A Community Helps Burmese Refugees Learn English

19 January 2012

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

About eighteen thousand refugees from Burma have come to the United States each year since two thousand seven. Some have settled in Howard County, Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington. A local school began teaching English to the children of the refugees.

But while the children learned the language, their parents did not. That makes communication with teachers difficult.

Burmese children in class in Howard County, MarylandCurrently almost fifty Burmese youngsters attend Bollman Bridge Elementary School. Laurel Conran is a teacher there.

LAUREL CONRAN: "The main idea is the global idea."

She teaches English to speakers of other languages.

LAUREL CONRAN: "Today we were doing text structures. I wanted them to know the vocabulary, the language of text structures, so when they go back into the classroom and work with their peers, they can do this successfully in the classroom."

One of her students is Tha Neih Ciang. Another student is Tha Neih's mother, Tin Iang. Ms. Conran practices English with Tin Iang at the mother's workplace. Many Burmese refugees work at Coastal Sunbelt Produce, a supplier of fruits and vegetables to restaurants and other businesses.

Laurel Conran started classes at the company to help refugees from the country also known as Myanmar learn English.