Monday, May 11, 2009By Dymanh Chhoun
MinnPost.com (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
This is my last semester at Normandale Community College, where I am going to be the first in my family to graduate with an associate degree.
Next year, I plan to continue my studies at the University of Minnesota. I have a B average, but getting here hasn't been easy for me.
As an immigrant student who went through public schools in Minneapolis, I believe that my experience helps explain why so many Minnesota students — about 31 percent — graduate from high school not fully prepared for college-level work.
When I started at Normandale three years ago, I tested below the college level in reading, writing and math. Anybody who takes the tests wants to receive a score of 1,000 or more because that is college level, which means you don't have to take remedial classes. I was not that lucky.
I received 960 on the reading test and 800 on the writing test so I had to take one remedial reading class and two for writing.
I wasn't alone. Three out of 10 Minnesota students who graduate from high school and go to college also have to take remedial classes.
My first year entering college was almost like my first year entering high school. I needed help with grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, even verb tense.
For some reason, what I learned in high school was all forgotten. I maybe should blame myself for not remembering the study of writing we learned in high school. I also think the schools could have done a better job preparing me.
My family is from Cambodia, but we moved to the United States from a refugee camp in Thailand when I was 4. At home, I was the one of six kids who most loved the Khmer language — speaking, music, news.
I spoke it at home with parents. I still translate English news stories into Khmer for my parents. They want to know what's going on in America and in the world and this is one way for me to remember my Khmer language. Cambodian music also played a role for me. Listening to the music and picturing the meaning helped me continue to memorize my language.
But I needed English to succeed in America. Armatage Elementary School in Minneapolis was the first American school I entered. All my dad did was bring me to my class and say in Khmer, "Goodbye. I hope you can keep your mouth shut."
At home, I talked all the time, but this time I would have to keep my mouth shut because I didn't know how to speak English. I was just 6 years old and could only understand Khmer.
I spent most of my time in special classes with other immigrant kids. While we were learning basic vocabulary, the white kids from middle-class homes were learning to read books.
By the time I left Armatage after third grade, I understood English well and spoke well enough to get in trouble for talking too much. Writing was a little harder; I only remembered the words that I considered important. I didn't care much about writing because I was too young to know that writing was going to help me in the future. My reading skills weren't great either, I was still trying to learn my vowels and how to sound out words.
At Lyndale School, where I went from 4th to 6th grade, even the native-born kids were behind. More kids were poor, and I felt like everyone was the same as me. Like me, they were trying to learn to read and write English, even though English was their native language.
The ESL classes helped me understand how to read and write better with other students whose second language was English. I wish I could have understood how important learning in the class was and how important the lessons were going to be in the future.
After seventh grade at Anthony Middle School, I didn't have to take ESL anymore. I didn't know the reason. All I cared about was that I was done, and I was happy.
I remember making fun of my brothers and friends who still had to take the class. Now I wonder if more time in ESL would have helped me master the grammar I still struggle with.
As a freshman at Roosevelt High School, almost every day I had to stay after class to ask my geography teacher how to do the homework. I knew how to read, but I didn't understand many words describing the work.
In 10th grade I took her again for history and started to understand the words and their meaning. That meant I did not have to stay after class to asked questions anymore. I remember how happy I was.
Most of the education I received from my teachers was good. I should have tried harder to focus and learned not to play around or skip out of classes. My GPA was 2.0 in high school, for which I have myself to blame. The teachers could not force me to learn; I had to force myself to do that.
I also think that teachers should have been harder graders, demanding more for students to pass their classes. The grading was too easy for students like me. Students should not pass their classes unless they accomplish their work, not just attend the classes and get a passing grade.
If the teachers let the students understand the consequence of failing, that might have driven students like me to work harder to get a passing grade.
Patricia McGowan, an English instructor for Normandale Community College for more than 20 years, isn't surprised that so many students need extra help when they come to college.
"We have many students from backgrounds that disadvantage them in terms of coming to college (and being) able to write college-level essays. Students whose parents are not very well educated themselves," she said. "To me, it is not very surprising that we have about 30 percent of students who need remedial classes."
At the same time, she thinks many high school teachers should set higher standards and be tougher on students who fall short. "Make the expectation clear, and when the students don't meet them, fail them," McGowan said.
My little sister goes to Lakeville South High School. She is only 14 and her vocabulary is much greater than mine when I was at that age. When I have to write college papers, I always ask Sarah to proofread and check my vocabulary, punctuation, grammar and even verb tense.
Why is she more skilled? Maybe she reads more books or maybe she loves learning more. Maybe being born in America and hearing English all her life has helped. Maybe going to Lakeville High School, where most students are white and middle class, also helps.
I hope when I have my own kids, I can help them understand how important education is in this country. As President Barack Obama said recently, "Whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option."
The road for them to get there will be hard, but at least my kids will have a good back-up — educated parents helping guide them to success in this country.
Next year, I plan to continue my studies at the University of Minnesota. I have a B average, but getting here hasn't been easy for me.
