By Roni Roseberg
I recently retired and finally said goodbye to the classroom.
As a teacher of ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages), I had the great privilege of working with around 75 different national and cultural groups.
Many of my students were refugees from overseas.
And whilst I was supporting my students with their English – including everything from beginners English to proficiency levels – I am sure that I learned more than I taught.
It’s a career that started out quite unexpectedly, but which has since shaped my life.
Wind back many years, Auntie Anita, my first husband’s aunt, was nagging me to visit her at work.
She was a secretary at a public Northern California adult educational centre about ten miles from where we lived. And she though it’d be just my thing.
I’d taught four years of high school by that time and given it up to raise a toddler. Now, I was thinking of part time work.
“But I don’t have the right credential to teach adults,” I protested.
It didn’t work. She persisted.
“I can get you a temporary credential” she continued. “And you’ll have a year to get the permanent one. You’re right for the job.”
And so, she did. My first class was at night in downtown Oakland, California.
A cosmopolitan city if ever there was one! I had students from at least a dozen countries that first night.
I was given very broad curriculum guidelines, and I did a lot of creative “ad lobbing” as it was my first class. It went great!
The evening flew by, and by the end of the class everyone was smiling. I knew this was the right setting for me.
So, I continued part time, had a second baby, and changed to a school closer to home.
I was still teaching at night with a class full of adults who worked during the day, and though tired, came to night school, optimistic and cheery about getting ahead in American society.
I knew then that I’d not go back to teaching high school. I proceeded to get my credential in adult education.
My district in particular welcomed hundreds of refugees from Afghanistan.
We also welcomed people from dozens of other countries, from Argentina to Mongolia.
I spent the next years in urban areas teaching English as a Second Language, cultural diversity awareness in the business sector, and basic reading skills to recently released prisoners.
I did so for a total of 40 years.
That, coupled with early years working in Alaska, gave me a complete window on the world.
Thanks to social media, I’m still in touch with dozens of former students, and have accepted invitations to visit them in half a dozen countries where they live.
I consider myself very lucky indeed!
Auntie Anita, one of the most persistent people I’ve met, harangued and dispensed lots of unwanted advice.
But, she was on target. I was right for the job.
Watching my students develop their English language skills was an absolute joy.
As was, learning from them.
Lessons learned: around the world in a classroom
I may have been the teacher, but I really do feel that this incredible experience taught me much more.
Here’s what I learnt!
1. Don’t stereotype people
Just because a person comes from a certain culture, it does not make them a spokesperson for the whole culture.
Each person is an individual with their own experiences, views and lived experiences.
Plus, what I also discovered is that cultural communities are very diverse.
Not all people from the same place are alike!
Whether from a minority of majority community, each culture is rich in language, history, culture and beliefs.
Get to know the individual on their terms – you’ll learn a lot more.
2. Be aware of inter-communal biases
It goes without saying that we should welcome migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to their new home.
And that includes: ensuring that we’re not fostering any space for racism, discrimination and exclusion.
Negative stereotypes, scapegoating of communities and cultural biases are everywhere (no thanks to the media!).
So, as in point #1, firstly: check yourself for conscious and unconscious biases.
Secondly: we need to also understand, recognise and mitigate for inter-community biases and conflicts.
No community is immune from negative biases. There are internal biases and racism with many cultures – not just our own.
So, whatever the history (e.g. religious, ethnic, “caste-based”, gender and socio-economic difference/conflict), be ready to recognise biases and work against them.
3. Seeking refuge is a right not a choice
People leave their home countries for a variety of reasons – and causes.
Displaced by the effects of climate change, poverty, conflict, persecution (relating to one’s faith, gender or sexuality) – there are countless reasons.
But one common denominator is this: life. To live in freedom, safety and security.
I can safely say that after my experiences, many people who change countries usually do so out of necessity – not because they want to do so.
Moving country is challenging in any context – some more complex and challenging than we could ever imagine.
4. Language is fundamental
Learning the language of anywhere you’re living is critical. It opens so many doors – economic and social, cultural.
From accessing medical services, going to work and making new (and varied) friends – language is crucial. It really is key to integration.
Of course, people come with vastly varied experiences and levels of education.
Some may by fluent in the national language, others a little rusty. Some may be starting from scratch.
Everyone has different histories and needs. And how fast people learn a new language often depends on whether they plan to stay in the new country.
Again: each context is different.
Language is key to integration – but it’s not the only element.
As a society, our strength lies in our respect for diversity and ensuring equity across the board.
5. Trauma travels with you
The resilience of people can be astounding – including the coping skills people bring with them.
Yet, whilst, you’re looking to the future – but the past can travel with you.
People who come to a new country may have suffered immense hardship/trauma – and therefore struggle with conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and/or anxiety.
For refugees and asylum seekers in particular, the affects of trauma from conflict/violence (personal loss/grief and displacement) and persecution/torture (physical, sexual, phycological abuse), require empathy, care and potentially professional support.
When counselling someone, empathy and compassionate listening are critical.
I however personally always try to give suggestions for concrete actions – whilst of course ensuring that my advice is informed and useful.
Signposting may be the best advice you give.
6. Experiences vary greatly across generations
First generation immigrants face many challenges and hardships, including potential language gaps, financial struggles, cultural shocks and emotional trauma (see point #5).
These challenges are usually different to that of their second-generation children (and subsequent generations).
Children who are born in the new country or arrived at an early age generally find it easier to carve out their own sense of identity, embracing both their own native and the national culture of their parents’ adopted country.
Parents may be determined to re-create a sense of the home culture in a new place but can become frustrated when their children will not or cannot accept that.
As a result, their children may struggle to manage both the expectations of senior members of their family, alongside their own experiences and wants/beliefs as a second/third generation migrant/refugee.
Of course however, every family, individual and context is different.
7. We share more in common
Whilst the world is so wonderfully diverse, we’re all human. And we’re actually more alike than people may think.
Yes, we’ve got far more in common than any differences among us!
Of course, our experiences and our upbringing all shape us, our beliefs and our view on the world.
But, when it comes down to it, we all share the same foundations, feelings and wants of being human.
What’s more, each of us keeps on learning and changing throughout our lives.
Cross-cultural learning can bring not just a great sense of discovery, but also solidarity and teamwork to the classroom.
8. A smile goes a long way
You may speak different languages, you may have been born in different countries – or even continents – and you may be at different stages in your life…
But I can guarantee one thing: you all welcome a friendly face!
Smiling isn’t quite universally understood in the same way. But, a lot of people do appreciate a smile and a helping hand.
And a smile can often go a long way at breaking the ice, easing a bit of tension or sometimes filing a bit of silence.
And that’s what it’s all about really: supporting one another together.
Individuals and communities have different life-experiences, traditions and needs. And that’s great!
We are richer in our diversity and we can all learn from one another. We have so much in common.
We don’t need to all be the same in each and every way. We just need to share a sense of common citizenship, unity, respect and equality.
Ultimately: we are stronger together.
So, in increasingly turbulent times, let this be our reminder: let’s come together, remember what we have in common and learn from one another.
Because love trumps hate every time.
Featured image: Freepik
This post was originally published on Voice of Salam.