VOL. XIX, NO. 3

TESL means Teaching English as a Second Language. Mrs. Sue Morrisroe, TESL teacher, and her nine student aides teach English to 16 foreign students. According to Mrs. Morrisroe, the purpose of TESL is "to help students read, speak, understand, and write English." The students learn with pictures. The first things they learn are their names, addresses, and phone numbers. They learn to understand, speak, read, and finally write English.

Mrs. Morrisroe, who has a degree in linguistics, finds TESL "a most satisfying teaching experience." Steve Lipar '81 finds being an aide fun. "They teach you things you don't know, when you teach them," said Steve. Linda Jensen '78 has been an aide for two years and enjoys helping the students and filing for Mrs. Morrisroe. Other aides include Cindy Spryson, Tammy Skittone, Sue Weaver, and Amy Summers.

Many students who go to TESL have difficulties at first. Joel Martell '80 spoke only Spanish last year when he started TESL, so he had to start from the beginning of the program, although some students do speak a little English. Martha Vargas '78, another student, said, "It's good for us because we don't speak much English."

In the beginning of the year TESL students start with only their TESL class in the afternoon and add on to their schedule until their schedule is full, usually by the end of the first semester.

Mrs. Morrisroe has students from such countries as Italy, Taiwan, Korea, Mexico, India, El Salvador, and Iraq. TESL classes are held periods six through nine in B-222. The student aides are volunteers. TESL is in its fifth year of fulltime classes. Mrs. Morrisroe also teaches MONACEP evening classes for adults.