I have recently started work at the Refugee Council and am working with beginners. Does anyone have any advice for topics and lessons which would work well with my new students?
Thanks! Bex
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Comments
siggie
Hi Bex,
Dependant on the host country. I speak as a teacher in England having taught refugees/asylum seekers. I think that they most welcome practical information; for example reading/understanding signage Way In/Way Out/No Entry/keep left/Toilets etc.
Other practical examples include opening and operating bank accounts. Enrolment in education facilities, social security issues, taxation, benefit claiming etc.
As for classroom activity, all of my students were from many different backgrounds and countries. Try to split them up into seperate groups; Don't bunch all the Somalis together on one table and all the Afghans on another table. Mix them up into multilinguistic groups and this encourages them to speak English among their group and not lapse into their native tongue. Hope this may help a little.
Siggie
iriselina
Hello,
In addition to helping them learn about the host country (as suggested here ) it helps to make them talk about their home country, in mixed groups, so that talking becomes more natural.
I have asked them to bring photographs of familiies or their own countries and explain events, places or people to each other. This is a variation of self-introduction and easier as they are being helped to get over their present feeling of alienness.
Though I did not teach refugees as such I did identify with foreign students and tried to keep their memories of home alive! It is therapeutic too.
One student brought me pictures of his grandfather's funeral and since his customs were so different from those here we asked a lot of questions and he explained very well using a dictionary at times! But the participation was fun to watch and the effect on the student was positive.
Iris