OBJECTIVES:

Throughout the course participants will:

• Independently read and analyze course texts;
• Examine and think critically about their own experiences with refugee and immigrant EL students;
• Learn how storytelling can help facilitate empathy and understanding in any classroom;
• Engage in discussion forums, reflecting on the course texts and other participants discussion questions and answers through Google Classroom.

"GREAT COURSE. WONDERFUL MATERIALS. FANTASTIC THOUGHTS FROM THE ASSIGNMENTS."

"IT HAS A GREAT DEAL OF MEANINGFUL CONTENT THAT ALL SCHOOL STAFF COULD UTILIZE AND BENEFIT FROM IN THEIR ROLE."

"I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TEACHERS TO EXPERIENCE THE PERSPECTIVES OF IMMIGRANT STUDENTS."

"APPLICABLE AND INTERESTING."

"GAINING KNOWLEDGE DIRECTLY FROM STUDENTS ON THEIR LIVES AND ESCAPE FROM THEIR COUNTRY INTO AMERICA WAS SO VALUEABLE. VERY POWERFUL!"

"THE INSTRUCTOR PROVIDED CLEAR EXPECTATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS. THE INFORMATION SHE PRESENTED IN THE COURSE WAS CURRENT, PRACTICAL, AND EXTREMELY INTERESTING. I THINK ALL TEACHERS SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE. IT BROADENS ONE'S CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES."

"THE GOOGLE CLASSROOM WAS VERY ACCESSIBLE AND EASY TO NAVIGATE. THE ASSIGNMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES WERE WELL-PRESENTED, AND THE INSTRUCTOR WAS FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. SHE RESPONDED TO EMAILS IN A PROFESSIONAL AND TIMELY MANNER. SHE HAD ALL OF THE CLASS INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ORGANIZED."

"I ENJOYED WRITING MY REFLECTIONS ON MY LEARNING AND BEING ABLE TO CREATE AN ACTION PLAN TO TAKE THE INSTRUCTION INTO MY CAREER."

"THE ASSIGNMENTS WERE WORTHWHILE AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING. I ESPECIALLY LIKED APPLYING WHAT I LEARNED TO MY PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE REFLECTION JOURNALS."

"THE RESOURCES PROVIDED WERE AMAZING - LOVED READING THEM ALL!"

"THE COURSE OUTLINE WAS PRECISE AND WELL-ORGANIZED."

"ENJOYED LEARNING PERSPECTIVES OF THE DIFFERENT STUDENTS' BACKGROUNDS, EXPERIENCES AND BEING ABLE TO GET IDEAS FROM OTHER TEACHERS. THE DISCUSSIONS WERE SO INTERESTING AS EACH PERSON HAD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TO BRING."

"EVERYTHING ABOUT THE COURSE WILL BE HELPFUL IN MY WORK."

"GREAT INFORMATION TO USE WITH A LARGE POPULATION OF OUR STUDENTS."

"VERY RELEVANT TO TEACHING ESL." 

'"THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THIS COURSE THROUGH NDSU. I LOVED READING ALL OF THE STORIES OF STUDENTS WHO IMMIGRATED TO AMERICA. I RECENTLY EARNED MY MASTERS OF EDUCATION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN TEACHING ENGLISH LEARNERS, AND I FEEL THAT THIS COURSE TAUGHT ME EVEN MORE ABOUT EL STUDENTS."

REQUIRED MATERIALS & TEXTS:

• Journey to America: Narrative Short Stories (Volumes 3,4 & 5) Edited by Leah Juelke Free PDFs of these books will be disseminated electronically -  https://ellfargosouth.weebly.com/journey-to-america-project.html.
• Various online resources (videos, articles) - Will be posted on Google Classroom.
• Reliable internet and computer access.
• Google Classroom compatible email address for course use.
• Google Classroom code: ohrma7c
• All course documents/discussions/materials will be accessed on Google Classroom.