Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.0.Beta5/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id TAA05980; Mon, 9 Nov 1998 19:17:46 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 19:17:46 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <36478532.4A5F@interaccess.com> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Aliza Becker <alzbec@interaccess.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:2503] Re: : effective teacher - cultural X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (Win95; I) I have learned a lot from this discussion. Here a some thoughts on the topic. 1. Convictions for certain behavior has serious immigration consequences. The grounds have expanded greatly under recent immigration law. For example, convictions for domestic violence, sex with a minor, and voting when you are not a citizen are now deportable offenses. Numerous immigrants and refugees unaware of these laws pr who did not take them seriously have been placed in deportation proceedings. In most cases, they are deported and cannot ever legally return to the United States. Crimes that a citizen might be given community service for have a very different consequences for non-citizens. While we can not mandate behavior, it is important that our students are aware of the serious potential consequences. 2. If we want to bring about change in an individual's behavior, our most effective tool is listening respectfully and giving correct information where appropriate. While in point #1 I pointed out the serious consequences of the law, the student is more likely to not engage in these behaviors if he or she makes a decision based on thinking rather than force or threats. People need attention to process the information, compare it with what they already know and come to their own conclusion about what to do. 3. I don't think it's correct to take a liberal attitude about certain behaviors. We need to stand up for what is correct in a thoughtful way and not sit on the fencepost. This, however, can be very confusing for those of us from the United States who are working with immigrants and refugees. Those of us raised in the United States have been ingrained with the idea that we know better, whether it be from a perspective of traditional patriotic values or from an alternative viewpoint. I was raised in the 1960s and 70s with the idea that the government was corrupt and exploitative, but when I went and lived in the 3rd world I was surprised to find myself thinking how much more progressive we were in the United States. For example, we don't advertise for single, attractive secretaries in the newspaper and we say what we mean instead of letting people guess. Even as one who was raised anti-establishment, I found I had these same feelings of superiority with different content than the traditional patriotic images. As ESL teachers in intimate contact with immigrants and refugees, it is easier to see where our students take positions or act in ways that seem off. They are from a culture that is very different than ours, they are often people of color, and they often look up to us for advice. There are thousands of people born in the United States who act in ways that are hurtful to others, but we don't say anything or try to make a change. Perhaps they are too much like us, perhaps we don't think we can do anything. Whatever the reason, it is easier to focus on our students rather than on the oppressive behavior of those from our own culture. I think that we need to take a position, letting people hurt others in the name of "I'm OK, your're OK" is not acceptable. On the other hand, we need to act from a solid base, not out of a sense of superiority. A story I thought I would share: I had a Somali adjustment counselor/job placement colleague who thought there was nothing wrong with circumcising females, after all they do it to men as well. My officemates avoided discussing these issues with him beyond possible legal problems. They thought he was a great guy and just didn't want to broach this touchy subject. He was in an important position of influence with recently arrived refugees. It didn't seem right to me, so I decided to take him on, not in a heavy handed way, but at least to provide a forum for him to talk about his beliefs and what led him to reach those conclusions. I spent a a lot of time listening and provided him with information I had researched. Later I overheard him telling another colleague that circumcision was a terrible thing to do to females.
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