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Digital Stories and Refugee Immigrants

Digital Stories and Refugee Immigrants. Winooski Middle School Beginner’s English Language Learners “Our Stories”. Overview. More than 5 million English language learners ( ELLs ) attend school in the U.S. ( Ballantyne , Sanderman , & Levy, 2008). Some Facts.

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Digital Stories and Refugee Immigrants

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  1. Digital Stories and Refugee Immigrants • Winooski Middle School • Beginner’s English Language Learners • “Our Stories”

  2. Overview • More than 5 million English language learners (ELLs) attend school in the U.S. (Ballantyne, Sanderman, & Levy, 2008)

  3. Some Facts • Of 47 million throughout the U.S., 18% speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003c) • In the West (37%), Midwest (9%), and the South (15%) • California, New Mexico, Texas, New York, Hawaii, Arizona, and New Jersey

  4. Vermont ELL Growth

  5. Who are our English Language learners? • Some have had a rigorous formal education in their native country • Others, particularly refugee children, may have had limited or interrupted formal schooling before coming to the U.S. • “The largest and fastest-growing populations of ELLs in the U.S. consist of students who immigrated before kindergarten and U.S.-born children of immigrants” (Center on Instruction, 2007)

  6. Cultural Views of Foreign-Born English Language Learners • ELLs generally have an idealized view of the U.S. • Unless they have had an opportunity to study U.S. history and culture before arriving, most ELLs are not aware of history, customs, and traditions • In general, ELLs experience their own differences as positive

  7. The Vermont Context • 2007-2008 school year – approximately 1, 650 ELLs in Vermont • From 1998-99 to 2007-2008, the ELL enrollment in Vermont increased by 81 percent • Vermont ELL students speak over 90 languages and come from 97 countries on 6 continents

  8. Student Digital Stories • 16 students in the beginner’s English as a Second Language classroom completed their digital stories • Language groups included Bhutanese, Nepali, Iraqi, Vietnamese, Somali, and Thai

  9. Student Digital Story Project • “This I Believe” • Short stories, narratives, biographies, and poetry • Lots and lots of writing!

  10. Lots of Group Work!

  11. Summary of Findings • Writing improvement • Value of writing revision • Community & Collaboration

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