this ongoing work in our schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Charles Lentz.

For instructor Maria Bennett, the best part of introducing a course like this was, “showing our community that in New Hope-Solebury, we care about everyone, no matter where they're from or what language they speak.”