By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
A program at Bowling Green State University is offering non-English speakers the key to integrating into a new culture.
A community ESOL class is held weekly in Thursday from 1 to 2:15 p.m. throughout the semester on campus in East Hall Room 206.
“When you’re coming into a new culture, a new environment, your ability to communicate is key to your survival,” said Michael Eniola Oshindoro, a graduate assistant who teaches the program.
Students are often the spouses or family members of BGSU faculty or graduate students, but it is open to other community members as well.
The class started a couple weeks ago, but students can come and go as their schedules allow, he said.
ESOL — English for Speakers of Other Languages — focuses on mastering what’s needed in daily activities, whether going to the Department of Motor Vehicles office or the supermarket.
The first class, Oshindoro said, was appropriately on introductions. Something as simple as giving your name and what you do, and “how excited you are to meet them” can help open doors for the students. This simple task also offers an opportunity to learn vocabulary, and most importantly practice with other students.
“Very basic conversation is what that class is for, not for a degree or anything, but to help to transition into the society.”
For adult learners, Oshindoro said, mastering the proper conjugation of verbs can be hard. “But it shouldn’t be difficult as you go on,” he said.
Coming from southwest Nigeria, Oshindoro learned English at an early age.
At home his family spoke Yoruba — his father didn’t speak English at all and his mother only a little. But English is the language used exclusively in schools from pre-kindergarten through college.
“As children we were just taking in everything,” he said. “I grew up loving learning English.”
At first, he wanted to be a journalist, but in college he discovered a passion for teaching.
He studied linguistics for seven years before coming to Bowling Green to get a master’s in English literature. He’s in a second year. Last year he taught general studies writing.
In addition to coordinating the community ESOL class, he also coordinates Cross-Cultural Conversation Connection. The class brings American and international students together for conversations in small groups.
This is a way to promote cultural diversity through conversations among students.
The program is still accepting applications.
Oshindoro will complete his master’s work in spring, and from there he plans to get a doctorate with his ultimate goal to return and share his knowledge in his native land.
