Because of the fact that Haile was unable to attend our second meeting, Tamiraa and I were able to ask our intended questions on our third visit to their house. Before sitting down and discussing, Simon and I spent about an hour and a half going through homework he had saved up, which consisted of various Edpuzzles and instructional videos. The pride that he had when he showed Tamiraa and I that he’d gotten an answer “correct” was endearing, and likewise the disappointment when his cursor would hover over “an X.” It was apparent that he cared a lot about how he was doing in his studies. 

I was taken aback by how sizable Simon’s workload was for a seventh grader. As someone who also went through the CT public school system, I had used the state-issued chromebooks, as well as learned some similar lessons in biology and science through the “Amoeba Sisters” and other shared materials. Haile emphasized how important it was to have a tutor who shared these experiences; who knew how the curriculum worked and could navigate the technology. I was flattered, but I still feel wholly inept––I don’t remember everything from my middle school curriculum, and I lack the resources or knowledge to create a syllabus and instruct Simon on the concepts he’s learning. 

I was also surprised by the difficulty of the material and I wondered if Simon and his siblings had the foundational knowledge which would serve as background for the concepts they were learning. It was pretty sophisticated stuff on Simon’s computer; measures of circumference, hydroponics, stomata, and more. I also asked Haile if the kids were getting the proper resources that they needed in school. Haile relayed that in the classroom, they were in the English Language Learners program–which meant that there was someone to help them and also slightly different teaching strategies employed. But I wondered if there was anyone to help at home. When I asked, he shook his head. “You.” He said. This frustrated me. Despite Simon’s extremely limited knowledge of the English language, I could tell that he was very intelligent and able to pick up on subtle details just by watching him complete his work modules. While we worked through the Edpuzzles, he’d say an answer aloud and I would type it for him because he was unable to write. Simon would benefit greatly from someone who invested in his learning at home and helped him to stay on top of his work to prevent falling behind. 

I also became impatient with my own limited ability to communicate with Simon while he was completing the homework assignments. I tried my best, but sometimes Haile would simply shake his head and say “he doesn’t understand you,” before translating. I then brought up the tutor from Wesleyan which Haile’s family had been connected to through the Wesleyan Refugee Project who did speak Tigrinya, and I asked if it was working better. He told me that he wanted me to work with Simon. Although it was easier or more comfortable for him to fall back on his native language with someone else, Simon needs to be forced to learn English, because that is the circumstance or rule of this new life in which he must navigate. I understand this, but it also saddens me because I know how difficult and isolating it can be to learn an entire new language and be thrust into an entirely different environment that constantly measures your relative success. Especially at a later age when other people have already had a head start.

Haile briefly addressed some of this when we asked about how his family has reconciled with the change and adjusted to the culture in Middletown, CT. “My family coming here, this is the first time they have been outside our country. Outside of the language barrier itself, there are plenty of things that are new here. The living standard, the education system, the behavior and what people look like…interactions are very, very different. They are trying their best to adapt, that is a good thing. And we’re trying our best to let them learn more about the culture, adapt quickly, and try to familiarize with the country and make friends.”