مرحبا! It’s hard for students to transition into school in general, but even harder for students who don't really speak English. Mrs Elfilai is an Arabic and French teacher here at Pembroke High School. She just started teaching Arabic last year when the school decided it would be a good idea to add the option to take the class. This year there have been two students, named Kareem Atef and David Karam, from Egypt, who only speak a little bit of English. Mrs Elfilali has been a huge help to them. 

Mrs Elfilali was asked what she does to help out these students. She said, “Because they know Arabic very well, I am differentiating in the classroom by teaching my students the Arabic vocabulary while I teach them (David and Karim) the English vocabulary. I also work with Ms Loren and Mr Fulmine to help them outside of just the Arabic class to all their classes." She is a huge help to them not only in just the Arabic class, but to all the other classes because they can not understand the teachers as well. Karim and David are very appreciative of Mrs Elfilai and what she has done for them. 

David was asked what Mrs Elfilai has done to help transition into this new school and country and he said, “It would be really hard to go to a school where nobody speaks Arabic, so I found it really useful that Mrs Elfilalit could explain to me the routine of the school. Because Mrs Elfilali knows Arabic it has helped me to not slack off because I know she will not let me slip through on my grades. I Thank Mrs Elfilai for everything because it has made it a lot easier to learn and has put a lot of effort in for me to make sure I am doing well.” David has been very appreciative of what Mrs Elfilali has done for him, and she has put in a lot of work to make sure he is doing well. 

Kareem said, “If Mrs Eliflali was never here at Pembroke High School I would’ve never thought of continuing. For example, in the class selection I did not really understand any of it and without Mrs Elfilali there to help me I would have never been able to pick my classes and would not want to be at this school."

Mrs Eliflali’s impact to these students inside of her class and out has been tremendous to them. Without Mrs Elfilali these students would have a hard time fitting in, but she has made it 10 times easier for them to feel comfortable