Reading Comprehension Level A2/B1
Do you know?
Jaime Alfonso Escalante Gutiérrez was a celebrated Bolivian teacher and one of the most famous educators in America during 1980s and 1990s. He began teaching mathematics to troubled students in a Los Angeles school and became famous for leading many of them to pass the advanced placement calculus test.
Born to teacher parents, he realized that his true passion was teaching and following in their footsteps, he became an educator as well. Later, he left Bolivia in search of a better life but upon arriving in America, he learned that his teaching credentials were not sufficient to teach there. So he earned another bachelor’s degree plus an American teaching certificate in order to become an educator.
As a teacher, he strove to bring his kids to their full potential, working with them to help them understand mathematics. He is best remembered as the mathematics teacher at Garfield High School who led a group of students to excel at complex subjects such as advanced algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. A group of his students passed the advance placement exam in calculus for the first time in the history of the school—one of his greatest achievements as a teacher. He saw the potential in his students that other teachers had failed to see before, and pushed them to amazing heights.
Read the text about famous educator Jaime Escalante
Jaime Escalante was a teacher from Bolivia. He arrived in Los Angeles in 1963. He was 33 years old and he spoke almost no English.
Life was difficult for Escalante in the United States. He couldn’t be a teacher in California. He had to go to college again. It took him many years but he did it. He worked at a restaurant to support his family at the same time.
Finally when he was 43 he started to work at Garfield High School in Los Angeles. This school had a bad name. There were gangs and the students were not doing well. Soon Escalante changed things.
Jaime Escalante worked with his students. He taught them math. He used his own methods, or ways and they worked. The students learned and enjoyed their math. In 1982, fourteen of his students passed an advanced math examination. Nobody believed this. People said the students were cheating. The students wanted to show that they were not cheating. They took the exam again. And they passed again. This was a miracle in a place like Garfield! This was the work of Jaime Escalante.
Every year Escalante produced top class students. People know him as one of the best teachers in America. There is even a movie and a book about him.
Complete the sentences.
1. Jaime Escalante worked in a restaurant to … his family.
a) enjoy b) support
2. There were many … at Garfield school.
a) gangs b) families
3. Nobody believed the students passed the exam. This was a … at Garfield!
a) job b) miracle
4. Nobody believed in the results. People said the students were …
a) cheating b) arriving
5. Jaime Escalante used his own …
a) movies b) methods
6. Every year Jaime Escalante … top students.
a) learned b) produced
Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. Jaime Escalante …
- came to the USA in 1963
- came the USA at the age of 5
- was 33 when he arrived in Bolivia
2. When he was 43, Escalante started to …
- change his name
- work at Garfield High School
- do bad things
3. People think Escalante is one of the …
- top students of his class
- best students in a movie
- best teachers in America
True or false
- At 33 Jaime Escalante started to teach at Garfield High School.
- Jaime Escalante taught math.
- Garfield High School was in Los Angeles.
- In 1982, fourteen students at Garfield High School did not pass the math exam.
- There were no gangs in Garfield High School.
- There is a movie about Jaime Escalante.
Use the Past Simple
- Jaime Escalante … in Los Angeles in 1963. (to arrive)
- Jaime Escalante … almost no English. (to speak)
- At 43, Jaime Escalante … to work at Garfield High School. (to start)
- 14 of his students … the exam. (to pass)
- Nobody … the students could pass the exam. (to believe)
- People … the students were cheating. (to say)
- Escalante’s students … their math. (to enjoy)
Give your ideas on the topics.
- How do you think Escalante changed his students?
- Which are your favourite school classes? Which are you best at? Why?
- Discuss what makes a good teacher and what makes a good student.
- What is your attitude to the profession of a teacher?
Jaime Escalante was really a very good teacher. He really was crazy about his subject and profession. He showed his students how to love maths and how to succeed. It is amazing. I was also struck by the fact that he wanted to see winners in his students not losers. He inspired them to be successful. And many of his students did. If a student and a teacher are responsible and serious about achieving their goals, they will certainly achieve success and respect.
Being a teacher is very hard work. I haven’t heard about Jaime Escalante before, but now when I have read some information I’m surprised. I think he did a great job. I agree with his words “If teacher expects kids to be losers, they will be losers, if he/she expects them to be winners they will be winners”. Teachers should inspire students to learn. That’s a pity that nowadays there aren’t enough teachers like Jaime Escalante.
I think Jaime Escalante was an outstanding and very talented teacher. Escalante has changed his students for the better. He loved mathematics and his profession. He inspired students by using his own methods. I really liked and was inspired by his words: “If we expect kids to be losers, they will be losers, if we expect them to be winners they will be winners”. Unfortunately, there are few such teachers like Jaime Escalante. By the way, I found some facts about this teacher. Did you know that Escalante was the subject of the 1988 film, “Stand and Deliver”, in which he is portrayed by Edward James Olmos? And one more interesting fact: in 1993, the asteroid 5095 Escalante was named after him.