Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 20151.

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English Language Learners and the

Acculturation Process

Analia Almada, LPC, LMFT, NCCFrancesca Reilly-McDonnell, MALourdes Rubio LPC, NBCC, DAPA

Israel Salas, MA

Minority Student Achievement Network ConferenceApril 27, 2015

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Today we are going to discuss…

The Acculturation ProcessReunited FamiliesUnaccompanied MinorsGroup Work Support for Healthy AcculturationLong Term English LearnersResources

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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LanguageDevelopment

CognitiveDevelopment

AcademicDevelopment

Socialand

CulturalProcesses

Language Acquisition for School, by Virginia P. Collier, 1994

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ESOL Resource Counselor

Special Qualifications:Bilingual and Bicultural

MA in Counseling, Psychology, Social WorkExtensive experience counseling families

and working with adolescentsKnowledgeable about the diverse community

Knowledgeable about community resources

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Each type of ELL has distinct educational needs:

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

1.Highly educated, literate newcomers

2.Under -schooled newcomers

3.Long term ELLs with 6+ years of US schooling

4.ELLs progressing successfully through a developmental sequence

5.Struggling ELLs failing to make expected progress in the mainstream

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One: What I value most about my culture…

Two: What would I miss the most about my culture if I had to immigrate

Three: What strengths from your culture would you like to bring to the new culture?

Group Activity

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Acculturation is …the process that occurs when two cultures come into long-term contact, which produces changes in the language, behaviors, and values of individuals in both cultures.

Definition of Acculturation Process

“Explaining the Gender Disparity in Latino Youth’s Education: Acculturation and Economic Value of Education”. Colón and Sanchez, 2010.

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Factors Influencing Acculturati

on

Family separatio

n

Reason for

immigration

SES

Language

Culture

English proficienc

y/education

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Acculturation used to be seen as a linear model – Now, it is viewed as

a multidimensional process

Acceptance or Rejection of Dominant Culture

Maintenance or Rejection of Original Culture

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Immigration

Elation

Culture Shock

(Resistance)

Recovery and

Optimism

Integration (Acculturation)

Model of Acculturation

From “Teaching and Learning in Multicultural Schools”, Elizabeth Coelho, 1998; and http://www.helium.com/items/2168437-processes-of-culture-change-acculturation

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School/Community

Family Stress

Immigration of Parent

Child

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Adaptation/Integration

Assimilation

Marginalization

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Acculturation

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Complete Assimilation

Rejection of home culture

Discard of native

language

Family and social

difficultie

s

Denial of previous identity

MARGINALIZATION

Rejection of new culture

Rejection of new

language

Family and social

difficulties

Exclusion from new society

Unhealthy Acculturation:Assimilation vs. Marginalization

COMPLETE ASSIMILATION

Rejection of home culture

Discard of native

language

Family and social

difficulties

Denial of previous identity

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Issues of Acculturation Attachment Separation Resentment Grief Anger Reunification New family units Differences in expectations

Reunification

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Reunited Family Video:

Leaving the Home Country

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Discussion:

What issues do you anticipate that will affect the acculturation process of the student in this situation?

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Reflection:

What are the stressors that would impact these students’ schooling?

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Reunited Video:

Arriving in the United States

Two Scenarios

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Discussion:

What are the stressors that would impact these students’ schooling?

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Reunification:◦ Separation◦ Attachment◦ Anger◦ Grief

Adaptation◦ From excitement to frustration to anger

Trends for Reunited Families

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Resentment Commitment to family in their country. Expectations

◦ Fit into the new family◦ Care for siblings◦ School attendance◦ Contribute to household expenses◦ Work

Newly arrived◦ Work vs. study◦ Condition for staying in the USA◦ Adult life in their countries

Trends for Reunited Families

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Children that come without adults Older relatives take them in Expectations to work School is temporary Expectation to be independent Little or poor supervision Transient students

Unaccompanied Minors

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Newly arrived students: Issues of acculturation Reunited students: Issues of acculturation,

separation, resentment, reunification Selected According to Student Needs:

1. Skills– Empowerment, cohesiveness. 2. Academic and/or Attendance Groups3. Relationships4. Coping with trauma5. Career exploration6. Anger and stress management

Grade level groups Support groups

Focus of group work

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Bullying Dating Parental control Gender roles in society

Religion

Domestic Violence History of political tensions

Clothing Eating habits School system Substance abuse

Consider these topics from a cultural perspective:

Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Students are able to process the impact of the immigration experience

Students are able to concentrate in the academics during classes, instead of acting out their desperation

Students find a place where others share their experiences and find solutions together

Impact of the Group on Student Members

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Academic Language and Skills for Success (ALAS) Parent Leadership Facilitation Latino Youth Leadership Conference and other

Leadership Opportunities Multicultural Parent Conference Clubs: Latin American Student Association,

Hispanic Student Association, International Club, Latinos for Excellence

Lunch Bunch Community Partnerships The Dreamers Project Parenting Workshops

Additional strategies for supporting healthy acculturation of English Language Learners:

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“Their conversational ability in English is similar to that of a native speaker. Nevertheless, they have not developed academic English, and their school performance is well below average. They need academic support from teachers who are knowledgeable about second-language issues but they do not need the kind of support designed for special education students.”

(Freeman & Freeman 2002, p. 29)Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

Social English language proficiency may give a false impression of academic English proficiency and readiness for academic rigor:

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Long Term English Language Learners:

7 years+

Low Literacy in 0wn language

Below grade level achievement

Low test scores

False perception of their academic achievement

Oral English proficiency vs. Academic English Proficiency

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Experience conflicting cultural identification:-they are Americans but see themselves as marginalized

Need support from staff who are knowledgeable about the process of acculturation

Need support from staff knowledgeable about the process of English language acquisition

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Resources:For information and specific ways of addressing the issues of Immigrant Reunification visit Silvia’ Burwell’s Blog: THE IMMIGRANT FAMILY: HEALING THE LOST BOND

MPI (Migration Policy Institute) Free Webinars on Regions:·       Africa (sub-Saharan) ·         Asia and the Pacific ·         Central America & the Caribbean ·         Europe ·         European Union ·         Middle East & North Africa ·         North America ·         United States ·         Canada ·         Mexico ·         South America Arlington Public Schools, ESOL/HILT Counselors, 2015

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Other Resources:Reunifed Family Video

Bridge Manual for research and assessment information regarding ELLsEmail [email protected] for more information

For Descriptor of each English Language Proficiency Level visit WIDA Website: www.wida.com

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Questions and Comments?