Article published in:
Preparing Teachers for Addressing the Sociocultural Issues with Asian Pacific Immigrants and Refugees
Edited by Yin Lam Lee-Johnson and Hsiao-Chin Kuo
[Journal of Asian Pacific Communication 31:1] 2021
► pp. 100–121

Enhancing Asian immigrants’ and international students’ learning

Faculty cultural awareness and pedagogy training

| Columbia College Chicago
| Columbia College Chicago
| University of West Florida
| Loyola University Chicago
With the rapid growth of Asian immigrants in American educational settings, this mixed method study examined whether a professional development program on cultural awareness and pedagogy for faculty members would impact their knowledge and skills in working with Asian immigrants to ensure these students’ retention and success. This study, therefore, assessed the effectiveness and the impact of the program designed to address the needs of Asian immigrants. Guided and supported by the constructivism learning theory (Vygotsky, 1980), the professional development program applied theories of intercultural communication training (Bennett & Salonen, 2004). A mixed method of inquiry involved surveys with ten faculty members and 16 students, in-depth interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. Faculty members attended the workshops during the first year of students’ enrollment in their classes. The data stem from a longitudinal study conducted throughout the three years of students’ enrollment in the institution. The results established a probable relationship between the workshops and faculty members’ success in working with Asian immigrants.
Keywords: cultural awareness workshop, global education, intercultural communicative competence, professional development, Asian non-native English speakers
Published online: 17 September 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/japc.00059.yeh
References

