DOCUMENT RESUME ED 379 950 FL 022 836 AUTHOR Ranard, Donald A., Ed.; Pfleger, Margo, Ed. TITLE From the Classroom to the Community: A Fifteen-Year Experiment in Refugee Education. Language in Education: Theory and Practice 86. INSTITUTION Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, DC. Refugee Service Center.; ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics, Washington, D.C. SPONS AGENCY Office of Educational. Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. REPORT NO ISBN-0-937354-55-4 PUB DATE 95 CONTRACT RR93002010 NOTE 136p. AVAILABLE FROM Delta Systems, Inc., 1400 Miller Pkwy., McHenry, IL 60050-7030. PUB TYPE Information Analyses ERIC Clearinghouse Products (071) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Acculturation; Adults; Children; Daily Living Skills; *English (Second Language); Family School Relationship; Foreign Countries; Hmong People; Land Settlement; *Literacy Education; *Native Language Instruction; *Parent Participation; *Program Descriptions; Public Policy; *Refugees; Second Language Instruction; Social Services; Young Adults IDENTIFIERS *Asia (Southeast); Thailand; United States; Vietnamese Amerasians ABSTRACT This book describes the unique educational program established in 1980 for United States-bound refugees in Southeast Asia. It analyzes the forces that led to the launching of the program and discusses some of its most innovative practices. Written by the program planners and educators, the book focuses on thefollowing: providing instruction in native language literacy; enhancing parents' involvement in their children's education; and integrating educational and social services for young adults. Valuable insights and practical examples in the fields of language and cross-cultural education are provided, as well as information regarding America's initial response to the refugee crisis and U.S. refugee policy. The following chapters are included: "Balancing the Ideal and the Pragmatic: Reflections on the Overseas Refugee Program" (AnnMorgan); "Responding to the Crisis: Creation of the Overseas Refugee Program" (Roger E. Harmon); "Redefining Survival: Practices, Trends, and Issues in the Overseas Refugee Program" (Donald A. Ranard and Margo Pfleger); "Beyond the Llassroom: Meeting the Needs of Young Adult Amerasians" (John Michael Phillips); "The World of the Past, the World of tomorrow: First Language Literacy at the Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp" (Fred Ligon); and "Enhancing the Flavor:Winning Partnerships Between Home and School" (Lauren Hoyt).(JL) 2. AC-Ztiftgalirf k^ , .11111111Li U II DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Moue or Educabonel Research and Improvement UCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) hos document has been reproduced as Z.received horn the person or organizahon ongonatong ot 0 Monor changes have been made to omprove reproduction Quaid), Points of view of opinoons stated in thus docu mnt do not necessarily represent ottocsal OEM pophon or policy ro 03 BEST COPYAVAILABLE N att. 2 TIMMIM-va Language in Education: "Them! and Practice From the Classroom to the Community A Fifteen-Year Experiment in Refugee Education Edited by Donald A. Ranard & Margo Pfleger .\ co-publication of the Center for Applied Linguistics and Delta SVSICITIS Co., Inc. Prepared bv the Reilgee Service Center and the El(1(: Clearinghouse On Languages and Linguistic.; J Language in Education: l'heory and Practice 86 The contents of this book were developed under an agreement financed by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. United States Depart- ment of State, but do not necessarily represent the policy of that agency and should not assume endorsement by the Federal Got ernment. This book was prepared For publication with binding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. U.S. Department of Education. un- der contract No. RR (,)3002010. The opinions expressed herein do not neces- sarily reflect the positions or policies of OERI or ED. Editorial production supervision: Jeanne Rennie Editorial assistance: Sonia kundert Copyediting: Sarah Neal Production: Sonia Kundert Design and cover: Vincent Sagan :(.."1995 by the Center for Applied Linguistics and by Delta St stems Co., Inc. lbe U.S. Department of State reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive and irre- ()cable right to rin ()duce, publish. or 0111CrWke use, and to authorize oth- ers ;o use, the trot k For Government purposes. .\li other rights reserved. \o part of this hook may be reproduced. in any fin 111 or by an\ means. 1 idiom nermission in writing From the publisher. .111 inquiries should be addressed to Delta Systems Co.. Inc., 1-100 \tiller Park- \\ NIcl henry. II. 60050-7030. ISBN (1-937351-55-4 Printed in the United States of. America 10 8 7 6 5 1 3 2 I 1.111r;!r\ (:ataloging-in-Publication 1)ata Front the classroom to the communit: a filicen-vcar e\periment in refugee educationedited IA Donald .