Abstract
This study focuses on the current immigration situation in the U.S.A. and its impact on the education of immigrant students who speak languages from Middle Eastern countries. Recent events have intensified the immigration of families from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and other Middle Eastern countries to the U.S.A. This population of students presents particular challenges to educators and administrators who are not familiar with the cultures and languages of this region of the world. In order for this population of students to receive an equitable education, the negative stereotypes, prejudices, and biases that exist in the schools must be addressed. The purpose of this study is to hear the voices of the students, to get their perspectives on their educational experience, and to thoughtfully consider their recommendations for improving the education of future immigrant students. In order to get this information I interviewed ten (10) former and present public school students from Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. The interviews focused of their background information, immigration experiences, and the quality of their education. Their perspectives on ways to improve teacher attitudes, curriculum changes that reflect their languages and cultures, and advice for future immigrant students were also part of the interviews. In addition, this study addresses how to improve cultural and language misunderstandings between educators and students and provides recommendations for improving their overall educational experience. This study can assist teachers and administrators of immigrant students to develop an understanding of how to address the challenges faced by this population of students.
Presenters
Terrence McCainProfessor of Bilingual Education and ESL, Department of Education, Development, Teaching, and Learning (EDTL), Central Washington University, Washington, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Learner Diversity and Identities
KEYWORDS
Middle Eastern Languages, Farsi, Arabic, Dari, Turkish, Hebrew, Culture, Academic
