Help ESL Learners Express Their Own Unique Perspectives
I write my books from this international perspective. We all bring something different to the table and we are all worthy of being heard.
I believe my books will help ESL learners express their own unique perspectives. But what makes me qualified to know anything about ESL leaners? What do I know about differing perspectives? To look at me, first judgment is always that there is no way I have a clue. But I think it is important to understand my history, in order to understand my own perspective.
I went to Swiss school from kindergarten until 3rd grade, and even though I was American, I grew up learning to read and write in German first. First through third grade were tough for me. I had a teacher who hated me because I was American, although I spoke German fluently. (But that is a whole other story). It was not until 3rd grade when I finally began to learn to read and write in English. Since I started so late, I was behind others and struggled to catch up, which left me feeling less intelligent than most. However, because I was in an international school, I realized I was not alone. I became friends with students from all over the world and found a place where I belonged.
In the middle of growing up in Switzerland, my family came to the USA for only one year: my 8th grade year. I really struggled not only with my academics, but to fit in socially. I felt less than others around me until my brother told me one thing I will never forget. He asked me if any of my class mates could speak German. Could they speak Swiss German? Had any of them lived in Europe? Suddenly, I realized I had different background and that my background and abilities to read, write and speak in a different language were a “sort-of-secret super power.” After that I began to let my sense of feeling less-than go. https://www.lbtillit.com/about-l-b-tillit/
I write my books from this international perspective. We all bring something different to the table and we are all worthy of being heard.
My series, The Way I See It, is comprised of six books each from the point of a different teen. Each one has a different voice, a different perspective. English Second Language Learners will not only enjoy these perspectives, but also be able to raise their own voices as they engage in meaningful discussions. https://www.lbtillit.com/the-way-i-see-it-series/
We strive to provide a platform for creating and publishing quality easy-read books for children, youth and adults. The primary purpose is to provide engaging literature that is written on a high interest level with a lower reading level in order to strengthen reading fluency. We believe that an easy-read book should maintain a healthy balance between being “easy-to-read” and developing a complex content to engage the reader in order to effectively activate understanding. https://www.myeasyreadbooks.com/
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