References

Andrade, M.
(2006) International students in English-speaking universities. Journal of Research in International Education, 5(2), 131–154. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
(2011) Literacy and learning for non-native English speakers in a teacher education program. Journal of College Literacy & Learning, 37, 18–28.Google Scholar
Aubrey, R.
(1991) International students on campus: A challenge for counselors, medical providers, and clinicians. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 62, 20–33. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
August, D., & Shanahan, T.
(Eds.) (2006) Developing literacy in second language learners. Report of the national literacy panel on minority-language children and youth. Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Bennett, M. J.
(2011) Developing intercultural competence. Retrieved May 5, 2019, http://​www​/intercultural​.org​/documents​/conpetence​_handouts​.pdf
Bennett, J. M., & Salonen, R.
(2004) Handbook of intercultural training. Sage.Google Scholar
Briggs, P.
(2018) Responding to campus change: Rising numbers of Chinese undergraduates and Michigan State University’s Response. In Y. Ma & M. A. Garcia-Murillo (Eds.), Understanding international students from Asia in American universities (pp. 195–211). Springer. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Byram, M.
(1997) Teaching and assessing intercultural communicative competence. Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
(2004) Routledge encyclopedia of language teaching and learning. Routledge.Google Scholar
Cheung, A. C. K., & Slavin, R. E.
(2012) Effective reading programs for Spanish-dominant English language learners (ELLs) in the elementary grades: A synthesis of research. Review of Educational Research, 82(4), 351–395. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Crandall, J., & Kaufman, D.
(Eds.) (2005) Content-based instruction in primary and secondary school settings. TESOL.Google Scholar
Cummins, J.
(1986) Cultures in contact: Using classroom microcomputers for cultural exchange and reinforcement. TESL Canada Journal/Revue TESL du Canada, 3(2), 13–31. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Custer, S.
(2014) AIEA event challenges concept of “internationalisation.” The Pie News, February 21. Retrieved: https://​www​.aieaworld​.org​/2014​-conference​-in​-the​-media
David, L.
(2015) Constructivism, in Learning Theories (E-Book). Retrieved: https://​www​.learning​-theories​.com​/constructivism​.html
Freeman, K., & Li, M.
(2019) “We are a ghost in the class.” First year international students’ experiences in the global contact zone. Journal of International Students, 9(1), 19–38. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Garrett-Rucks, P.
(2016) Intercultural competence in instructed language learning. Information Age Publishing.Google Scholar
Gebeloff, R., Evans, T., & Scheinkman, A.
(2012) Diversity in the classroom. The New York Times, Retrieved May 5, 2019 from http://​projects​.nytimes​.com​/immigration​/enrollment
Genesee, F. & Harper, C.
(2010) Introduction. In Standards for the recognition of initial TESOL programs in P–12 ESL teacher education (pp. 9–25).Google Scholar
Genesee, F., Lindholm-Leary, K., Saunders, W., & Christian, D.
(2006) Educating English language learners: A synthesis of research evidence. Cambridge University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Glass, C. R., Buus, S. & Braskamp, L. A.
(2013) Uneven experiences: What’s missing and what matters for today’s international students. Global Perspective Institute, Inc.Google Scholar
Jin, L., & Schneider, J.
(2019) Faculty views on international students: A survey study. Journal of International Students, 9(1), 84–96. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, K. E.
(2009) Second language teacher education. Routledge. Academic Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Kaufman, D.
(2004) Issues in constructivist pedagogy for L2 learning and teaching. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 24, 303–319. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Kisch, M.
(2014) Helping faculty teach international students. International Educator, Nov.+ Dec. 44–46.Google Scholar
Kramsch, C.
(1993) Context and culture in language teaching. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Kuo, Y. H.
(2011) Language challenges faced by international graduate students in the United States. Journal of International Students, 1(2). 38–42.Google Scholar
Lee, G.
(2009) Speaking up: six Korean students’ oral participation in class discussions in US graduate seminars. English for Specific Purposes, 28, 142–156. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Leung, C.
(2009) Second language teacher professionalism. In A. Burns & J. Richards (Eds.), Cambridge guide to second language teacher education (pp. 49–58). Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Little, D., Hodel, H.-P., Kohonen, V., Meijer, D., & Perclova, R.
(2007) Preparing teachers to use the European Language Portfolio–arguments, materials and resources. Council of Europe.Google Scholar
Ma, Y.
(2018) Paradigm shift: Learning is a two-way street between American universities and Asian international students. In Ma, Y. & Garcia-Murillo, M. A. (Ed.). Understanding international students from Asia in American universities (pp. 1–11). Springer. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J.
(2019) Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (4th ed.). Sage.Google Scholar
Modern Language Association Ad Hoc Committee on Foreign Language
(2007) Foreign language and higher education: New structures for a changed world. Profession, 234–245. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Nutta, J. W., Mokhtari, K., & Strebel, C.
(2012) Preparing every teacher to reach English learners-a practical guide for teacher educators. Harvard Education Press.Google Scholar
Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange
(2019) The power of international education. Retrieved from https://​www​.iie​.org​/Research​-and​-Insights​/Open​-Doors​/Data​/International​-Students​/Enrollment
Özturgut, O. & Murphy, C.
(2009) Literature vs. practice: Challenges for international students in the U.S. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 22(3), 374–385.Google Scholar
Patton, M. Q.
(2015) Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Sage.Google Scholar
Pew Research Center
(2012) The Demographics of Social Media Users [Data file]. Retrieved from http://​pewinternet​.org​/Reports​/2013​/Social​-media​-users​.aspx
Riches, C., & Genesee, F.
(2006) Cross-linguistic and cross-modal aspects of literacy development. In F. Genesee, K. Lindholm-Leary, W. Saunders, & D. Christian (Eds.), Educating English language learners: A synthesis of research evidence (pp. 64–108). Cambridge University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Rodriguez, D., & Manner, J. C.
(2010) Professional development for teachers in Eastern North Carolina. AccELLerate, 2(3), 13–15.Google Scholar
Samson, J. S., & Collins, B. A.
(2012) Preparing all teachers to meet the needs of English language learners applying research to policy and practice for teacher effectiveness. Center for American Progress. Retrieved from http://​www​.americanprogress​.org​/wpcontent​/uploads​/issues​/2012​/04​/pdf​/ell​_report​.pdf
Stevens, S.
(2014) The Changing nature of the US university classrooms. Retrieved from http://​cie​.utk​.edu​/files​/2014​/11​/Supporting​-International​-Students​-in​-the​-Classroom​-UT​.pdf
Tange, H. & Jensen, I.
(2012) Good teachers and deviant learners? The meeting of practices in university level international education. Journal of Research in International Education, 11(2), 181–193. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
TESOL International Association
(2010) Standards for the recognition of initial TESOL programs in p-12 ESL teacher education. TESOL International Association. Retrieved from http://​www​.tesol​.org​/docs​/books​/the​-revised​-tesol​-ncate​-standards​-for​-the​-recognition​-of​-initial​-tesol​-programs​-in​-p​-12​-esl​-teacher​-education​-(2010​-pdf)​.pdf​?sfvrsn​=2
Vygotsky, L. S.
(1980) Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Wan, G.
(2001) The learning experience of Chinese students in American universities: A cross-cultural perspective. College Student Journal, 35(1), 28.Google Scholar
Yearbook of Immigration Statistics
(2018) Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Region and Selected Country of Last Residence: Fiscal Years 2015 to 2017 [Data file]. Retrieved from https://​www​.dhs​.gov​/immigration​-statistics​/yearbook​/2017#wcm​-survey​-target​-id