サンドイッチとおにぎりの二人三脚

私の通うPittsfield Adult Learning Centerの運営は州からの補助金と地域住民

の税金から賄われています。外国人のためのESOLクラスをはじめアメリカで働

くための教育とスキル向上など多彩な充実した内容のプログラムが実地されてい

ます。私も時間が許すなら受けてみたいクラスがあるのですが、犬を抱えていて

時間を取るのが難しく断念しています。私が20代〜４０代ならなんとしても受

ける態勢を持つと思いますが今では犬を犠牲にしてまでなにがなんでもって感じ

にはなりません。無料で受講が出来るこの教育センターはアメリカで暮らす私た

ち外国人への手厚い支援と配慮が伺えます。ここで働くボランティアの人々を含

めた各職員の人々も見せかけだけでなく感じもよく本当に熱心に取り組んでいる

姿勢が伺えます。少なからずとも日本で垣間みた外国人のための日本語クラスよ

り充実していると思いました。昨日、個別テストを受けるときビギナークラスと

中級クラスとの間で宙ぶらりんになっている私にテスト担当者（指導カウンセラ

ー）が中級コースへ戻るようにアドバイスしてくれたのでした。自分に厳し過ぎ

るのでもっとリラックスして挑戦するのを勧めると言われました。その事を相棒

に話しをしたら相棒はあくまでもビギナーコースへ留まるべきだと言いました。

そのことをメールで指導カウンセラーの人に説明するように頼み昨夜メールを

してくれた相棒でした。そして今日指導カウンセラーからの返信を受取ったの

でした。それが下記の内容です。


Dear Ms. Albano,

I am writing this note for my wife, Rice ball .   Her English level is
somewhere between beginner and intermediate.  I know she has tried
both classes and has been encouraged to be in the intermediate class.

  I have looked at some of the texts that she is working with and they
are really above her level.  There is a lot of difficult vocabulary – not
just a few words – and what is worse the sentence structure is also very
difficult.

Both Rice ball and I feel that she would learn more reviewing and
practicing basics in the beginner’s class and so request that she be
allowed to switch back to that class.   I am an ESL teacher at the
Elementary and Middle schools in Great Barrington and have taught
ESL in Japan.  So I do have some basis in making this judgment.
  Thank you for your understanding and support for Rice ball .
.
  Sincerely,
  Sandwich

  Hi Sandwich ,

Thank you so much for your email. I had a great conversation regarding class placement with Rice ball yesterday and she voiced many of the
same concerns that you have addressed. Placements in ESOL classes
tend to be a bit of a challenge because of the variety of levels and
skills each student has within the class. As you know as an ESL teacher,
it is really a balancing act. I just want to clarify for you the structure of our beginner class verses the intermediate class. The beginner class focuses on conversation with minimal reading and writing. Our students are learning basic every day English vocabulary. The intermediate class focuses on vocabulary building, sentence structure, and basic reading skills. 
We have just completed the pre-testing we need to complete for the state.
The teacher will be reviewing the writing tests and will be addressing all of the grammar and vocabulary issues that students struggled with on the exam.
I can tell you that Rice ball did well on this writing test. The scores for the writing test ranged from 477 - 544. Rice ball scored a 522. My greatest concern is that Rice ball is not going to make any earner gains in the beginner class.  Her skills are beyond basic conversation. (Rice ball agreed that the was very easy) I think it would benefit Rice ball to sit down with Simona and I to discuss her concerns with the class. Rice ball stated she felt the teacher speaks too quickly and is uncomfortable asking questions. She feels she is the only one who doesn't understand some of the vocabulary. I can assure you that this is not the case and the teacher encourages students to participate by asking questions. 
Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. 

Thank you,
Guidance Counselor

指導員と保護者が私の英語勉強法について意見をかわしてるって感じでなんだか

幼い学生に戻った気分になります。もう一度検討し合って週末にどちらに落ち着

くかよく考えて決めたいと思います。もし中級コースへ再び移動するようなら

もう泣き言も言えず毎日英語漬けになるのは間違いありませ〜ん。

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