Obviously, everybody's experience is different, but have you learned anything interesting from your immigrant students' reflections on Iowa? In what ways (and in what spaces) they've feel welcomed? In what ways they haven't?
Obviously, everybody's experience is different, but have you learned anything interesting from your immigrant students' reflections on Iowa? In what ways (and in what spaces) they've feel welcomed? In what ways they haven't?
I have had students that are extremely appreciative of the access to education, and others that were resentful that previous education that they had in their country would not transfer over. Some love the opportunity to learn, others frustrated at expectations that come with higher ed in the US (online homework via computer for example).
One student in particular did not enjoy the food. "It's too sweet, they put sugar in everything here."
I've worked pretty closely with students who identify as minorities due to an NSF grant, and the worst lesson I've had to deliver a student who came from a different country is how racism can present itself in public settings. This was before George Floyd, but I remember talking about potential issues with police and being believed by other students or faculty.
Thanks for sharing these different student reactions, Ted. This is what I have seen too, and that's what is so frustrating to me when people don't realize that migrants all have their own stories. And there are also little ways in which schools can be more welcoming. I was working with a school in Boston with a huge Vietnamese immigrant population, and they wondered why parents weren't more involved in their kids' academic lives. When I asked if they ever held a welcome meeting for those families outside of the HUGE open house, they said no. When I asked if they ever considered the working hours of immigrant and working class families, they said no. Welcoming families isn't just a vibe, it's an action, and often schools aren't doing enough.
Obviously, everybody's experience is different, but have you learned anything interesting from your immigrant students' reflections on Iowa? In what ways (and in what spaces) they've feel welcomed? In what ways they haven't?
I have had students that are extremely appreciative of the access to education, and others that were resentful that previous education that they had in their country would not transfer over. Some love the opportunity to learn, others frustrated at expectations that come with higher ed in the US (online homework via computer for example).
One student in particular did not enjoy the food. "It's too sweet, they put sugar in everything here."
I've worked pretty closely with students who identify as minorities due to an NSF grant, and the worst lesson I've had to deliver a student who came from a different country is how racism can present itself in public settings. This was before George Floyd, but I remember talking about potential issues with police and being believed by other students or faculty.
Thanks for sharing these different student reactions, Ted. This is what I have seen too, and that's what is so frustrating to me when people don't realize that migrants all have their own stories. And there are also little ways in which schools can be more welcoming. I was working with a school in Boston with a huge Vietnamese immigrant population, and they wondered why parents weren't more involved in their kids' academic lives. When I asked if they ever held a welcome meeting for those families outside of the HUGE open house, they said no. When I asked if they ever considered the working hours of immigrant and working class families, they said no. Welcoming families isn't just a vibe, it's an action, and often schools aren't doing enough.
"welcoming families isn't just a vibe, it's an action" ooooof that hit me!!
Me too!