We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Marta Vilar, Silvia Carrasco, Mar Montoya Gómez, Marieke Piepenburg, Laia Narciso Pedro, Rosario Reyes Izquierdo, Montse Ros Serra, and Guiomar Gude Romero

You are interested in welcoming processes of migrants and refugees? You want to dedicate yourself to teaching lamguage and literacy? The objective of this course is to get to know the simultaneous process of literacy and language learning in the host society for migrated young people and adults.

Read more

You are interested in welcoming processes of migrants and refugees? You want to dedicate yourself to teaching lamguage and literacy? The objective of this course is to get to know the simultaneous process of literacy and language learning in the host society for migrated young people and adults.

The linguistic integration is key for integration in the society. This course offers insight into international migration today and the real linguistic needs of migrated people in the countries of arrival. Furthermore, throughout the course you can learn about teaching methods and tools in language learning and literacy. The focus is on oral competencies, and processes starting from the students’ needs and difficulties them and the teaching staff are facing, implementing hands on experience and providing practical solutions supporting your class.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Oralpha: Literacy for new citizens, a course for trainers
The aim of this course is to learn about international migration and the experiences of immigrants in the receiving societies, as well as to train trainers to guide them in simultaneous processes of language and literacy learning, as an essential need for social integration in the host society.
Read more
Human mobility: Migration and integration in Europe
This module provides a general overview of international migration and social integration in 21st century Europe and the essential role of languages in it. Topics covered:
1. HUMAN MIGRATION AND MOBILITY:
a) Migration flows, regions and types.
b) Rights, regulations and migrants’ profiles.
c) Super-diversity, cities and refugees in Europe.
2. BORDERS AND LANGUAGES:
a) Reception systems for newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers and language provisions.
b) Immigrants’ experiences, interactions and language learning.
3. UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL INTEGRATION:
a) Integration models alongside history, with a particular focus on the intercultural approach.
b) Intersectionality, belonging and bordering .
Literacy to new citizens: Students & teachers
This module aims at providing a general overview of the students’ and teachers’ profile. Topics covered:
1. EXPECTATIONS AND NEEDS from students in relation to integration (i.e. staying or leaving the country; working; studying) and language.
2. PLURILINGUAL COMPETENCE (which are the students’ communicative practices? Which languages they already use? In which contexts? To reflect on key concepts to describe communicative competence of migrant and refugee students (Plurilingualism, translanguaging, superdiversity…)
3. STUDENTS’ BARRIERS to access language and education rights beyond classroom methodology. For example: enough number of courses; gender-related lack of ”awareness”/discrimination, system knowledge barriers; legal status; gaps in the educational system; policies to discourage to remain, mobility issues, linguistic diversity lack of awareness (e.g. the role of literacy in mother tongue).
4. TEACHERS’ PROFILES: expectations, working conditions, ideologies, training, expertise… in relation to ORALPHA methodology and NEEDS of training.
5. TEACHING COMPETENCIES: (i.e. adaptation skills, how to overcome stereotypes; gender issues; to value previous language
Literacy methods: theory and practice
This module aims at providing a general overview of the theoretical basis that is beyond L2 literacy classes. Topics covered:
1. L2 THEORY on second languages teaching and the specificities of low educational background students.
2. LITERACY THEORY, main theories of literacy teaching and the specificities of L2 teaching to people with a mother tongue that differs from the host language.
3. WAYS OF LEARNING, illiterate people ways of learning and ways to develop reading and writing skills.
4. ORAL SKILLS the importance of oral skills development in the L2 literacy class; specifics mechanisms to promote the orality in L2 literacy lessons
5. GROUP DYNAMICS, the importance of emotions and socialization in L2 literacy class; specifics mechanisms to promote group cohesion, motivation, self confidence, etc. In L2 literacy lessons.
6. INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCES L2, the importance of introducing intercultural approach (students, teachers and materials).

