HISTORIAS DESDE EL CORAZÓN STORIES FROM THE HEART: BUILDING EMPATHY FOR THE MIGRANTS IN OUR WORLD Sarah DeCamps Landon School, Bethesda, Maryland, United States Abstract Global citizens are individuals who actively engage in the world. They apply their knowledge and cultural sensitivity to any situation in which they might find themselves. They need to be emotionally intelligent, aware of their surroundings, and well-acquainted with global issues. Their character and behavior matter as much as their intelligence and accomplishments. As such, it is important for schools to teach students about global issues and develop opportunities for students to practice empathy and cultural sensitivity in the classroom. This research project focused on the impact of a personal storytelling unit in a Middle School Spanish language classroom of Grade 8 boys. The project coupled empathy skills with academic learning and allowed the boys to connect with people with whom they do not regularly interact in their day-to- day life. The findings from the surveys, focus groups, journals, and classroom observations demonstrated that the unit taught the boys the nuances of a complicated global issue – immigration. Through the project, they learned to identify and understand the challenges faced and emotions experienced in the characters they studied, who were real people, by reading and hearing their personal histories. Introduction Through my work with many North American boys in independent schools, I have recognized the fixed mindset of many “privileged” students via comments such as, “Spanish-speaking people in the United States are often here illegally.” While Spanish is a desirable language to learn for many students because it provides opportunities for travel and communication in the world, an ethno-centric attitude has emerged over time towards Spanish-speaking people living in the students’ own community. The role of the immigrant in society is often identified as subordinate – landscapers, cleaning services, nannies, drivers.
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HISTORIAS DESDE EL CORAZÓN STORIES FROM THE HEART ......peaceful, and inclusive societies” (United Nations). This research project introduced the boys to the diversity of the Spanish-speaking
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HISTORIAS DESDE EL CORAZÓN
STORIES FROM THE HEART: BUILDING EMPATHY FOR THE MIGRANTS IN
OUR WORLD
Sarah DeCamps
Landon School, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Abstract Global citizens are individuals who actively engage in the world. They apply their knowledge
and cultural sensitivity to any situation in which they might find themselves. They need to be
emotionally intelligent, aware of their surroundings, and well-acquainted with global issues.
Their character and behavior matter as much as their intelligence and accomplishments. As such,
it is important for schools to teach students about global issues and develop opportunities for
students to practice empathy and cultural sensitivity in the classroom. This research project
focused on the impact of a personal storytelling unit in a Middle School Spanish language
classroom of Grade 8 boys. The project coupled empathy skills with academic learning and
allowed the boys to connect with people with whom they do not regularly interact in their day-to-
day life. The findings from the surveys, focus groups, journals, and classroom observations
demonstrated that the unit taught the boys the nuances of a complicated global issue –
immigration. Through the project, they learned to identify and understand the challenges faced
and emotions experienced in the characters they studied, who were real people, by reading and
hearing their personal histories.
Introduction
Through my work with many North American boys in independent schools, I have recognized
the fixed mindset of many “privileged” students via comments such as, “Spanish-speaking
people in the United States are often here illegally.” While Spanish is a desirable language to
learn for many students because it provides opportunities for travel and communication in the
world, an ethno-centric attitude has emerged over time towards Spanish-speaking people living
in the students’ own community. The role of the immigrant in society is often identified as
Zambo, D. (2007). Using Picture Books to Provide Archetypes to Young Boys: Extending the
Ideas of William Brozo. The Reading Teacher, 61(2), 124-131. doi:10.1598/rt.61.2.2
Addendum 1: Preliminary Survey Part 1: Please describe who or what you see in the picture. Then use the word bank (or come up with your own words) to describe YOUR personal, gut reaction when you see the picture. How does it make YOU feel? Write as many words as come to mind. Word Bank To Help You: afraid ~ amused ~ angry ~ annoyed ~ anxious ~ ashamed ~ calm ~ cheerful ~ confused ~ curious dejected ~ depressed ~ disappointed ~ discouraged ~ disgusted ~ distrustful ~ ecstatic embarrassed ~ excited ~ friendly gratified ~ greedy ~ happy ~ hesitant ~ hopeless ~ horrified hostile ~ humiliated ~ ignorant ~ included ~ indifferent ~ inspired ~ interested ~ jealous ~ loving mortified ~ nervous ~ offended ~ optimistic ~ ostracized ~ overwhelmed ~ patriotic ~ peaceful proud ~ resentful ~ sad ~ scared ~ shy ~ suspicious ~ threatened ~ understood ~ uneasy uneducated ~ uninterested ~ watchful Number Image What or who is it? How does it make you feel?
