The Newcomer Program, which is new to Minneapolis’ South High School this year, provides extra language support to students who are new to the United States. But the sudden move of the program from another school has led to some challenges.
“They put me in 11th grade, but I take ninth grade classes to learn English,” said 16-year-old Mustafa Isse, a student in the newcomer program who has lived in the U.S. for seven months.
“I like the newcomer program. For example, you see new things every day. Every day you see new words and new culture. Everyone is not the same,” Isse said.
This video was directed by Isak Douah, Abdi Nejib, Miles Jamison, Fransisco Javier, and George Adzick, students in the South High VOICES class of 2015-2016. VOICES stands for Values, Options, Issues and Choices Explored in Society. Students in the VOICES class create social issue documentaries with the guidance of teachers Delainia Haug and Laura Lanik and teaching artist/videomaker John Akre. To see all of this year’s VOICES documentaries, visit this link.
All of this year’s VOICES films will screen for free at the Riverview Theater on Monday February 1 at 4:30 p.m.
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