Hello, this is a brief introduction of me. My name is Eileen
Wurster and I teach English as a Second Language. I teach English
to students who learned another language when they first learned
to talk. I have worked with students in the Lac qui Parle schools
who first learned Spanish, German, Bulgarian Chuuk, Japanese,
Arabic or Vietnamese.
Becoming proficient in English oral skills usually takes 2
to 3 years. However, becoming proficient in the language
necessary to do well in school, can take 4 to 7 years. If a
child hasn’t
learned how to read and write in his or her own language first,
it may take even longer. If you’re wondering why, think
about this: Why doesn’t shoe rhyme with toe or rough
with cough or snow with cow? How many definitions of run do
you know, or steer? How do you know when to use many or much,
or there, they’re or their? Add these seemingly simple
things to the special vocabulary for Biology, American Government
or math terms, and you may begin to have some understanding
of why English is difficult to learn.
I have taught ESL in Dawson-Boyd for Portuguese speaking
students and Granite Falls for Vietnamese speaking students.
I earned
my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southwest
State University, my ESL certificate from Hamline University
and my Master’s degree from Southwest State University
in 1998. I have taught in the Granite Galls district, Cottonwood
and Dawson-Boyd, and substituted in other districts before
coming to Appleton in 1989.
My family has lived in Dawson since 1984. I have three
grown children. Wendy and husband John Graf live in East
Troy WI.
In January of 2006 they became parents of quads. Miles
and wife Kathy live in New Ulm MN and are the parents
of two
little girls. Amy and husband Jason Snodie live in Hudson
WI. Most
of my extended family live WI, but my sisters live in
Montana, Utah and Illinois so traveling has become and enjoyable
pastime. I also enjoy doing hardanger, a Norwegian craft,
although
I am of German descent. I am involved in my church as
a
Sunday School teacher and in the choir. Past activities
include
4-H
leadership in Lac qui Parle county and coaching of Junior
High Girls’ softball and tennis. I do still work at girls’ basketball
games.
In this ever-changing world, I believe that children
need to know that there are people who care for them.
One of
my goals
for the students with whom I work is to give them a safe
and accepting environment. My students’ families
have moved to our area to try for a better life. Many
times the
move includes
adjusting to an environment very different form the one
that they were used to. This can be a major adjustment.
I believe
that learning occurs when students feel safe and accepted.
I hope that I help provide this atmosphere.
I can be reached at the Appleton school in the morning and
at LqPVHS after school.
