*ELL Instructor*
By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee
May 4, 2021
Mrs. Elisabeth Buduleta has been teaching at the Brooklyn City Schools for the past 15 years; she began her career as a Hurricane in August of 2006. She has taught a mixture of different grade levels, ranging from Kindergarten through 12th grade. This year, she is working with the K-3 grades. Mrs. Buduleta is well-known for her patience, her kindness, and her ability to keep her students motivated for success. She is the perfect choice for this week’s Staff Spotlight!
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: “I enjoy playing and listening to music. The instrument I still play now is the church pipe organ. I actually am a church organist on the weekends. I also enjoy swimming, playing cards (Euchre, Canasta, Pinochle), reading (I read several different types of genres), sewing, cooking, and baking.”
Q: Have you ever traveled outside of The United States? What is one destination that you would love to visit?
A: “I have had the opportunity to travel outside of the USA. I have visited Germany (actually lived there for seven years), France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Lichenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Russia, India, Riviera Maya (Mexico), and Canada. Destinations I would still love to travel to are Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland.”
Q: Why did you decide to become an ELL instructor?
A: “I absolutely LOVE languages. I am a linguist at heart. Learning new languages and helping others learn new languages is something that brings me joy, especially once students are able to communicate using their new language skills. A different language is a different vision of life.”
Q: What is your favorite part about seeing growth in your students when learning the English language?
A: “I love having students using the newly-learned language to communicate. In addition, students not only learn a new language but the culture that goes with that language.”
Q: What is the most challenging part of being an ELL instructor?
A: “The most challenging part of being an ELL instructor is that I often don’t have enough time to spend with each of the students to better support their needs.”
Q: What are some of the strategies you use when teaching English?
A: “Depending upon the student’s ability level, I use strategies like echo reading, picture walks through books, listening activities to begin conversation, word family activities, different types of vocabulary activities, and fun writing activities (to name a few).”
Q: How do you deal with a stressful situation?
A: “I very quickly try to analyze the situation and figure out what is causing the stress and de-escalate whatever is going on. Once the emergency has been taken care of, I reflect to see what I could have done differently and then try to listen to some relaxing, meditative music.”
Q: What are your favorite personal qualities?
A: “I really don’t know if I have any favorite personal qualities. Things I like about myself are as follows: I believe that I am approachable, I believe that students are able to feel comfortable talking to me about whatever (appropriate) topic they would like to discuss, I believe that I work well with most of the Brooklyn Staff (there are several people on staff I have not yet had the privilege to work with, hence using the word ‘most’), I believe that I have integrity and am reliable and accountable, and I believe that I am sensitive to diverse people and try to meet people where they are.”
Thank you so much for your time and your amazing responses, Mrs. Buduleta! Thank you for giving your time to students who do not know the English language. Because of you, these ELL learners will excel in the present and in the future.
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 