Back in early November, I had coffee with Linda Reid, M.L.A. of Richmond East. It was a pleasure to talk to Linda, as one professional to another. Why? That is because before Linda was elected to the Legislative Assembly, she worked as a language therapist, teacher and school administrator for the Richmond School District. That makes us natural “allies” as fellow educators sharing the same passion for helping children with language learning issues. In addition to that, Linda and I both graduated from the University of British Columbia with advanced degrees in education specializing in exceptional learners and language acquisition.

The meeting area in the office.

One of the things that came up in our conversation was that many ESL parents are unaware that they are entitled to participate in the Individual Education Plan (IEP)process for their children who are exceptional learners. That means, these parents are passive receivers of the IEP and often, they do not know what the IEP is supposed to do and what their roles are in their children’s education process.

I would like to see more ESL parents take an active role in the IEP process. Parents’ involvement in their children’s education is vital, especially when the ESL children are exceptional learners requiring special education services. That is why when we planned for our office space, I made sure that we have an area where we can host IEP meetings and have all parties meet comfortably in an environment conducive to open and constructive discussion. Those who have visited my office know that I keep a selection of fragrant teas on hand at all times. I’ve always known that a nice cup of tea can do wonders to calm nerves. Parents who need to deal with their children’s learning problems often lead stressful lives. It is not unusual for parents to shed a few tears at my office while recounting the difficulties that they encounter on a daily basis; and I am perfectly at ease with it because I understand what life is like living with children who have a learning disability. A cup of tea and some kind encouragement means a great deal for these struggling brave parents!

This past Saturday, I attended a conference at UBC on early Mandarin bi-lingual learning. It was a wonderful experience for me as I was able to catch up with some former colleagues and make new friends at the same time. The enthusiasm amongst the attendees was contagious and I was so glad that my friend, the Chief Administrator at Pui Ying Christian Services Society, Saintfield Wong, informed me about this conference and suggested that I attend. (more…)