\. k Margo Hiegel-. p. ctn. tag(' in education : 56) "helm ed 1)\ the Refitgee Seri«. Centel and the ERIC (:learingliouse on Lingua:2,es and Linguistics.- Includes bibliographical 11.1(1(1w., (p.). ISBN 0-937351-55--1 (p1)1..) 1. Relitgee.--ducation--.1.sia. Southeastern.2. Native language and education--. \slit, Southeastern.3. .\inerasians--Education. tome andhool__Initcd suites. Donald A. (Donald \dam). 19-15- II.Hiegel-. \Lugo. III.F.1:1(: Clearinghouse on I anguages and Linguistic s. IZeltigee Service Gaiter.V. Series. LC.3737..1785.176 1995 371.96.75111159--dc20 95-7785 GIP II I . This book is dedicated to the 500,000 l'ietnainese, Laotian, and Cambodian men, women, and children who studied in the overseas refugee program. iii Language in Education: Theory and Practice 11w Educational Resources InfOrmation Center (ERIC:), which is supported by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement of the U.S. Depart- ment of Education, is a nationwide system of information centers, each re- sponsible for a given educational level or field of study. ERIC's basic objec- tive is to niake developments in educational research, instruction, and teacher training readik accessible to educators and members of related professions. The ERIC Clearinghouse on languages and Linguistics (ERIC /C'..1.), one of the specialized information centers in the ERIC system, is operated by the Center fin- Applied Linguistics (CAE) and is specifically responsible fir the collection and dissemination of infOrmation on research in languages and linguistics and on the application of research to language teaching and learning. InI 989, CAL was in\ arded a contract to expand the activities of ERIC,CI.I. through the establishment of an adjunct ERIC clearinghouse, the National Clearinghouse fO ES!. literacy Education (NCL ). NCLE's specific focus is literacy education for language minority adults and out -of- school youth. ERIC:Cll. and NCLE commission recognized authorities in languages, lin- guistics, adult literacy education, and English as a second language (ES!.) to write about current issues in these fields. Monographs, intended for educa- tors, researchers. and others interested in language education, are published under the series title,Language in Education: Theory and Practice (LilaThe LIEseries includes practical guides fur classroom teachers, state-of-the-art papers, research reviews, and collected reports. For further U11611E114)11 on the ERIC system, ERIC/Cll., or NCL, contact either clearinghouse at the Center fO Applied Linguistics,I 118 `:2nd Street NW, Washington DC 20037 Vkic Lewelling, El?1C/C1.1. Puldi«nimts Coordinator Miriam J. Burt. NCLE Publicatton.s Coordinator 6 iv Contents Acknowledgments Preface ix Chapter One 1 Balancing the Ideal and the Pragmatic: Reflections on the Overseas Refugee Program Ann Alorg«n Chapter Two 19 Responding to the Crisis: Creation of the Overseas Refugee Program Roger E. Harmon Chapter Three 37 Redefining Survival: Practices, Trends, and Issues in the Overseas Refugee Program l)onahl A. Ranard and Margo Pfieger Chapter Four 69 Beyond the Classroom: Meeting the Needs of Young Adult Amerasians John Michael Phillips Chapter Five 59 The World of the Past, the World of Tomorrow: First Language Literacy at the Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp Fred Ligon Chapter Six 115 Enhancing the Flavor: Winning Partnerships Between I Iome and School Lauren Hoyt 7 Acknowledgments Our special thanks belong to Douglas F. (;ilzow, Language Training Specialist with the U.S. Peace Corps in Washington, DC, fbr his in- sightful suggestions, careful editing, faithfUl support, good humor, and firsthand knowledge of the overseas refugee training program. We also Wall( to express appreciation to the fbllowing peoplehti helped review drafts of this volume. Many were personally involved in the overseas program, and all have been active in serving the needs of refitgees and immigrants. Their valuable suggestions improved the accuracy, cohesiveness, and usefulness of this book. Michele litirtotr( Ivan I!la(Lunt; Reseal( .\ssociate I'S .\gencv fin- International Development ( :enter for .\pplied Linguistics Nick Nliscione john NI. I11111 Project Dire( tor 1)ot total candidate International Catholic Migration Commission I 'itiversit% oUIVisconsin-Madison Zagrcl). Croatia Nlarilyti I:. Gillespie She!) 1.mman. Senior Program .Associate I)ireo cur of International 1:chigec .Mrairs (:enter \pplied Linguistics NI igratic in and Iteltigec Stn I( Cs l mired States Catholic (:onlerence Norma Goiwalci . \ssistani Beware I1. \tit lit opologist Eric Naclelsterit 11151. its of. \ri/ona Prim ipal International I ligh School .1.11en Gus, Grognet I a( :trarclia :ollege Center