Applied Diversity
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Applied Diversity
.more than just a topic.
Elisabeth L. ChanNorthern Virginia Community College
My Lens
• 4th generation Chinese-American from Memphis, Tennessee
• ESL in the US• EAP• Higher education
– 4 year universities (IEP)– 2 year community college (semester-
based)• My research: race, language, and
culture
Student Pondering
• “Why are Americans unfriendly?”– Saudi male
• “(A little boy) calls me China Man. I don’t like it, but I don’t know what I can say.”– Chinese male, 19 years old
Student Reflections
• “My customer yelled at me that I should learn English or go back to where I came from. Then my manager told me the customer is always right.”– Ethiopian female
• “I’m unlucky because I was born speaking Chinese and not English.”– Chinese female
Me PonderingHow do I
avoid imposing my
cultural views?
What is the extent of my
social responsibilitie
s?
Me Pondering
What makes it more than just another topic? Where does
the language instruction
play in?
Me Pondering
What does it look like in
the classroom? What will
have the greatest impact?
Me Pondering
Is it really
worth it?
Imposing?
• Rapport
• To be or not to be neutral
• Cross-cultural conflict resolution– http://www.mediate.com/articles/ford5.cfm
• Education, children, customs, beliefs – http://www.ehow.com/info_8773113_not-impose
-customs-beliefs-others.html
Social Responsibility
• Educator• Teacher• Advisor• Counselor• Cheerleader• Referee• Confidant
• English– Formal– Informal
• Culture– Cultural norms and
mores– Academic culture &
expectations
“Tourist” Multiculturalism
• Stages– Acknowledge differences– Learn about differences– Respect differences– Celebrate differences– Recognize similarities
More than a topic
• Hometown• Pets• Money• School• Jobs• Travel• Music• Hobbies
• Family/Friends• Work • Stories/Novels• Poetry• Movies• Sports• Food• Clothes
Class Time
• Beginner– “Cultural Myth vs. Truth”– Simple present; true/false
• Intermediate– “Poetry: Maya Angelou” (tolerance.org)– Present Perfect, Passive; analysis
• Advanced– “Culture, Not a Costume” (Ohio Univ.)– Conditionals & Noun Clauses; debate
So What?
• Impact– Subtle (passive osmosis)– Evident
• need a tangible outcome• Task-based (TBLT)
Worth it?
Thank you!
Elisabeth L. [email protected];
Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria campus
TESOL Diversity & Inclusion Committee
TESOL Social Responsibility IS Chair-Elect
http://www.slideshare.net/ElisabethChan