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Part 2: Select an image from Part 1 and use background knowledge or your own imagination to complete the following information. Image Number: ________________________________________ Name the character(s): ________________________________________ Where do they live? ________________________________________ Where are they from? ________________________________________ Write 1-2 sentences describing what you imagine the person’s day is like. What does he/she do? Where? Any challenges he/she encounters each day? ______________________________________________________________________________
Part 3: Please answer each question according to the instructions. Complete sentences not necessary.
1. Have you ever had contact or interacted with a person whose first language is Spanish? If so, where and why?
2. What percentage of the population of the United States do you think is “Hispanic” or “Latino”?
3. Define the word “Latino” in your own words:
4. What words come to mind when you hear/see the word “immigrant” in the media or online?
5. Why would a person leave his or her home country to come to the United States?
Part 4: Please select which choice describes you.
Strongly
Agree Slightly Agree
Slightly disagree
Strongly disagree
I can recognize a person’s race or ethnicity easily I can recognize when someone is happy I can recognize when someone is upset I can recognize when something offensive has been said I have close friends who are not the same race/ethnicity as me I am easily able to talk to people I do not know I like hearing people’s opinions, even when I do not agree I believe there are two sides to every argument I care about the general wellbeing of people I do not like I get upset when someone disrespects another person I feel uncomfortable when there is disagreement in a group I think people can have good ideas even if I do not like them It upsets when I see someone treating another person unfairly In conversations with others, I tend to focus on what someone else is saying instead of my own thoughts
Part 5: Please select which choice describes you.
Strongly agree
Slightly agree
Slightly disagree
Strongly disagree
I know what the word “immigrant” means Permanently moving to another country would be scary I know why people migrate to the United States I respect a person who migrates to the United States I view immigrants as an important part of my country’s population I think there are too many immigrants in my country I interact with people who do not speak English often I notice when another language is being spoken in public When I hear another language in public, I wish I could understand it When I hear another language in public, I get a little scared I like meeting people of different ethnicities and language I think people of different ethnicities and languages are smart I think non-English speakers are “less fortunate” than me When I am in a group of people of different ethnicities, I tend to want to work with people who look like me
Addendum 2: Post-Action Survey Part 1: Now that you have spent 2 weeks learning and discussing immigrants, please describe who or what you see in the picture. Then use the word bank (or come up with your own words) to describe YOUR personal, gut reaction now when you see the picture. How does it make YOU feel? Write as many words as come to mind. Word Bank To Help You: afraid ~ amused ~ angry ~ annoyed ~ anxious ~ ashamed ~ calm ~ cheerful ~ confused ~ curious dejected ~ depressed ~ disappointed ~ discouraged ~ disgusted ~ distrustful ~ ecstatic embarrassed ~ excited ~ friendly ~ gratified ~ greedy ~ happy ~ hesitant ~ hopeless ~ horrified hostile ~ humiliated ~ ignorant ~ included ~ indifferent ~ inspired ~ interested ~ jealous ~ loving mortified ~ nervous ~ offended ~ optimistic ~ ostracized ~ overwhelmed ~ patriotic ~ peaceful proud ~ resentful ~ sad ~ scared ~ shy ~ suspicious ~ threatened ~ understood ~ uneasy uneducated ~ uninterested ~ watchful Number Image What or who is it? How does it make you feel?
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Part 2: Please answer each question according to the instructions. Complete sentences not necessary.
1. Define the word “immigrant” in your own words:
2. Why would a person leave his home country and come to the United States?
3. Over the last 2 weeks, from which lesson did you learn the most? Select ONE.
� Introductory class discussions with Mr. Norman about where your family is from � Reading/translating the story “Cajas de Cartón” � Visiting CASA de Maryland � Listening to the story of Benito’s family � Listening to Mr. Benavides’ story
Which lesson(s) elicited the most positive emotions in you? (Excitement, joy, curiosity, gratitude)
� Introductory class discussions with Mr. Norman about where your family is from � Reading/translating the story “Cajas de Cartón” � Visiting CASA de Maryland � Listening to the story of Benito’s family � Listening to Mr. Benavides’ story
Which lesson(s) elicited the most negative emotions in you? (Anger, sadness, resentment, worry)
� Introductory class discussions with Mr. Norman about where your family is from � Reading/translating the story “Cajas de Cartón” � Visiting CASA de Maryland � Listening to the story of Benito’s family � Listening to Mr. Benavides’ story
Over the last 2 weeks, which lesson was the most memorable? Select ONE.
� Introductory class discussions with Mr. Norman about where your family is from � Reading/translating the story “Cajas de Cartón” � Visiting CASA de Maryland � Listening to the story of Benito’s family � Listening to Mr. Benavides’ story
Part 3: Consider the most MEMORABLE lesson you selected in question 3 and put a check mark next to each emotion you personally felt during this lesson. Then, select FIVE emotions you felt and write a few words to say WHY you felt those emotions.
