HHS ENL Students Visit Huntington Public Library
Libraries are popular places with folks of all ages. A contingent of Huntington High School students recently traveled to the Huntington Public Library’s New York Avenue branch to learn more about what the facility has to offer and the teenagers liked what they saw and heard.
The 28 students, who are studying English as a new language, were accompanied to the public library by Huntington High School librarian Julie Miller, foreign language teacher Mercedes Peña and ENL paraprofessional Juana de la Rosa.
Some of the students’ favorite programs that they discovered during the orientation include:
• Access to Rosetta Stone language learning software. “They loved the engaging activities for learning English,” Mrs. Peña said.
• Access to live homework help via the library’s webpage. “They thought it was great to have certified teachers providing this service,” added Mrs. Peña.
• The interesting workshops offered throughout the year.
• The teen room.
• The opportunity to obtain community service hours. “Many students may be able to help elementary school children in the dual language program with their Spanish,” Mrs. Peña said.
Naturally the teenagers loved the DVDs, CDs and books, too. “The patrons and librarians told us how impressed they were with the cordiality of our 28 students,” Mrs. Peña said. “Yes, they are indeed a special group of ladies and gentlemen!”
Ms. Miller said librarians Laura McKinley and Corinna Jaudes, as well as Huntington Public Library staff members made the high school students feel right at home. “Our students also made a great impression, representing Huntington High School quite well,” said Ms. Miller, who is in her first year as the high school librarian. “A patron in the library even commented to me, ‘What a lovely bunch of kids you have.’”
The library orientation included:
• Students received their library cards; a first for many of them.
• Passwords were established for online and mobile resources.
• The teenagers learned how to check out books, movies and music.
• A tour of the library included stops in the teen room and computer areas.
• An introduction to the library’s collection of books in English, Spanish and more.
“Ms. McKinley and Ms. Jaudes noted that although elementary school library field trips are very common, this was the first they’ve ever hosted for high school students,” Ms. Miller said. “It was such a success that we plan to do more visits in the future.”
It seems a sure bet that this won’t be the last time these 28 students step foot into the Huntington Public Library. “Ms. Miller and I decided to make this trip after the ENL students had an eye-opening experience in our school library, where Ms. Miller gave an outstanding orientation to our English language learners,” Mrs. Peña said. “Students discovered that reading can be fun and many of them started visiting the school library on their own time and sharing the books they read with their peers in my home language arts classes. For example, Ilsi Martinez is now an avid reader. She presents the books she’s read to her peers and always shows enthusiasm when she shares her reflections. Ms. Miller says that she has gone a step further and now takes out books in English as well. This type of observation is what encouraged us to organize a field trip to the public library.”
When the high school students returned to class they were eager to share everything they had learned at the library with their peers that weren’t able to go. “It is so rewarding to see that something small contributed to something that will benefit our students in many ways in the future,” Mrs. Peña said. “Many of these students do not have books at home, so this trip was a milestone for our young men and women.”