MIDDLEBORO – Students of migrant families in the Middleboro School District have been taking English classes geared toward first time English learners and communicating with teachers via translating devices.

Superintendent Carolyn Lyons said although the situation is new, the Middleboro School District has welcomed non-English speaking students in the past. 

“I think for other communities, this really threw them for a loop,” said Lyons. “Our numbers in English language education have been increasing for the last five to seven years.”

Currently, approximately 80 families from Haiti and South America are being sheltered at Quality Inn according to Town Manager Jay McGrail. 

Quality Inn was designated as an emergency shelter for unsheltered families as of Friday, Sept. 22

There are approximately 30 new  non-English speaking students districtwide, with the majority of students being enrolled in the elementary schools, according to Superintendent Carolyn Lyons. 

“It's better that these students are younger because what I think a lot of people don't understand is how much English language is explicitly taught in elementary education,” said Lyons. “The best time for them to enter is the elementary level because they're most likely to grasp new habits and the language faster and easier.”

The new students are enrolled in the English Language Learners Program, where they learn basic language skills that they will use in all of their classes. 

According to Director of Curriculum and Instruction Terri Marculitis, it is “way too soon” to evaluate how the new students are doing academically.

“If you went to another country that didn't speak English and took a biology class, it would be very difficult,” said Lyons.

However, the new students will participate in ACCESS testing, which will assess their language acquisition.

According to Lyons, the school district worked quickly to get students enrolled in classes upon their arrival. 

“I think it's a big success that we got our families in in a very short period of time,” said Lyons. “I'm proud of that because we want our kids in school — it's where they belong and it's where they're going to thrive.”

Lyons said teachers in the district have been communicating with students using translating devices called Pocket Talks. 

Although Lyons said the devices were useful in the transition period of students entering the school, students have become less reliant on them to communicate.

“As tempting as it is … I wouldn’t advocate that these families have these devices to rely too heavily on because it will slow the acquisition of English,” said Lyons.

According to Director of Student Service Kevin Avitabile, the school has worked with the town to get the new students school supplies, backpacks and basic essentials. 

“We are helping and supporting them through the programming and access of resources that we provide for all of our students,” said Avitabile. 

The district is looking to hire more English teachers to teach non-English speaking students according to Marculitis. Additionally, the district hopes to offer English classes at night for adults in the future according to Lyons.

Lyons said that prior-enrolled Middleboro students have been acting as tour guides and helping the new students with the transition.

“Our kids have been extremely welcoming,” said Lyons. “Kids are the great equalizer. They tend to see similarities where others might see differences.”