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Helps learners welcome processes of migrants and refugees
Helps teachers dedicate themselves to teaching language and literacy
Offers insights into international migration and linguistic needs of migrants
Provides knowledge about teaching methods and tools in language learning and literacy
Focuses on oral competencies and processes starting from students' needs
Provides practical solutions supporting teachers' classes

Save this course

Save Oralpha: Literacy for new citizens, a course for trainers to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Reviews summary

Migrant literacy training course

Learners say this sociolinguistic literacy training course for migrant trainers is largely positive in its content and valuable for professionals expanding their work in Spanish literacy with groups other than migrant populations. Overall, the pedagogical and social approaches of the course are well received, particularly in the first week's content. According to students, the second week offers valuable information on student needs and sensitivity to migrant contexts. While the third week's content is considered disappointing by some, learners highlight the excellent bibliography for further research and tool development. However, they note a lack of dynamism and nervousness from the instructor in the third week, which impacted the delivery of the material.
Course offers valuable content
"Agradezco que presentaron este curso con contenido social y pedagógico y no sólo metodológico como otros cursos más sencillos en Coursera."
Course has excellent bibliography
"La bibliografía fue magnífica para encontrar más herramientas y desarrollar reflexiones."
Third week's instructor seemed nervous
"Pero las lecciones en sí fueron algo tristes en aportes, influyó que la facilitadora se mostraba nerviosa y no fue posible que transmitiera su experiencia directa en aula."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Oralpha: Literacy for new citizens, a course for trainers with these activities:
Volunteer at a local organization that provides services to migrants and refugees.
Provides firsthand experience working with the target population and gaining insights into their needs.
Browse courses on Volunteering
Show steps
  • Find a local organization that provides services to migrants and refugees.
  • Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Explore online resources and tutorials on teaching language and literacy to migrants and refugees.
Supports self-directed learning and provides access to additional resources beyond the course materials.
Show steps
  • Identify online resources and tutorials that align with the course content.
  • Follow the tutorials and complete any exercises or activities provided.
Participate in online discussion forums with other course participants.
Fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and diverse perspectives on course topics.
Show steps
  • Join the course discussion forums.
  • Actively participate in discussions, sharing your insights and experiences.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Compile a collection of resources on teaching language and literacy to migrants and refugees.
Helps organize and synthesize information from various sources, supporting ongoing learning and reference.
Show steps
  • Search for and identify resources on teaching language and literacy to migrants and refugees.
  • Organize the resources into a coherent collection.
Practice teaching language and literacy skills to students with diverse backgrounds.
Provides hands-on experience in applying teaching methods and tools discussed in the course.
Show steps
  • Develop a lesson plan that incorporates strategies for teaching language and literacy to diverse learners.
  • Teach the lesson to a small group of students.
  • Reflect on the effectiveness of the lesson and make adjustments as needed.
Develop a teaching resource or activity that addresses the specific needs of migrant and refugee students.
Encourages practical application of knowledge and contributes to the body of resources for teaching this population.
Show steps
  • Identify a specific need or challenge faced by migrant and refugee students.
  • Research and develop a teaching resource or activity that addresses this need.
Mentor a student or colleague who is new to teaching language and literacy to migrants and refugees.
Reinforces knowledge and skills through sharing and supporting others, contributing to the professional development of the field.
Browse courses on Mentoring
Show steps
  • Find a student or colleague who is new to teaching language and literacy to migrants and refugees.
  • Provide guidance and support based on your own experiences and expertise.

