Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Salvadoran quits soldier's role for scholar's Date: Sat, 14 Nov 92 16:22:11 EST Message-ID: \SE A;METROPOLITAN \HD Salvadoran quits soldier's role for scholar's \BY Darlene E. DePass \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Jose was 15 when he was yanked off a bus in his native El Salvador three years ago, had a rifle shoved in his hands and was forced to jog with a 50-pound pack until he fainted. Two months later, his family won his release from the army and, after returning briefly to his mother's farm, he fled. He dodged military police, faking an injured hand to win their sympathy when he was stopped. After three weeks of walking and bus and boat trips, he was smuggled into Guatemala and then north through Mexico and into Texas, where he called to let his father in Silver Spring know he was on his way. "My father didn't know I was coming . . . I was his surprise," said Jose, now 18, who asked that his last name not be used. He spoke no English and had only a fifth-grade education when he started a second journey - into literacy. Today, after a bewildering introduction to American teens' clothing and lifestyles, Jose is nearing the end of his second journey as a junior at John F. Kennedy High School near Wheaton. He is one of 6,700 Montgomery County students, most of them Salvadorans like Jose, who are learning English as a second language. The county English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program is the largest in the state and serves "students from 112 countries . . . speaking about 95 languages," said Maria Malagon, the program's director. With the help of the program, Jose learned English and caught up to his grade level, Mrs. Malagon said. "He's one of the most conscientious students I have. He's always coming in and asking me to evaluate his progress. He wants to do well," said Dollye McClain, his ESOL teacher for the past two years. "The first couple of days of reading English, I was so excited. I never let go of my book. I just read all the time," said Jose. "The English and math were hard for me, trying to, like, get the verbs, the pronunciation with the words." Jose finished his sophomore year with a "B" average. Today he juggles algebra and soccer, wants to learn more American slang and wants a job. Back in El Salvador, he had not seen a classroom for five years after he quit school at age 10 to work on his uncle's farm. Now, he studies every night in the two-bedroom apartment he shares with his father, three sisters and brother-in-law. In preparation for required functional exams last year, his teachers said, he went to ESOL classes on Saturdays and studied with a team of students and teachers. Unlike many other students in the program, Jose passed the exam on the first try, Miss McClain said. "I am proud of myself," he said, smiling shyly. "Then, I didn't know that much how to read in English but I passed the test." While speaking of his triumphs, Jose fingered a college scholarship information packet, but looked worried at the mention of continuing school after he graduates. He might head to college, he said, but he is not sure. His mother and siblings still live on a rented farm three countries away. "I came here to give [them] a better life," he said. He wants to keep doing well so he can get a job and help them out. College may help him with that goal, he said. "He's overcome a lot of obstacles from where he came from and for him to want to get an education is just fantastic," said Miss McClain. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM