Critical Media Literacy in Teacher Preparation: Exploring Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of Teaching Immigrant Students

• In Event: Supporting the Educational Success of Immigrant Students: Strategies for Inclusive Learning

Abstract

This exploratory case study investigated pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the media’s role in shaping their views about teaching immigrant students. The study occurred in an upper-level undergraduate Foundations of ESOL course at a Southwest Florida university. Multiple data sources were collected and analyzed using content analysis. Findings revealed that while participants recognized the media’s influence on perpetuating immigrant stereotypes, they overlooked the importance of media literacy and struggled to envision its practical application in classrooms. The study highlights the need for integrating critical media literacy into teacher education programs to foster more inclusive and critically aware educational environments for immigrant students.

Authors

• Bruno Halpern, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Clarisse Halpern, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Hasan Aydin, Florida Gulf Coast University