Incorporating Learners' Cultural and LanguagePpriorities in a Haitian Adult Education Community Program
1. INCORPORATING LEARNERS'
CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE
PRIORITIES IN A HAITIAN ADULT
EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROGRAM
Andrea DeCapua, Ed.D.
NABE Annual Convention
Orlando, FL
February 9, 2013
2. Students with Limited/Interrupted
Formal Education
How do we refer to them?
LFS Limited Formally Schooled
SIFE Students with Interrupted Formal
Education
SLIFE Students with Limited/Interrupted/
Formal education
3. Background to Study
The Mutually Adaptive Learning Paradigm
(MALP) Instructional Model
Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT)
(DeCapua & Marshall, 2009, 2010, 2011; Marshall, 1994, 1998; Gay,
2000; 2001; Ladson-Billings, 1995)
4. Mutually Adaptive Learning Paradigm and
Culturally Responsive Teaching
• Cultural competence
• Cultural congruity
• Culturally relevant curriculum
• Supportive learning community
• Effective classroom interaction
(Gay, 2001; Ladson-Billings, 1995)
5. Cultural Competence
Figure 1.1 The Iceberg Model
Culture Model: Tip of
the Iceberg
food visible culture
dance architecture
literature holidays
music clothing
ways of learning hidden
culture
ways of teaching
assumptions about teacher / student roles
concept of time importance of print
role of group
role of individual
(DeCapua & Marshall, 2011; Ting-Toomey& Chang, 2005)
6. Two Different Learning Paradigms
Aspects of SLIFE North American
Learning Classrooms
Immediate Future
CONDITIONS Relevance Relevance
Interconnectedness Independence
Shared Individual
PROCESSES Responsibility Accountability
Oral Transmission Written Word
Pragmatic Tasks Decontextualized
ACTIVITIES Classroom Tasks
(Adapted from DeCapua & Marshall, 2009, 2011; Marshall, 1994,1998)
7. Mutually Adaptive Learning Paradigm (MALP)
SLIFE North American
Classrooms
Immediate Future
Accept learner
Relevance Relevance
conditions
Interconnectedness Independence
Combine learner &
North American Shared Individual
processes Responsibility Accountability
with
Oral
Transmission Written Word
Focus on new
activities with
Pragmatic Academic
familiar language Tasks
& content Tasks
(Adapted from DeCapua & Marshall, 2009, 2010, 2011; Marshall 1994, 1998)
8.
9. Haitian Adult Learning Center
• Community-Based Organization (CBO)
• 2 ESL levels
• High demand for English language &
literacy classes
• SLIFE population
• Volunteer Teachers
10. Teacher & Class
• Volunteer
• MALP-trained
• Master’s in TESOL student
• Assistant (last 3 months)
• Occasional creole-speaking volunteer
• Once weekly, five months instruction
• Class ranged in size from 12 – 32
11. Students
• English oral proficiency: very low beginner to
advanced beginner
• Alphabet recognition to basic sentence
formation
• Little or no French
• Formal education 2 – 14 years
• 16-70 years old, majority over 40
• In the U.S. 3 months – 7 years
• Almost all female, only 2 males
12. Design of Study
• Intake assessment
• Informal interviews
• Outtake assessment
• Classroom observations
• Video recordings, photos
• MALP Checklist
• Journaling
14. Preliminary Results
• Underscored importance of immediate
relevance
• Validated necessity of introducing
classroom language and behaviors using
familiar language and content
• Created positive learning experience
• Introduced classroom learning tasks
• Developed literacy skills
15. Limitations of Study
• Classroom observations
• Video recordings
• Photos
• Journaling
• Limited interviews
• No formal assessments
• 1 teacher
16. Difficulties of Implementing Controlled
Studies in CBOs vs. K-12 settings
• Loosely structured programs
• Funding issues
• Lack of consistent attendance
• Volunteer teachers
• Lack of consistent training, pedagogical
support
17. Questions for Researchers
• Should such research be disqualified?
• Is it valuable if it is not controlled or
“scientific?”
• How do we draw the line between
anecdotal and research?
• What can we do to improve the quality of
research given the realities of CBO’s?
18. Male Day Laborers’ Program
• Expansion of trial study
• Drop-in
• Volunteer teachers
• Strong funding sources--good resources,
including computers
• Primarily Spanish speakers
• No video taping or recording
19. Special thanks to Kathryn Mercury
without whom
this project would not have been possible
20. Selected References
DeCapua, A., & Marshall, H.W. (2011). Breaking new ground:
Teaching students with limited or interrupted formal education.
Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
DeCapua, A. & Marshall, H.W. (2010a). Serving ELLs with
limited or interrupted education: Intervention that works. TESOL
Journal, 1, 49-70.
DeCapua A., & Marshall, H.W. (2010b). Students with limited
or interrupted formal education in US classrooms. Urban
Review, 42, 159-173. DOI 10.1007/s11256-009-0128-z.
DeCapua, A., Smathers, W., & Tang, F. (2009). Students with
limited or interrupted schooling: A guide for educators. Ann
Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
Gay, G. (2000). Culturally responsive teaching: Theory,
research, and practice. New York: Teachers College Press.
Gay, G. (2002). Preparing for culturally responsive teaching.
Journal of Teacher Education, 53, 106-116.
21. Gahungu, A., Gahungu, O., & Luseno, F. (2011, April 15). Educating
culturally displaced students with truncated formal education (CDS-
TFE): The case of refugee students and challenges for administrators,
teachers, and counselors. http://cnx.org/content/m37446/1.1/
Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a theory of culturally relevant
pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 465-491.
Marshall, H.W. & DeCapua A. (2009). The newcomer booklet: A
project for limited formally schooled students. ELT Journal, 64, 396-
404.
Marshall, H. W., & DeCapua, A., & Antolini, C. (2010). Engaging
English language learners with limited or interrupted formal education.
Educator’s Voice, 3, 56-65.
Smith, C., & Hofer, J. (2003). The characheteristcs and concersns of
adult basic education teachers. Boston: National Center for the Study
of Adult Learning and Literacy.
http://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/resources/research/report26.pdf
Ting-Toomey, S., & Chung, L. (2005). Understanding intercultural
communication. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publications.
Local Education Agencies LEA—These are typically public schools or school districts. In addition to K-12 education, they provide adult education classes open to all members of the community. • Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)—This is a broad category which encompasses religious and social service groups, libraries, volunteer literacy organizations, literacy coalitions, community action groups, and other kinds of public or private nonprofit groups.
Not clear whether education in French or creole, although understood very little French. Aide indicated that French was not something most felt comfortable with, either understanding or speaking.
Photos of board, students’ notebooks, paper, class
Established warm classroom climateBuilt relationships with teacher and observersHow do we know above: Evidence anecdotal—give specific examples. Describe before and after classroom. Describe wall supports. Yes to literacy anecdotally, starting using wall supports, writing not just form letters– few at least.
Nature of program itself makes it difficult to see improvement; however, certain indicators, e.g. world-of-mouth in terms of increased number of students coming (not in terms of increased attendance—family demands, work demands, weather,) So—need to reconsider research –how can we conduct effective research in such situations? Premise is NOT to abandon research because these populations often neglected! Train teachers—even volunteers, to reach these students. Type of advocacy. Move into ARC—Joanne.Nature of centers, etc. but preliminary indicationsNature of programs (CBOs) make it difficult to see improvement; however, certain indicators, e.g. world-of-mouth in terms of increased number of students coming (not in terms of increased attendance—family demands, work demands, weather,)