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Last updated July 16, 2019
All of us are deeply concerned about the recent escalation of anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric by the Trump Administration. That includes everything from the inhumane detention camps, to threats of ICE raids, to new regulations that would effectively ban asylum for Central Americans and many others. At this time, we find it critical to reaffirm our commitment to supporting our students, who bear the brunt of these policies.
RIT works with refugees, asylees, and immigrants, both documented and undocumented. (We don't ask the status of our immigrant students.) Our students who came here as refugees (i.e. from Burma, Bhutan, Eritrea, Somalia...) or Special Immigrant Visa recipients (from Afghanistan), or who have gotten asylum (from Guatemala, Eritrea...) are not targets of ICE raids, but many of our immigrant neighbors are. All should know their rights when dealing with immigration authorities. It's important to affirm that they have the right to remain silent, and should not open their door to anyone.
We've compiled some of the ways you could support your students and immigrant communities in general.
1. #KnowYourRights
Just sharing what to do in the event of ICE raids has proven effective. There are many useful materials online, including these handouts by United We Dream and these videos by the ACLU.
Please consider teaching a Know Your Rights lesson to your student, even if you know that they're not undocumented (these resources might prove useful for their community). Here is a letter you could share (in English and Spanish) to introduce this topic.
2. Advocate
Urge your elected Senators and Representatives to fight for our immigrant and refugee neighbors in Congress. Some useful scripts and social media posts:
-#NoAsylumBan: Stop the Administration from banning asylum-seekers
-#DefundHate: No more taxpayer funds for ICE and Border Patrol
Click here to find your Senator and Representative.
3. Call Rapid Response if you witness ICE activity
-415 200 1548: San Francisco
-510 241 4011: Alameda County
-408 290 1144: Santa Clara County
4. Learn about legal resources
-Find free or low-cost immigration lawyers
-Volunteer your services if you are a lawyer
5. Attend a rally
Check out Bay Resistance to find upcoming local events.
Most importantly--keep on supporting your students and making them feel welcome in their new home. Thank you for all you do!
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This list of online resources includes links to a wide range of sites. Topics include lesson plans, games, worksheets, podcasts, multimedia sites, ESL civics, grammar, interviews, and more.
Arts and ESL for Kids: Restorative Practice Activities
A blog focusing on restorative practice. Created by Dion Zizak, RT's English Language Instructor and Education Coordinator.
This article on the website adlit.org discusses how to motivate reluctant adolescent readers.
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos for learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. Topics covered include subjects such as math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more.
Learn touch typing online using Typing Club's free typing courses. It includes 650 typing games, typing tests, and videos. Great for youth and adults.
(Membership required but the website allows 10 free problems per subject per day.) K-12 learning experience that provides comprehensive, Common Core standards-aligned content for math, language arts, science, and social studies.
You can use these on a computer, but they work just as well as an app. They are helpful for both adults and youth. You can create flashcards where students can self-study, but initially they would need guidance in the beginning. Tutors could use these resources to reinforce practice during the time they don't see their students.
Tip Sheets:
Refugee & Immigrant Transitions offers the following Tip Sheets to help you in your work with your student:
Cultural Backgrounders
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Here are some useful distance learning websites that our volunteers working with adults can share with their students. They can use them as a distance learning option and/or in conjunction with a lesson they're teaching.
Free English Lessons for Pashto Speakers
These free English lessons are for people who speak Pashto (Pashtu). Zora Tokhi, RT volunteer, is a first-generation native Pashto (Pashtu) speaker who initially translated the materials. Final translations were done by professional translator Muska Malalai.
Putting English to Work Level 1
Created by Los Angeles Unified School District; a useful resource for Beginning learners. Use as a distance learning option to supplement your tutoring sessions. Watch videos, practice grammar and life skills exercises on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
An online resource for English language learners. Find YouTube playlists by JenniferESL, interactive exercises, study tips, and more.
Known for Technology and Microsoft Office tutorials. GCF also offers tutorials in Math, Work & Career, Reading, and Everyday Life. Good on basic explanations of topics mentioned. More suited for Intermediate and Advanced English language learners. Tutor can also use the site as a reference point.
Fremont Adult School’s Integrated English Language Civics Education
Collection of resources and sample lessons on topics such as employment, banking, health, emergencies, and DMV.
Making It Real: Teaching Pre-Literate Adult Refugee Students
This book reviews some effective practices for teaching pre-literate adult refugees. It describes techniques and activities that support these practices. It is divided into sections on teaching speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Each of the sections on teaching language skills provides examples and descriptions of useful approaches, techniques, and activities. There is a checklist of language competencies that learners who are new to the language need to know, a section on teaching multi-level groups, and information on resources that teachers and service providers can use.
For adult students. Created by Dion Zizak, RIT's Education Associate Manager and Language Instructor.
The Spring Institute provides many useful teaching materials for working with literacy level students and resources for working with students who have experienced trauma.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly the INS) website has information about taking the citizenship exam, test questions, and online application and change of address forms.
Citizenship Preparation Resources for RT Tutors
PIE (Parent Involvement in Education) Reader
This reader is a life-skills course designed to teach both language and sociocultural skills needed by adult newcomers to help their children succeed in school.
Unit 1: Filling Out School Forms
Unit 2: Parent-Teacher Meetings
ERIC--Trauma and Adult Learning
This resource discusses individual responses to trauma, its effects on learning, and ways in which educators can respond. Published by Educational Resources Information Center.
Learn touch typing online using Typing Club's free typing courses. It includes 650 typing games, typing tests and videos. Great for youth and adults.
You can use these on a computer, but they work just as well as an app. They are helpful for both adults and youth. You can create flashcards where students can self-study, but initially they would need guidance in the beginning. Tutors could use these resources to reinforce practice during the time they don't see their students.
Tip Sheets:
Refugee Transitions offers the following Tip Sheets to help you in your work with your student:
Computer Literacy Resources:
Here are several documents provided by the California Community College Chancellor's Office: Santa Ana College, School of Continuing Education. They contain helpful ideas and lesson plans for teaching various aspects of computer literacy. (Files are large, so download may take a minute).
Cultural Backgrounders
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