YVETTE G. FLORES, Ph.D NOLAN ZANE, Ph.D. ARISE SUMMER INSTITUTE JUNE 2011 CULTURAL NUANCED LEARNING
Cultural Nuanced Learning: Definitions The ways in which culture influences how students learn and teachers teach Culture is the lens through which we perceive reality Cultural background influences learning and teaching
Our goals for this week Explore the cultural context of ELL students Increase our understanding of the influence of language and culture on students’ learning style and help seeking patterns Increase our knowledge regarding the impact on students of cultural misunderstanding, microaggressions, and migration- related stressors Identify how our cultural assumptions and knowledge facilitate or challenge the teaching of ELL students
Video clip
Group discussion Reflecting on the video clip What are some characteristics of ELL and/or immigrant students What strengths do they bring to school? What particular challenges do they face? What strategies have you found useful to engage them in school and motivate them to learn?
Immigrant and ELL students Live in two cultural worlds Must learn dual cultural system Culture of the family and the home Culture of the school and the dominant society Can experience acculturative stress As a result of being an ELL student Challenges of learning a new language Concerns about language competency Having an accent, not being understood, not knowing “the word” …..of facing microaggressions for being considered an ethnic minority …..of not feeling understood by parents and/or educators
Cut out activity You are receiving a cut-out. This cut-out represents an ELL student that has been challenging to you Utilizing the note pads, write the characteristics of the student Identify the ELL issues that may be affecting this student Identify the migration related issues that may be important to consider
Juan, Alicia and Johnny Reflect on these student scenarios We will discuss them each day and explore how the information presented may help you engage and increase the academic success of similar students
Preparing for tomorrow We will review differences in cognitive style how these differences influence the ways in which children learn, how they process information, and behave in the classroom