Making the Grade: Volunteers help international students with English

“Some of our students are still learning English when they come here,” said the school’s Cathy Smith. “So every student has language time, either [English as a Second Language], French or Spanish every day.”

Ten years ago, with the refugee population of the school growing, the founders came up with the concept of a “school within the school,” a one-on-one tutoring program that brings adult volunteers into the classrooms to work on language, reading and math skills. The volunteers commit to spend time each week with the same child, and most sessions last from 30 minutes to an hour. And many of the tutors sign up to work with more than one student.

“We realized that refugee kids need something additional,” said Smith, who heads the volunteer program. “They come to a new country where everything is different and strange, and many of them are dealing with issues of poverty as well.”

The School within a School tutors come from across the community. Many heard about the opportunity through word-of-mouth and other tutors. Some are former educators; others are adults who want to make a contribution. Currently, 80 youngsters are paired with 40 adults, many of whom have been part of the program since its inception.

Midtown resident Margaret Keneman got involved five years ago when she was a graduate student in French and educational studies at Emory.

“After that first year, I was totally hooked,” she said. “Each year since, I’ve gotten a new student; this year, I have a boy from Kurdistan. It’s really inspiring to work with these kids who have survived a lot and have amazing stories, but they’re still just kids, trying to get through their school day like everyone else. It’s great to be there for them and to get to know them. They become like little brothers or sisters.”

Many volunteers go beyond the weekly time allotted for tutoring, said Smith. “The bond that forms between the students and volunteers is often much more than academics. We’ve had volunteers meet students over the summer and take them on outings. They’re so enthusiastic that they tell their friends about it, which is great - I don’t really have to recruit. The children really win their hearts, and they keep coming back year after year.”

Retiree Bob Bell learned about the School within a School from friends and a former colleague, and despite not having a teaching background, he signed up five years ago.

“I thought it would be fun, and since I’ve got the time, I’ve been working with five kids once a week,” he said. “We work on whatever they need: I have kindergartners learning the alphabet and numbers and a fifth grader who needs help with class work. In some cases, English is their third language, so they need a tremendous amount of support, and it’s fantastic to see their evolution.”

The students’ growth is evident in the classroom, said Smith.

“Teachers have told me they see children gain confidence, be more attentive and not be so afraid to raise their hands,” said Smith. “It comes from that relationship between the students and tutors, who is the same person who comes to see them week after week. Because of that long-term relationship, things can change.”