Columbus School students are often challenged during their transition to K5, this new transition is based on learning English, something that for them is a big pressure.

The transition to K5 is hard because when they enter to the new language (English) this affects them know that they are not use too this newlanguaye, so by this transition they start feeling pressured and sick, so 3 years ago counselors and teachers looked for new solutions to bring down this pressure.

“When the kids pass from K4 to K5 there is an important change, kids showed a bit more insecure than before. For example parents or teachers tell that the kid doesn’t want to come, like when it is Monday they tell that the kid feels sick or just want to vomit, this are situations counselor help with,” Patricia Henao, Elementary School counselor, said.

One way they teach the students, by moving them around the classroom using body language, singing songs, and also by playing games. Now that the curriculum has changed to a way in which kids get more involved with English.

“This year there was a change in the English part to make the kids more secure and involved. The teachers are using a more entertained way, by working on their listening skills and using visual aids to learn English, not going that quickly into reading and writing,” Paula Garces, K5 teacher, said.

Some K5 students practice speaking English with their friends, but because they are just learning, they mostly speak inside class. Currently they are still learning the basics of the language.

According to Uribe Ruiz, some of the phrase he is learning are, “Hello, How are you?, Goodbye, yes, and please.”

K5 kids use their English skills when they were asked how would they help someone who wants to learn English? Their answers were very concrete and very interesting because this kids know that their English skills are low but their answers were very precise.

K5 students, even though they don{t have a big vocabulary, answer questions in a very concrete and interesting ways. In general they are not afrad to help each other and use their new language skills.

“I would teach that person to speak in English, because she doesn’t know English, ” K5 student Vicente, said.