Hooper's ESL students

Since many of my students are categorized as ESL, I can relate to this essay. I often see very little difference in the students that are classified as ESL vs ELL. I was also intrigued by the lack of research on the success, or lack there of, of ELL students once they reach college. I almost considered (and may still) changing my research topic to this.  Many of the students may be embarrassed to be a part of this program; however, just like Sergej in the study"Although he did not wish to be classified as an 'ESL' student, he did identify himself as such to his composition instructor because he believed that it would give him 'more privileges,' and that, in general, teachers would be more forgiving of certain errors in his writing and his speech." (Hooper 397) I notice this same behavior in many of my students. They don't want the extra help publicly; in fact, many resent the resource teachers helping them in the classroom. When it comes to an essay being due, however, they will always let it be known that they are ELL or ESL students, and because of that, they are allowed more time to finish their essay. A lot of students that are in that program feel that they don't belong, but their writing tells a different story. Many of these students have parents that only speak Spanish at home, and are not able to benefit from getting that source of extra help. Unfortunately, these same students don't take advantage of the resources they have at school either. Now, with budget cuts in LAUSD, even those sources are more limited. The plight of the ESL students is only becoming more challenging.