In preparation for working with the migrant population in ELI 396, students in this course explore the themes of “Language and Community” as they learn about the experience of migrant farmworkers in southeast Michigan. What is the economic, cultural, and historical context of migrant farm work in the U.S.? Who are the workers? Where do they come from? How do they live? What is the history of migrant outreach and education efforts? As they investigate these questions, students also learn and practice the methods and techniques for teaching ESL to a mixed-proficiency, primarily Spanish-speaking population. These include conducting a basic needs analysis to identify learning objectives, drafting and revising lesson plans, and creating original teaching materials. Students participating in this course are eligible to work with migrant families in ELI 396.

Course Requirements:

Students will be evaluated on the basis of written work (reflection papers and lesson preparation), an oral presentation, as well as preparation and participation in class discussions. Students should be prepared to experiment with different teaching techniques, such as visualizations, games, interactive presentations, and art/dramatizations.

Intended Audience:

Students interested in exploring in depth the migrant community in the United States in terms of their educational, health and legal obstacles as well as how the agricultural system is structured. The course counts for the following concentrations: Education, Linguistics, RC Social Science, LACS, Latina/o Studies, American Culture, RC Social Justice Minor. Students can also use three credits as a cognate towards the Spanish concentration.

Class Format:

Experiential seminar