√ Why? What part of the stories triggered this emotion Afraid
Amused
Angry
Annoyed
Anxious
Ashamed
Cheerful
Confused
Curious
Disappointed
Discouraged
Embarrassed
Excited
Grateful
Happy
Hopeful
Horrified
Humiliated
Inspired
Interested
Nervous
Offended
Optimistic
Proud
Resentful
Sad
Scared
Suspicious
Uneasy
Worried
Part 3: Please select which choice describes you.
Strongly
Agree Slightly Agree
Slightly disagree
Strongly disagree
I can recognize a person’s race or ethnicity easily I can recognize when someone is happy I can recognize when someone is upset I can recognize when something offensive has been said I have close friends who are not the same race/ethnicity as me I am easily able to talk to people I do not know I like hearing people’s opinions, even when I do not agree I believe there are two sides to every argument I care about the general wellbeing of people I do not like I get upset when someone disrespects another person I feel uncomfortable when there is disagreement in a group I think people can have good ideas even if I do not like them It upsets when I see someone treating another person unfairly In conversations with others, I tend to focus on what someone else is saying instead of my own thoughts
Part 5: Please select which choice describes you.
Strongly agree
Slightly agree
Slightly disagree
Strongly disagree
I know what the word “immigrant” means Permanently moving to another country would be scary I know why people migrate to the United States I respect a person who migrates to the United States I view immigrants as an important part of my country’s population I think there are too many immigrants in my country I interact with people who do not speak English often I notice when another language is being spoken in public When I hear another language in public, I wish I could understand it When I hear another language in public, I get a little scared I like meeting people of different ethnicities and language I think people of different ethnicities and languages are smart I think non-English speakers are “less fortunate” than me When I am in a group of people of different ethnicities, I tend to want to work with people who look like me
Did you enjoy this unit? � YES or � NO Did you learn? � YES or � NO Did your perspective change at all? � YES or � NO
Addendum 3: Reflection Survey 1. In Mr. Norman's class you read "Cajas de Carton", visited Casa De Maryland, heard Mr. Benavides speak in class, and listened to a student’s Mom's video interview in class. Prior to this class, have you ever heard a personal story (face to face) about an immigrant's journey before? Write Yes or No. If yes, when? (Be specific)
2. Do you think studying personal stories (like Cajas de Cartón or Mr. Benavides) helps you understand a complicated topic (like immigration)?
Yes
No
Comment here if you want to say
why:
3. Which of the following themes (of the ones listed below) do you think emerged from the stories you read and heard in class? Check all that apply.
sadness
importance of education
motivation
exploitation
loss
family
gratitude
sacrifice
looking for a better life
hardship
Others?
4. From your memory of the stories you studied in Spanish class (example from Cajas de Cartón, Benito's video, Mr Benavides, or the field trip), what is a specific example of the theme "sadness"? A 1-2 sentence example is sufficient.
5. From your memory of the stories you studied in Spanish class (example from Cajas de Cartón, Benito's video, Mr Benavides, or the field trip), what is a specific example of the theme "the importance of education"? A 1-2 sentence example is sufficient.
6. From your memory of the stories you studied in Spanish class (example from Cajas de Cartón, Benito's video, Mr Benavides, or the field trip), what is a specific example of the theme "exploitation"? A 1-2 sentence example is sufficient.
7. From your memory of the stories you studied in Spanish class (example from Cajas de Cartón, Benito's video, Mr Benavides, or the field trip), what is a specific example of the theme "family"? A 1-2 sentence example is sufficient.
8. From your memory of the stories you studied in Spanish class (example from Cajas de Cartón, Benito's video, Mr Benavides, or the field trip), what is a specific example of the theme "sacrifice or hardship"? A 1-2 sentence example is sufficient.
9. You studied many character traits in the stories from this unit. Which of the following traits or emotions do you think you could recognize in an immigrant you might meet you have learned more about the breadth of experiences many Spanish-speaking immigrants face? Check all traits that you think you could legitimately recognize in someone else.
sadness
sacrifice
strength
anger
fear
hope
gratitude
surprise
shame
courage
exhaustion
excitement
nervousness
exploitation/being taken advantage of
happiness
level of education
Hard-working
Laziness
Confusion
Loneliness
Others?
10. In the end of unit survey most of you said the unit "changed your perception" of immigrants. Over the course of this unit, what did you learn that changed your perception of the immigrant experience? Please write at least 2 sentences. If this unit in Spanish class truly did not change your understanding of the immigrant experience that is completely okay. Instead, explain why you think you did not learn anything new.