As an immigrant student who went through public schools in Minneapolis, I believe that my experience helps explain why so many Minnesota students — about 31 percent — graduate from high school not fully prepared for college-level work.
When I started at Normandale three years ago, I tested below the college level in reading, writing and math. Anybody who takes the tests wants to receive a score of 1,000 or more because that is college level, which means you don't have to take remedial classes. I was not that lucky.
I received 960 on the reading test and 800 on the writing test so I had to take one remedial reading class and two for writing.
I wasn't alone. Three out of 10 Minnesota students who graduate from high school and go to college also have to take remedial classes.
My first year entering college was almost like my first year entering high school. I needed help with grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, even verb tense.
For some reason, what I learned in high school was all forgotten. I maybe should blame myself for not remembering the study of writing we learned in high school. I also think the schools could have done a better job preparing me.
My family is from Cambodia, but we moved to the United States from a refugee camp in Thailand when I was 4. At home, I was the one of six kids who most loved the Khmer language — speaking, music, news.
I spoke it at home with parents. I still translate English news stories into Khmer for my parents. They want to know what's going on in America and in the world and this is one way for me to remember my Khmer language. Cambodian music also played a role for me. Listening to the music and picturing the meaning helped me continue to memorize my language.
But I needed English to succeed in America. Armatage Elementary School in Minneapolis was the first American school I entered. All my dad did was bring me to my class and say in Khmer, "Goodbye. I hope you can keep your mouth shut."
At home, I talked all the time, but this time I would have to keep my mouth shut because I didn't know how to speak English. I was just 6 years old and could only understand Khmer.
I spent most of my time in special classes with other immigrant kids. While we were learning basic vocabulary, the white kids from middle-class homes were learning to read books.
By the time I left Armatage after third grade, I understood English well and spoke well enough to get in trouble for talking too much. Writing was a little harder; I only remembered the words that I considered important. I didn't care much about writing because I was too young to know that writing was going to help me in the future. My reading skills weren't great either, I was still trying to learn my vowels and how to sound out words.
At Lyndale School, where I went from 4th to 6th grade, even the native-born kids were behind. More kids were poor, and I felt like everyone was the same as me. Like me, they were trying to learn to read and write English, even though English was their native language.
The ESL classes helped me understand how to read and write better with other students whose second language was English. I wish I could have understood how important learning in the class was and how important the lessons were going to be in the future.
After seventh grade at Anthony Middle School, I didn't have to take ESL anymore. I didn't know the reason. All I cared about was that I was done, and I was happy.
I remember making fun of my brothers and friends who still had to take the class. Now I wonder if more time in ESL would have helped me master the grammar I still struggle with.
As a freshman at Roosevelt High School, almost every day I had to stay after class to ask my geography teacher how to do the homework. I knew how to read, but I didn't understand many words describing the work.
In 10th grade I took her again for history and started to understand the words and their meaning. That meant I did not have to stay after class to asked questions anymore. I remember how happy I was.
Most of the education I received from my teachers was good. I should have tried harder to focus and learned not to play around or skip out of classes. My GPA was 2.0 in high school, for which I have myself to blame. The teachers could not force me to learn; I had to force myself to do that.
I also think that teachers should have been harder graders, demanding more for students to pass their classes. The grading was too easy for students like me. Students should not pass their classes unless they accomplish their work, not just attend the classes and get a passing grade.
If the teachers let the students understand the consequence of failing, that might have driven students like me to work harder to get a passing grade.
Patricia McGowan, an English instructor for Normandale Community College for more than 20 years, isn't surprised that so many students need extra help when they come to college.
"We have many students from backgrounds that disadvantage them in terms of coming to college (and being) able to write college-level essays. Students whose parents are not very well educated themselves," she said. "To me, it is not very surprising that we have about 30 percent of students who need remedial classes."
At the same time, she thinks many high school teachers should set higher standards and be tougher on students who fall short. "Make the expectation clear, and when the students don't meet them, fail them," McGowan said.
My little sister goes to Lakeville South High School. She is only 14 and her vocabulary is much greater than mine when I was at that age. When I have to write college papers, I always ask Sarah to proofread and check my vocabulary, punctuation, grammar and even verb tense.
Why is she more skilled? Maybe she reads more books or maybe she loves learning more. Maybe being born in America and hearing English all her life has helped. Maybe going to Lakeville High School, where most students are white and middle class, also helps.
I hope when I have my own kids, I can help them understand how important education is in this country. As President Barack Obama said recently, "Whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option."
The road for them to get there will be hard, but at least my kids will have a good back-up — educated parents helping guide them to success in this country.
14 comments:
I understand your story. I too came from similar background. I went through 12 years of school feeling like I didn't learn enough. After reading your story I realized that it wasn't me that couldn't, it was the system. An education system that didn't know how to educate immigrants from Southeast Asia. But that was over 30 years ago.
I now have my Master Degree and looking forward to pursuing my Ph.d. From me to you, don't give up, if you want it, you can get it.
