The newcomers and those who welcomed them -- Part I: Fall. Nice to meet you ; The chair is short ; Smile ; Do you want a pencil? ; Have you seen war? ; Bonita ; Does she know Jesus? -- Part II: Winter. Delicious stick of butter ; The realist ; What five times (or, "I work my ass off") ; Our souls at night -- Part III: Spring. Well-taped boxes ; We hate sheep ; Wir schaffen das ; Silly one ; Qalb ; Busy, busy, busy ; Miss, I have nerves -- Part IV: Summer. Heal Africa -- Part V: Fall. Careless driving ; What is resolution?
Summary:
Follows the lives of twenty-two immigrant teenagers from nations devastated by drought or famine or war, over the course of their first school year in America. The talented and endlessly resourceful Denver South High School teacher Mr. Eddie Williams welcomes these students, who speak fourteen different languages but no English and are completely unfamiliar with American culture, to his specially created English Language Acquisition class. He guides them through the enormous challenges of gaining basic English skills, adapting to life in the developed world, and coping with the usual pangs of adolescence. Together their class represents a microcosm of the global refugee crisis, and highlights the moral issues of immigration, inclusion, and America's role on the global stage.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.