There is such diversity in the classes I facilitate because the individual students each have a story to tell. They are here as refugees fleeing adversity, immigrants whose parents want their children to have a better life here in America, and visitors as children from the international military base.
My international students teach me every day about their world.
The most amazing experience is how they are so interested in each other's cultures. They reach out to learn more about far away countries; they bond to explore American, their new country, together. Sometimes I get invited along for the journey.
My Project
My students are new to America. Most have had no opportunity to explore our community. This local International Folk Festival allows them to travel to another part of our Bay area. They also get to experience some of the tastes, music and culture of their classmates.
My students' own native countries will be represented so they can see how their people have become Americans while maintaining their own heritage.
It is an opportunity to appreciate the diversity in America.
SPIFFS is an outside festival on the water. Students will be free to roam the park and visit vendor exhibits representing the various countries. The vendors themselves are natives and those who are continuing their countries' traditions. They will bring their own lunch money to purchase samples of foods from all over the world. Their classmates will be able to showcase their countries among the exhibits. Students will be given an assignment to practice their emerging English Language skills and to keep them focused on interacting with vendors.
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