Your story is similas to mine being a refugee children. It is not easy to be placed in HS without an educational background. I am a shame to say that it took me almost 10 years to get my BS. Thank you for sharing your story.
Generally speaking, at least you are so lucky than me to start schooling in the Elementary, I have started in High School with "Me Ain't No English?". I could not make it, 'cause desperately needed money for living and too old to learn, but you can simoly keep fighting for the higher education, while you're young!
just go for it dear, do not fea,
study as hard as you could, you will get it, do not any one tell you you can not take you degree will get one day if you try hard enoeught.
congratulations for passing a semester at a time. school is hard, however, don't give up; continue to stay in school, even with a "c" grade because "c" and above is a passing grade, so don't feel bad about it. focus on finishing a college degree even with this "c" grade. remember, not everybody can excel at school, so it will take perseverance and persistence to finish. remember to turn in all assignments on times and always always ask for help by using all the school resources like counseling, tutoring, etc... never give up because with perseverance and persistency, you will finally graduate with a degree. a degree is a degree; it will help to "get your foot in the door" of your dream career. good luck and god bless.
and once you earned that college degree, you can perhaps search for a job in cambodia with eithe the UN, some kind of US firms or ngos or anything else out. when starting, keep work extra hard like go the extra mile, and go into what you like though. yes, definitely visit your local school career counseling center for academic advice and career advice, etc... the school counseling system are your best bet when seeking advice related to your academic performance, career field, etc... perhaps you can make a difference working in cambodia for helping cambodia, etc... there are tons and tons of jobs everywhere in cambodia as well. make sure to look at the local english language newspapers like the phnom penh post classified section, the cambodia daily, etc... also check out the US department of state website, etc, for a possible post overseas like in cambodia, for instance. i mean the choice are everywhere and overwheliming, but you have to keep looking around or searching around on the internet as well. good luck and god bless.
yes, a "c" grade still can earn you a college degree. don't feel bad about it; just do your best is all it takes. a college degree is still a college degree; however if one looks beyond a graduate school, then a decent gpa is required, perhaps; so do check with the school you are applying to, though. good luck and god bless all.
Thank you for courage to share your story.
Like many stories I have heard from many refugees, you have overcome the hardship growing up and I believe that your desire to pursue your educational goal will be achieved because you have a real commitment and positive attitude toward education. I want to congratulate you on that.
Like you, I was a refugee from Cambodia, but I was a little too old to enter a grade school in the United States. With my poor high school experiences from Cambodia, I struggled in my ESL classes in college here. However, I didn't give up. I went to school and worked at the same time.
Learning a new language is not easy as an adult. I took me for 15 years to get my MEd in education, and I still don't consider myself fluent in English among other things.
As an ESL teacher now, I understand how hard it is for my students to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture because I was one like them
In our contemporary society, schooling is very challenging. It's hard for students, parents and teachers as well. Sometimes we blame on the educational systems; and sometimes we blame on teachers and parents.
As a parent, I have tried my best to make sure that my two children will get the best education they deserve. This is not easy and I believe that it's a big part of my responsibility to support them to be succesful.
You are in college now, and you have nothing to loose. You seem to have a clear vision. I would like to encourage you to keep up your good work. You'll eventually achieve your goal.
You already have a successful story to share.
Thank you.
corrections for 10:34AM
for courage=for your courage
I took me= It took me
succesful= successful
remeber too that america is the land of opportunity; when one study hard and work hard, you will be successful, trust me. so, please never it it, keep on going all the way. of course, you will struggle and experience bumpy rides along the long road ahead, however, once you reached your goal, you will be rewarded and proud of your own achievement and endeavor, etc... it is worth it, my dear. keep it up, it builds character as well. best of luck to all.
also, in the USA, age is not matter, and it's not a requirement and won't disqualify anyone from continue or going to school in america. in fact this one lady was 97 years old and went back to college and receive her first bachelor's degree. it goes to show that perhaps it can only happen in america, the land of great and equal opportunity for everyone, regardless. (there is no age or national origin discrimination in america, whatsoever, please understand this). god bless the USA and cambodia.
Keep pursuing your dream. I was lucky enough to have a full scholarship from The University of Kentucky. I started school in the 7th grade with the main stream American kids. You have to keep in mind that in everything you do you have to do twice as much or study twice as much as the American kids just to make it.
Nothing comes easy. You have to be consistence and persistance.
It only took 4 years for me to have a bs in Management and Economics.
Now, I am working for a very successful financial firm in Boston.
Keep it up my Khmer brothers and sisters!!
Good advices are usually not told by the people who are full of themselves. With that being said, I am glad to see that more than half of the previous postings are from humble people.
.. Look at me...
I am Dymanh Chhoun, the author of this story. I am grateful for all these comments from people all over the world. I am now attending the University of Minnesota. In about a month I will be a senior, thanks to my AA degree from Normandale. I am going for Journalism and Mass Communication as my major. I love talking to people and learning about stuff each time. I am planning to move to Cambodia and live there for a few years.
Thanks again.
Post a Comment