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

Social needs

“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)

Successes

SSWIS:Makes contact with parents, translatorsTakes youth to appointmentsHelps obtain subsidized bus and leisure passes

Soccer Clinic grant from City of SaskatoonYouth learn to be soccer coaches

Challenges

SSWIS needed at least ½ time

Barriers to youth being involved in sport: How & when to registerCostTransportation to events

Emotional needs

The New Canadian Children and Youth Study2005

“Assuming that all refugee children have been exposed to horror, why are the rates of PTSD

always less than 100%?”

Symptoms of Traumain

3 Main Categories Hyperarousal: go into permanent alertIntrusive thoughts: nightmares, flashbacksNumbing: detachment, suspension of initiative & critical judgement

Judith Lewis Herman, 2001

Challenges

Trauma affects youth's behaviour in school:Run to EAL class when fearfulConstantly plan where to sit & walkUnable to concentrateSleepy in classHigh absenteeism Show no emotionInvolved in high risk behaviour

Challenges

Behaviours misunderstood & students thought to be:UncooperativeUnmotivatedDisrespectfulUngrateful for opportunity

Successes

Growing interest in EAL students:SODS chosen for WMCI annual fund-raisingIWS & WMCI multicultural drumming group7 undergraduate volunteersA graduate student's computer-assisted projectMicrosoft Canada providing MP3s1st STF summer short course for EALSK TEAL growing 3rd Moving Forward Conference: June 2010

Samite Mulondo: Musicians for World Harmony

We are often encouraged to feed and house those who have been affected by

war and disease.

But we often neglect healing the soul.

Opportunities

Risk accumulates; opportunity ameliorates.

Garbarino & Kostelny, 1996