Who Belongs Here? The Immigration Experience
HOW IT WORKS
In Who Belongs Here?, students share their
knowledge and experiences of immigration. They compare what it was like in their
original countries with their new lives in New York. They share their
good-byes, airplane rides, and first impressions. The teacher uses
picture books to build background knowledge. The students read
historical fiction for further insight, make text-to- text connections, and
begin essay writing. They compose character analysis essays of
Anzia in Tenement Writer by Ben Sonder. After reading this book, the
students realize that hard work and persistence are two essential
ingredients for a better life. The main questions of this program are:
Who belongs here? Why do people migrate? What problems do immigrants encounter?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of migrating? What contributions have immigrants
made in the new country? Students turn back to these questions throughout the study
for new insights. In an essay, they compare and contrast the
advantages and disadvantages of life in New York to life in their
native lands. In groups they elaborate on the pros and cons.
Then, they begin to write persuasive letters back home trying to convince
people to come or stay where they now reside. They learn about
research skills, note taking, paragraph writing, main ideas, “catchy”
leads, and voice. They compose poems and write about the immigrant
experience by using the lyrical or narrative voice. They are
challenged with similes, metaphors, personification, onomatopoeia,
and alliteration. After a few weeks of study, students visit historical
sights throughout the city: the Tenement Museum, Ellis Island, and the
Brooklyn Museum. The students listen, observe, and sketch to think.
They create watercolor paintings. Then they write to express their
thinking. At the end, there is a publishing party to celebrate the
student multi-genre anthology.
THE STUDENTS
The students in this program are in a transitional
class with multicultural backgrounds. Because of the wealth of literature, both
fiction and nonfiction, on all different grade levels, this program may
be done with a fifth grade, middle school, and high school ESL
population.
THE STAFF
Ourania Pantazatos has taught the ESL population for 17 years. She
has co-chaired the UFT Bilingual/ESL committee for two years and
staff-developed part-time for two years. This is the second year that
he has taught Who Belongs Here? The Immigration Experience.
WHAT YOU NEED
This program requires a computer with Internet access, a printer, and
both fiction and nonfiction books pertaining to immigration. A video
library is also useful for additional insight into the immigration
experience, as well as allowing students to hear English spoken by
other individuals.
OVERALL VALUE
The students examine the patterns of migration, the causes and
effects, and the problems and solutions, while developing important
and varied skills and building their self-confidence. The United States
is a nation of immigrants coming from all over the world. The students
gain an understanding and tolerance for other immigrants, cultures,
races, and religions. They understand that immigrants have a
tolerance for hard work so that future generations will have a better
life—one without war, prejudice, and inhumane living conditions. |