Freshman Mamadou Doumbouya (28’), often mistaken for an exchange student at Chelsea High School, is an immigrant seeking education in the U.S. Doumbouya speaks French, Spanish, and Puel; he’s currently learning English, so his friend Alonso Rivas (27’) helps him as a translator, assisting with communication with others. Rivas’ support ensures that Doumbouya can understand and participate in school activities despite the language challenges.
“There are not many people here that speak his first language, so it’s a little bit difficult for him,” Rivas said.
Doumbouya’s language barrier makes everyday communication difficult and oftentimes it’s Rivas who helps him out, but his story isn’t just about adjusting to a new language it’s about escaping the dangers of his home country.
“He has political problems in his country,” Rivas said. “Different groups would fight and if you go outside they might confuse you with the groups and think you are one of them, they might kill you,”
Doumbouya’s transition to the U.S wasn’t just for education but for a way for him to be safe. Now that he’s here, making new friends isn’t the easiest thing for him to do.
”Sometimes people want to talk to me,” Doumbouya said. “We don’t understand each other because I don’t understand what they’re saying to me.”
Having a language barrier is difficult for Doumbouya to connect with others, but at home it’s a different story where communication is easier but not exactly perfect.
“The family speaks a bit of Spanish, so he understands,” Rivas said. “Well, he don’t talk to his family just for like basic things but he doesn’t speak very much”
Doumbouya doesn’t just have Rivas and his home family to help him, he also has teachers who stand up and attend to his needs.
“Each class he has someone to translate for him, he has Ms. Sinocola, Ms. Beck, and Ms. Hopkins,” teacher Katherine Beck said.
Even with all of the extra help Doumbouya is getting from others adjusting to the new language, the progress isn’t necessarily smooth.
”Learning English isn’t very advanced but he’s also not going backwards,” Beck translates for Doumbouya, “He is almost stuck.”
Despite all of his struggles Doumbouya still remains the same person he was, a kindhearted and humble student just looking for some new friends. When asked if he uses his translator to vent about his peers, Doumbouya assured us of his kind and good nature.
”I don’t say it in front of you, I’m not going to say it behind you,” Doumbouya said.