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University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
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Students learn to teach diverse population
LAKELAND,
FL (September 25, 2007) - The face of Polk County continues to change. For the first time, Hispanics are Polk's largest minority, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates, accounting for 14.5 percent of the county's 561,606 residents. In the past six years the number of Hispanics jumped to 81,646, a 44 percent increase.
As central Florida changes, the University of South Florida Lakeland is committed to preparing future teachers to excel in teaching children from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds. USF graduates more first-year teachers than any other Florida university, and Florida principals have rated USF education graduates the best-prepared teachers in the state. Over the past five years, Hispanic student enrollment at USF Lakeland increased 82.8 percent.
At USF Lakeland, all Elementary Education graduates complete an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement, which meets all state requirements for professional educators.
 “The USA has no official language,” says Dr. Bernardo Blanco of USF Lakeland’s Division of Education. “Federal law clearly says schools must make accommodations in the classroom or else they violate a student’s right to an education.“
“Teachers are concerned. They ask, ‘How do I deal with children from different cultures?
“I tell students, ‘Wear people’s shoes, know how they feel.’ Sometimes in my class I’ll start teaching in Spanish or Italian or Portuguese. It confuses the students, but it helps them put themselves in the place of an ESOL student. They get the idea.”
Understanding why ESOL students behave the way they do, and how the American cultural lens may cause misperceptions, helps teachers to respond appropriately and promotes effective teacher and student interaction.
“Central Florida grows more diverse every day,” says Blanco. “Polk County alone has more than 9,500 ESOL students. In a diverse community, we need to make adjustments. We must accept other cultures. Culture is never negative. You can’t force assimilation or acculturation. We have a wealth of different cultures here, and we should be eager to expand that wealth.”
USF Lakeland’s ESOL program serves as bridge between cultures that will extend to a sector of the population that might not otherwise be reached.
“If we fail to serve a significant segment of students, we will see increases in teen pregnancy, the high-school dropout rate and other negative factors,” says Blanco.
“When we have more students staying in school, more students getting jobs or going on to college, it benefits the entire community. It helps everyone, not just ESOL students. By feeding good teachers into the system, we bring about positive change.”
Blanco came to USF Lakeland this fall and looks forward to expanding the ESOL program.
“I’m excited about the challenge,” he says. “It’s not easy. It’s a hard issue, a multi-cultural issue, with no magic formula. Most of it is common sense.”
Blanco believes his teaching style helps students learn how to deal with both regular English speakers and ESOL students.
“I don’t teach the book,” he says. “I teach people. We need to make students not only book smart but also life smart. We give them techniques that they need in every classroom. Just as the army doesn’t send a soldier into battle without ammunition, we don’t send a teacher into a classroom without preparation.”
According to Blanco, the ESOL program aligns with USF Lakeland’s polytechnic vision, which focuses on applied learning, applied research and applied technology.
“Our program provides ways in which we can integrate into diverse communities. We’re here to serve the audience that is not going to USF Tampa. We want to reach and teach our students where they are. We want to be where they can come. I teach a class in Avon Park, for instance. We have to serve them where they are.”
At USF Lakeland, Blanco explains, the ESOL program has a strategic goal.
“We are taking an institutional approach to a specific need in a specific area,” he says. “I don’t know of any other institution following this formula.
“The ESOL plays an important part in building bridges to reach populations that would not otherwise be served. When we serve our audience, we help attract higher-paying jobs, and we improve unemployment and underemployment.
“Most local universities bring students in from outside Polk County, but after graduation they don’t stay and serve the needs of this area. USF Lakeland aims to produce graduates who will stay and strengthen this area and contribute to its growth.”
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