Non-native English speaking students face language barrier challenges

High school ELL students mentor grade school ELL students and all of them are learning more.   - - Donna Poisl

By Sara Feijo, Wicked Local Dedham

DEDHAM - Although Miguel Alvarez is bright and articulate, the 10-year-old faces language barriers on the daily basis.

His biggest challenge? The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, widely known as MCAS.

Miguel, who is a fourth grade student at Avery Elementary School, said he is very nervous about taking the MCAS because he sometimes doesn’t understand certain words.

“Most of the time I think I can’t do it, because I think it’s very hard,” Miguel said Tuesday afternoon, April 23, during after school homework club. “I try my best.”
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