Ideas on Education for Global Citizenship in Adult ESL

Presented by Lisa Braley
LLD Dept. LINGFEST on 11/9/07
M.A. TESOL, SJSU (12/07)

Part I: The Ideas.

Some personal (anecdotal) concerns for immigrants:
They …
Are free to live under the radar
Lack of personal investment in community
Lack of political clout
Don’t have time to learn the language
Live and work in their co-ethnic community
Don’t receive training in growing industries
Pick up bad habits
Forget family ties and generational responsibilities
Only want to get educated and make money
Consumerism
Accept the little resources given to them, but don’t give back to the community
Don’t have a policy of volunteerism
Don’t necessarily support each other cross-ethnically

Why Education for Global Citizenship?
A platform for citizenship in a globalizing world
Talks about the “triple bottom line.” (Environmental, Social and Economic impact)
A 21st Century Education

Why do ESL educators need to know about Global Citizenship?
Globalization
No formal immigrant integration policy
Responsibility is falling on education system and places of employment
But….
Immigrants are often in a position to be global change agents

Blog Beginner-Mindwalk

Today I've started my first blog as an exercise in trying to follow some of the tenants of Global Citizenship that I would like to teach to my students. I am providing information to the public. No public to speak of yet, but I think it's something that I have gone to this trouble to create a blog. This is because I realize how important access to information and the freedom to present information is in some areas of the globe. So this is a free resource on a free site with free access. Another reason I am also writing is because this is for my ANTH 187 class at San Jose State University.

Today's idea:
We need to change the way we see the world “to allow us to feel responsibility."

This half quote came about from watching the movie, MINDWALK, a film by Bernt Capra, based on the book The Turning Point by Fritjof Capra. (1991)

The movie Mindwalk takes place at Mont Saint-Michel in France. Mont Saint Michael has been a fortress, a church, a monastery, a village, an abbey and now a UNESCO world heritage tourist attraction. During high tide it is a small rocky island disconnected from the mainland. This stunning location, part-natural and part-man-made, is interesting for its value as a metaphor for the planet. Different man-made environmental factors are encroaching on the beautiful surroundings and will soon change the landscape.

Primarily this beautiful landscape is a backdrop for a philosophical conversation that takes place among a poet, a politician and a scientist.

Though the movie came out in '91, the ideas are still relevant. My takeaway from the movie was the imperative for myself, and for people in general to change their mindset and take responsibility for their actions-each individual has global impact.

Blog goals:
1. Informally discuss my ideas about the concepts of Education for Global Citizenship in relation to my immigrant ESL students
2. To figure out how I can help my immigrant students understand some of these ideas at a personal level and by doing so, help them integrate into their community in a positive way.

That's all for today.