Career center

Learners who complete Oralpha: Literacy for new citizens, a course for trainers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
ESL Teacher
ESL Teachers help students who are not native English speakers learn English. This course can help prepare individuals for this role by providing a deep understanding of the linguistic integration process for migrants and refugees, as well as effective teaching methods and tools for language learning and literacy.
Educator
Educators teach students of all ages. This course can help prepare individuals for this role by providing a deep understanding of language learning and teaching, as well as the specific needs of immigrant and refugee students.
Foreign Language Teacher
Foreign Language Teachers teach foreign languages to students of all ages. This course can help prepare individuals for this role by providing a deep understanding of language learning and teaching, as well as the specific needs of immigrant and refugee students.
Literacy Specialist
Literacy Specialists help people improve their reading and writing skills. This course can help individuals develop the skills needed for this role, including an understanding of the theories and practices of literacy teaching.
Community Organizer
Community Organizers work with communities to identify and address issues. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the experiences of immigrants and refugees, as well as the social integration process. Additionally, the focus on hands-on experience and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be applied to community organizing.
Program Manager
Program Managers oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the social integration process for migrants and refugees, as well as the challenges they face. Additionally, the focus on hands-on experience and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be applied to program management.
Curriculum Developer
Curriculum Developers create and implement curriculum that meets the needs of students of all ages and backgrounds, including immigrants and refugees. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the real linguistic needs of migrated people. Additionally, the focus on hands-on experience and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be directly applied to curriculum development.
Interpreter
Interpreters facilitate communication between people who speak different languages. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the experiences of immigrants and refugees, as well as the challenges they face. Additionally, the focus on oral competencies and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be directly applied to interpreting.
Translator
Translators convert written text from one language to another. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the experiences of immigrants and refugees, as well as the challenges they face. Additionally, the focus on oral competencies and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be directly applied to translation.
Refugee Resettlement Caseworker
Refugee Resettlement Caseworkers help refugees adjust to life in a new country. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the experiences of immigrants and refugees, as well as the social integration process.
Human Rights Advocate
Human Rights Advocates work to protect and promote human rights. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the experiences of immigrants and refugees, as well as the challenges they face. Additionally, the focus on social integration and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be applied to human rights advocacy.
Journalist
Journalists write, edit, and publish news stories. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the experiences of immigrants and refugees, as well as the challenges they face. Additionally, the focus on oral competencies and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be applied to journalism.
Social Worker
Social Workers help people overcome challenges and improve their well-being. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the social integration process for migrants and refugees, as well as the challenges they face.
Policy Analyst
Policy Analysts research and analyze public policies. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the social integration process for migrants and refugees, as well as the challenges they face. Additionally, the focus on hands-on experience and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be applied to policy analysis.
Researcher
Researchers conduct research on a variety of topics. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides insight into the social integration process for migrants and refugees, as well as the challenges they face. Additionally, the focus on hands-on experience and practical solutions for teaching language learning and literacy can be applied to research.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Oralpha: Literacy for new citizens, a course for trainers.
This practical resource book offers concrete strategies and activities for teaching literacy to English language learners, addressing their specific needs and challenges.
Provides a critical analysis of the political and social factors that shape literacy practices and policies, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities for literacy education for migrants and refugees.
Offers insights into the teaching of second language literacies, aligning with the course's focus on literacy methods and the specificities of teaching to students with diverse linguistic backgrounds.
Explores the role of language in legal contexts, providing insights into the power dynamics and linguistic challenges faced by migrants and refugees in legal settings.
Provides practical guidance on group dynamics in educational settings, supporting the course's emphasis on group cohesion and motivation in L2 literacy classes.
Explores the social and cultural aspects of literacy, providing a broader perspective on the role of literacy in integration and social change.
Providing a global perspective on the politics of education, this book offers insights into the educational challenges faced by migrants and refugees and the political contexts that shape their access to education.
Providing insights into the theory and practice of intercultural communication, this book supports the course's emphasis on intercultural competence in L2 literacy teaching.
Providing an introduction to linguistic anthropology, this book helps to contextualize the course's exploration of language and its role in social integration.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to Oralpha: Literacy for new citizens, a course for trainers.
English for Teaching Purposes
Coding for Your Classroom K - 3
Indigenous Languages: From Policy and Planning to...
Data Literacy – What is it and why does it matter?
Volunteering with Refugees
New Learning: Principles and Patterns of Pedagogy
Linguistic Diversity, What for?
Using Educational Technology with English Learners
Multimodal Literacies: Communication and Learning in the...
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser