Telling Our Migration Stories in Language Classrooms

Photograph of migratory birds in formation

Image credit: "Migratory Birds" by Didgeman is free to use (Pixabay)

Resource Description

Originally conceived for language learning classes, this 50-minute lesson and accompanying homework guides students (and teachers) towards understanding their own journeys into the present. This OER integrates reflection, discussion, and creation through multiple modes of perception (i.e., visual, auditory) and modalities (e.g., writing, speaking, and listening) and can be modified for a broad array of grammar features (e.g., case, verb conjugation, locational prepositions, expressing emotion) and target skills (e.g., pronunciation, listening comprehension), adjustable for a range of proficiencies. The lesson culminates in students creating a recording of their own migration story and uploading it into a public digital library. This OER fosters appreciation for others’ stories through personal reflections on our own, all while fusing digital humanities and language learning.

License

CC BY-NC 4.0

Download Source Files

Download the resource's source files here: .zip (568.71 KB)

Anna Piotti

Photograph of author Anna Piotti

Anna Piotti is a dual-title Ph.D. candidate in German Linguistics and Language Science at Penn State. Her research interests fall at the intersection of (language)learning and pedagogy. Currently, she focuses on diversifying pedagogy and developing pedagogical materials that encourage student-voice in the classroom (incl: students-as-partners frameworks and learning-by-teaching paradigms), endeavoring to bring together faculty and students in reciprocal conversation to examine and explore theory and practice in an effort to challenge status quo and identify strategic and sustainable pedagogical practices.

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Frédérique Marty

Photograph of author Frédérique Marty

Dr. Frédérique Marty, a native speaker of French, started to teach in the United States in 2012 at University of Idaho as part of an exchange program (2012-2013) with the University of Pau in the South of France. In 2014, she received her Ph.D. in French Language and Literature from the University of Pau. After completing her doctoral studies, Dr. Marty was appointed a Fellow in French and Francophone Studies at Marlboro College (2015-2019), where she developed and led a study abroad program in the French Basque region. In Fall 2019, Dr. Marty started to teach at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, where she holds the position of Assistant Teaching Professor of French.

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