59. US Classrooms: Contested Arenas for Learning and Teaching Southeast Asian Languages. Sponsored by COTSEAL

Session Submission Type: Organized Panel

Abstract

Following the ACTFL guidelines and keeping up with various language pedagogy methodologies and technologies are not the only challenges for the teachers of SEA languages. Continually challenged as a group of less-commonly taught languages in the US, SEA language teachers improve their teaching by critiquing themselves against common teaching practices, material developments, and promotions in order to train their students to be proficient language learners.

The four papers that bring up US classrooms as contested arenas for learning and teaching SEA languages can be grouped into two sub-themes. The first considers the significance of including environmental issues in teaching materials and curriculum; Pandin’s paper notes the lack of nature aspect in Indonesian textbooks that might affect learners’ proficiency, while Anderson’s paper suggests that language lessons that integrate environmental issues in Thailand, Malaysia and China might lead to students’ pursuing studies or research in Southeast Asia.

The second sub-theme deals with forming positive learning attitudes towards ingrained sensitive or inappropriate cultural norms in learning materials. Wong’s paper talks about ways for a Burmese instructor to bring up sensitive issues, such as patriarchal attitudes in Burmese Buddhism and attitudes toward homosexuality; it presents them as teaching points in order to nurture students’ positive attitudes towards those issues. Smith’s paper addresses dissonances and conflicts experienced by Western-born students concerning class, gender and ethnicity issues in their learning materials; it suggests the extent to which the learners need to accept uncomfortable attitudes yet tactfully reject discriminatory practices projected in the materials’ sociolinguistic norms.

Area of Study

• Southeast

Session Organizers

• Pittaya Paladroi-Shane, Ohio University

• Jolanda M. Pandin, Cornell University

Chair

• Frank J. Smith, University of California, Berkeley

Individual Presentations

• Neglected Human-Nature Interaction in Indonesian Materials for US Students - Jolanda M. Pandin, Cornell University

• The Centre Summer Language Institute: Magnifying Linguistic and Cultural Preparation - Kyle David Anderson, Centre College

• Neither Choking nor Mute: Negotiating Learners' Real-World Concerns While Teaching Real-World Communication - Frank J. Smith, University of California, Berkeley

• Opening a Can of Worms in Burmese Teaching - Kenneth Wong, University of California, Berkeley

Discussant

• Abigail C. Cohn, Cornell University