Article: Cameroonian siblings find new interest (tennis) in new country
Before reading
Read this page on the New York Junior Tennis and Learning website. Pay particular attention to the mission, history, and “NYJTL by the Numbers” sections. How many young New Yorkers does NYJTL serve? What does it offer besides free tennis lessons?
Comprehension and analysis questions
1. Who are the Ntongas? Before moving, what was their tennis experience like? How did they become involved in tennis?
2. What did Billie Jean King, tennis champion and advocate for underprivileged tennis players, say about her family and her own past? Why was she at the Leeds Centre?
3. Describe the facilities of the National Junior Tennis League. How many children are there within walking distance? How did Nadine and Marie Claire Ntonga discover the center and what did they have to do to play tennis there? What educational support does the center offer its young players?
4. What did Cesar Leon, coach and former participant of the program, say about the Ntonga children, their tennis abilities and their personal qualities?
5. What does Marie Claire say about her first six months in New York, where she only spoke French? What does his father, Pierre Ntonga, say about tennis and his children’s involvement in this sport?
What do you think?
How does tennis help the entire Ntonga family – even non-tennis playing members – ensure a smooth transition and success in the United States?
How does the NYJTL contribute to this success and, in doing so, fulfill the mission of its founder, former tennis champion Arthur Ashe?
