ESL MiniConference Top Ten Picks at TESOL

Topic: Refugee Concerns (Only 7 selected)

#1334: Maintaining motivation in a refugee ESL program

Discussion Group

Wednesday, 7:30 am to 8:15 am, Room 340

In many resettlement programs, refugees are required to attend ESL classes instead of choosing to do so. Refugees may be overwhelmed with work and becoming

financially self-sufficient, thus believing that required classes keep them from addressing more pressing issues. This discussion explores ways ESL programs can

sustain student motivation.

Sharon McCreary

#1339: Refugee stories and the oral tradition

Discussion Group

Wednesday, 7:00 pm to 7:45 pm, Room 340

This discussion explores the possibilities or ways of collecting refugee students' personal stories and putting them in an anthology of oral history. Ideas and

suggestions on how to develop this project are shared.

Asli Hassan-Berhie

#1015: Silenced voices speak out

Academic Session

Thursday, 8:30 am to 11:15 am, Camden Room 2

This session brings together educators, researchers, and refugee students to address the cogitive, emotional, and social needs of the refugee community. Nega

Debela presents research regarding language issues inherent to refugee resettlement. Participants compare current refugee ESL theory and practice with the needs

refugees themselves have indentified.

Debela Nega

#2927: The challenges of resettling the Somali Bantus

Paper; Sociolinguistics/culture

Thursday, 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm, Room 340

As rural and unexposed to the Western world as the Hmong or Ethiopian Falasha resettled to Israel, Somali Bantus present particular and daunting resettlement

challenges. This workshop provides an overview of resettling Somali Bantus who lived in Dadaab refugee camp for 10 years.

Pindie Stephen

#4088: Update on Services to Elderly Refugees grant

Paper; TSR

Friday, 10:30 am to 11:15 am, Room 340

Growing older in the United States is challenging enough without the additional complications of being a refugee and needing to learn English to pass the

Immigration and Naturalization Service citizenship test. ORR's

new Services to Elderly Refugees grant provides hope and opportunities for education, networking, and referral.

Molly O'Shea; Steven Rainey

#4534: Advocacy in low-incidence districts for second generation learners

Paper; Sociopolitical concerns

Friday, 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm, Room 340

California's Proposition 227 eliminating bilingual education programming generated debates over ESL programming throughout the country. Community members

and educators are questioning HOW ESL should be taught. The presenters explored one regional case, share the laws pertinent to language development

programs, define different programming options, and discuss alternative programming.

Kate Mastruserio Reynolds; Julie Alder; Dale Gable; Beth Kozbial Ernest

#2494: My students are my teachers

Paper; Sociolinguistics/culture

Saturday, 10:30 am to 11:15 am, Room 340

Using interviews he conducted with refugee students, the presenter discusses what he has learned about the real needs of his students, and how their life stories

have altered his teaching. He also shows how teachers can be more effective if they know their students personally.

John Stasinopoulos