Virtual Academy poses new challenges for ESOL students

For saint joseph school district students, learning remotely in the virtual academy- they've faced unprecedented challenges during a pandemic.

But what about students learning virtually where english is not their primary language?kq2's kilee thomas spoke with "esol" students enrolled in the virtual academy about the challenges of learning english through a screen.

Good morning.

How are you?

How are you?

Imagine you're trying to learn a new language, a language, no one at home speaks.

Now take away the classroom and out of computer screen.

There's no one i could like, come up, like call them like i need help on this or that 104 students in the st.

Joseph school district virtual academy, learning behind a screen isn't their only learning barrier.

We have had a lot of challenges in communication with our nss which is we call are non english speakers.

Students learning english from home are facing new challenges due to the covid 19 pandemic.

It's so different from doing it person to person.

On the computer.

Herlinda is a junior at benton high school enrolled in the esl virtual academy.

She's been learning english since kindergarten.

But she said this school year has been by far the hardest and we're in school we communicate and we do more on paper than like on the computer.

I can use my hands i can point to when you're in person, i can show you what i want you to do.

We're very limited on that in the electronic world gestures and body language are crucial to learning a new language but now that's not an option.

So esl teachers are sending tailored videos for each student.

We can accommodate each individual student in what they need to learn specifically herlinda's parents speak spanish.

So when it comes to homework, her younger siblings come in handy.

They help each other there's some words that they don't know or understanding but like if i don't know any words, i got like a shadow or like so.

Esl teachers are doing their best to break through that screen barrier that can you use i in a sentence.

Mrs. jewel has 17 students who started the virtual academy this year with zero english.

It's been a big challenge.

It has been we have to get them where they can have a conversation.

You know, i can't i can't prompt a discussion if we don't have any language.

So we're starting with basics, llc.

They can't wait to get back inside the classroom.

Yes, i do.

I never thought would say reporting in st.

Joseph kilee, thomas kq2 news.

The esol department says there's 25 different home-spoken languages in the sjsd-61% of students speak spanish-18% of students speak chuukese and 8% speak burmese.