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Revisiting the EAL classroom in 2009. Our successes and challenges in the last year. Successes. ESL changed to EAL A beginner class An intermediate class A sheltered Grade 10 English class A numeracy class. Challenges. 16 – 22 year old students Low first-language education
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Revisiting the EAL classroom in 2009 Our successes and challenges in the last year
Successes • ESL changed to EAL • A beginner class • An intermediate class • A sheltered Grade 10 English class • A numeracy class
Challenges • 16 – 22 year old students • Low first-language education • Beyond intermediate • Not ready for English 10 • Low math skills
We are concerned because... Risk accumulates Garbarino & Kostelny, 1996
“Home, school and community environments influence the wellbeing and success of immigrant children and youth” (Van Ngo & Schleifer, 2005). Rather than individual counselling, promote interventions in the community & avoid institutionalizing children. (Machel, 2001) Social needs
SSWIS: Makes contact with parents, translators Takes youth to appointments Helps obtain subsidized bus and leisure passes Soccer Clinic grant from City of Saskatoon Youth learn to be soccer coaches Successes
SSWIS needed at least ½ time Barriers to youth being involved in sport: How & when to register Cost Transportation to events Challenges
The New Canadian Children and Youth Study 2005 “Assuming that all refugee children have been exposed to horror, why are the rates of PTSD always less than 100%?” Emotional needs
Hyperarousal: go into permanent alert Intrusive thoughts: nightmares, flashbacks Numbing: detachment, suspension of initiative & critical judgement Judith Lewis Herman, 2001 Symptoms of Traumain3 Main Categories
Trauma affects youth's behaviour in school: Run to EAL class when fearful Constantly plan where to sit & walk Unable to concentrate Sleepy in class High absenteeism Show no emotion Involved in high risk behaviour Challenges
Behaviours misunderstood & students thought to be: Uncooperative Unmotivated Disrespectful Ungrateful for opportunity Challenges
Growing interest in EAL students: SODS chosen for WMCI annual fund-raising IWS & WMCI multicultural drumming group 7 undergraduate volunteers A graduate student's computer-assisted project Microsoft Canada providing MP3s 1st STF summer short course for EAL SK TEAL growing 3rd Moving Forward Conference: June 2010 Successes
We are often encouraged to feed and house those who have been affected by war and disease. But we often neglect healing the soul. Samite Mulondo: Musicians for World Harmony
Risk accumulates; opportunity ameliorates. Garbarino & Kostelny, 1996 Opportunities