Students acquiring a second language face many challenges during their learning journey. Instructor and Coordinator of ENMU’s American Language and Culture (ALC) Program, Yitzen Lizama-Peraza, keeps student success at the center of her program’s efforts, focusing her attention on extending language learning beyond the classroom.
Language tutoring is available for all students at ENMU. Lizama-Peraza said that these different tutoring opportunities help not only international students but also students taking other language courses at the University. She said it is not uncommon for some students pursuing language learning to require support and development for skills in a new language. The ALC program has helped these students excel with their English learning and even helped extend these lessons to their families, she said. "That has made them at least have a better experience in other courses, because they have that support," she said. Peraza also believes that letting students know that we have these services here on campus helps them to grow to be better throughout their college experience.
According to Lizama-Peraza, there are different styles of learning for each student. She believes that it is good to vary the activities that you do with students and focus more on hands-on activities rather than bookwork. By increasing the variety of activities, students learn more, she said. She pairs this variety and interactivity with trial and error to further strengthen their learning. "We all make mistakes, and that’s okay because that's the way we learn," Lizama-Peraza said. These resources give them the ability to communicate with other classmates, be hands-on, and not just be taught every day by the professor.
Recently through the ALC program, Lizama-Peraza has put more effort into buying supplies that make learning fun for students. Some of those supplies consist of board games that have to do with the language, apps, and books. These resources are provided to students online, as well as in person. She explains that people of all ages use the Language Lab as well, and some resources are more difficult to use for some clients. The program keeps resources accessible by purchasing technology, such as iPads, for those requiring a different format.
Lizama-Peraza believes it is important to develop cultural competency — learning to work with different people and cultures — in life as both an instructor and a learner. A blend of coursework, tutoring, and real interaction helps to build this competency over a lifetime. Beyond tutoring, ENMU provides several courses that parallel its standard English classes, including ALC 210: English for Academic Purposes, which is similar to the Basic Writing Skills course, and ALC 212: English for Academic Purposes II, which is similar to a normal Composition class. These classes are good for international students who need extra help with skills such as writing, grammar, and the language barriers they must face, she said. "With the tutoring sessions and the ALC program, I think they can focus more on improving their use of the language in every single skill," Lizama-Peraza said.
Samantha Schrader, a student taking the Spanish I course here at ENMU, said tutoring has helped her throughout the semester. Spanish is a difficult course to comprehend, especially going into the class without knowing the language, she said. "The language services have given me more confidence in my Spanish speaking skills," Schrader said, adding that tutoring sometimes feels intimidating, but helps overall in every aspect.
The American Language and Culture lab, along with tutoring sessions, is free to everyone, Lizama-Peraza said. She encourages people who need help or are just learning a second language to take advantage of the program and tutoring services.
