tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post1876401293930126259..comments2023-12-08T03:29:25.202-05:00Comments on Adult Literacy @ VCU: Chasing squirrels over spring breakSusan Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203951366654414340noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-50747507954837297762013-03-19T11:29:16.861-04:002013-03-19T11:29:16.861-04:00Hello, all:
I read this article early in the seme...Hello, all:<br /><br />I read this article early in the semester, and it really jarred me, even before we talked about any of this. I know I personalized it, but because of my life, I kept thinking about all the Discourses I participate (or try to participate) in. I tend to be on the periphery of some, and engaged in others. I know that when I first encounter a Discourse, I try to make out the rules. Personal issues have taught me that rules are very important in my life. They let me raise my children for several years by myself in a new city. They let me keep control of rambunctious Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. Now I look at what I used to think of as groups as Discourses, and I see more than just the membership; I see a larger society. I really liked the chapter. It resonated. My son has found a Discourse he is comfortable with - Rocky (Rocky Horror Picture Show shows). He is getting old to participate, but the Discourse is very accepting of his quirks and he has learned a great deal about interaction from it. The Discourse for many Asperger's is the characters of Third Rock - they don't understand why humans do some of the things they do, they just know they have to learn them to get by. How many of us enter a corporate Discourse where we learn behaviors without necessarily learning the reason behind them? I've taught several students from large companies that have a strong corporate culture, and I believe in the concept that a person is amenable to a Discourse before joining. So many Discourses, so little time to reflect. I'll follow the lead of others to some extent, to belong to a Discourse, but either my age, my experiences, or my personality sometimes keep me from totally inculating a Discourse. Now I understand more of it. Unraveled thoughts, but it creates a more observant Me.cpscathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00269967223534383786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-45175588565870256782013-03-12T15:19:10.884-04:002013-03-12T15:19:10.884-04:00Loved this post Susan! I especially enjoyed your ...Loved this post Susan! I especially enjoyed your reference to "chasing squirrels" from our G&T class:) I enjoyed the readings this week immensely as it has really brought about a change in perspective regarding how others may see what is set in front of them one way, and yet a varied Discourse can lend a totally different view! The example that you mentioned regarding the law students in the article was eye opening to me. To consider the law students as possibly part of two different Discourses allows one to consider how so many students may read the exact same text in a classroom and find themselves with a few different interpretations. It can also provide some guidance as to why some students may struggle as they do. Good luck with your adventures in ESOL, I applaud you for trying to see your students with a different lens!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-7617331926228288142013-03-06T09:04:08.057-05:002013-03-06T09:04:08.057-05:00I can't seem to get past this topic....
An art...I can't seem to get past this topic....<br />An article in the March TESOL Internatonal journal http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tesj.67/pdf Raising Critical Consciousness via Creative Writing in the EFL Classroom details how one prof used the approach of taking another's perspective to raise critical awareness. He assigned his junior college students the task of writing about specific, sensitive topics from the position of a marginalized group in their society (in Japan). Japanese education is often criticized for being narrowly focused on examinations as a way to measure achievement, and not promoting creativity and critical thinking. Putting students in the place of different marginalized groups to critically analyze Discourse of the dominant culture, and reflecting on the process at the end of the semester, was the approach. Based on student feedback, the prof felt learning objectives were met. <br /><br />I try to take the perspective of ESOL students I work with, to imagine what they must think about the Discourse here in Prince William County, to learn what they think of the examples I posted above. I'm beginning to think I'm not understanding their perspectives at all. I usually fail at getting much of a response when approaching sensitive topics in class. I talked about some of the ESOL learners, and the kinds of literacies they practice. I'm not sure how critical they are of the ways they are marginalized in the community. True, they all speak of being intimidated with their English, of rude Americans. I think many learners have a very different way of knowing as described in "Women's Ways of Knowing" (Belenky et al.). "Literacy alone does not lead automatically to reflective, abstract thought..." (p.25). I want learners to take a critical stance, I want them to react to what they see in the community, I want them to see that it can be different. I simply want them to question, not take at face value, what is all around them. I'm not sure they have the inner voice, or a way to deflect negativity. <br /><br />So, after reading this TESOL article and remembering the basics of problem posing education (e.g., Freire, Vella) I may try to pose the problem of what to do if you are in charge of the County, how to run things differently in a way that helps immigrants. Since they are a marginalized group, I would be asking them to consider another possibility. I would love to know how they would run the ESOL program differently! Thx for listening. <br />Susan Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03203951366654414340noreply@blogger.com