Helping ESOL Students Find Their Voice in Nature
Sweden. It’s the land of Ikea, the great outdoors, generous parental leave, and those famous meatballs. To Cobb County teacher Malin Nichols, though, it’s simply “home.”
Malin first came to the U.S. for a career in hospitality. But when marriage and family made the demands of running a resort incompatible with her new life, she began searching for something more family-friendly. Teaching was a natural fit. Fourteen years later, she has found her place teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for Cobb County Schools. For the last eight years at Fair Oaks Elementary, she’s thrived in a role that combines her love of languages with her ability to connect with students navigating life in a new country.
As a Swede, Malin grew up immersed in a culture of recycling and sustainability. “For us, it’s just what we do,” she said. “I find that if we start teaching children early about topics like sustainability and recycling, it is more likely to become a natural part of their everyday lives—not something extra or optional.”
When she first arrived at Fair Oaks, Malin noticed there was no recycling program. She worked with teachers and parents to change that. Along the way, she discovered My Green Earth (MGE) through its in-house field trip program—a model that brings bilingual instructors, activities, and materials directly into schools, removing transportation barriers and enriching learning right on campus.
Her students had the chance to step outside and explore the species growing around their own schoolyard. They learned how to tell the difference between invasive and native plants, searched for plant treasures of their own in the grass, and asked thoughtful questions about the ecosystem right in front of them. The experience sparked excitement and curiosity. Malin reflected after the experience, noting how much the students appreciated the chance to engage with science and language in such a hands-on way.
The field trips are a powerful tool not just for teaching science, but also for building English skills. Describing what they found in nature gave students authentic reasons to practice vocabulary, ask questions, and share ideas—all while connecting to concepts from their grade-level curriculum.
Over time, she has watched Fair Oaks embrace sustainability in many ways, from recycling bins in classrooms to participating in MGE’s holiday lights recycling program. These small actions add up, she insists, and they are changes anyone can encourage.
“When you go into a school or business, ask where the recycling is. Think twice about drinking from plastic water bottles, and carry a reusable water bottle instead. If your children are on sports teams, suggest eliminating single-use bottles or, at the very least, make sure recycling receptacles are on the fields. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make these changes.”
For Malin, sustainability isn’t just a lesson plan. It’s a way of life—and one she’s determined to pass on to the next generation of students who, just like her, are learning to feel at home in a new place.
