‘Autobiography Night’ spotlights diversity of student population

Kadiatu, a beginner English student, said she left the West African country in December 2006 and dreams of becoming a nurse.

‘‘I come to have a good education,” she said.

The Frederick High students presented their autobiography projects to family and friends last week during the third annual ‘‘Student Autobiographies and Presentations” night at the school. The program showcased the language skills of English Language Learners at all grade and skill levels.

Students carefully laid out their autobiographies on cafeteria tables as they sat with family and friends and tasted foods from many cultures.

According to Raeda Zietoon, an ELL teacher at Frederick High, only beginning and intermediate students choose six topics and write a straightforward autobiography. Advanced students write an autobiography by choosing five songs that have meaning in their lives.

The graded project not only allows students to demonstrate language skills, Zietoon said, but also teaches them research and computer skills.

Many of the typed, glossy autobiographies featured pictures and facts about students’ home countries, including El Salvador, China, Korea, Honduras and Burma. All of the autobiographies included stories of students’ parents, grandparents and siblings and those they had to leave behind when they came to America.

Karin Johns, an ELL teacher at Frederick High, noted that the autobiographies were about more than just learning how to write.

‘‘It’s a nice, personal way for them to open up and talk about their lives and families,” she said.

Ana Granados, an intermediate ELL student, said she came to Frederick High this year from El Salvador. The autobiography project allowed her to share herself and her country with other students, she said.

Kadiatu noted that reading other students’ autobiographies has also taught her about different countries.

After the autobiography presentation, students gathered on the Frederick High stage to honor their families by singing ‘‘You Raise Me Up,” originally sung by Josh Groban. Students also demonstrated their language skills by reading alone or in groups two poems by Shel Silverstein.