Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper will describe the issues that arise when teaching English to a multicultural group where both learners and teachers are non-native speakers of English. The study looks at two batches of fellows. First, it will discuss the issues that usually come up for teachers who are non-native speakers of English, some of which may or may not be applicable to the current situation. From these, the relevant ones will be discussed in more detail, punctuated with examples from the faculty's experiences. Then it will go into the areas of concern regarding teaching a multicultural group which is composed of at least three countries. Among the topics are: the burden on the teacher to adjust to a variety of cultures and English levels, the teaching methodology which may be quite different from the one that each nationality is used to, and the complexities of the socio-cultural relationships of the students within the classroom setting. Finally, it will focus on the particular points pertaining to the advantages and disadvantages of being a Non-Native English Speaking student in a multicultural setting.
The objective of this paper is to show that there are more advantages to learning English in a multicultural setting than in a setting where all the learners are from the same culture and share the same language.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper uses the English School to incorporate non-violence into IR; I use the case of third-party non-violent intervention to consider how 1) non-violence is a norm in IR and 2) non-state actors contribute to the development of norms.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Evidence of disparities in health status and health care access among certain racial/ethnic communities have led, in part, to increased efforts to identify such disparities in health surveys. Yet, potential language barriers separating the interviewer and the respondent limit the ability of surveys to reach certain racial/ethnic communities. This presentation will use data from the recently completed National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) to demonstrate how language barriers in surveys can change the observed disparities in children’s health status.

The National Survey of CSHCN was conducted as a module of the State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey, which is sponsored by the National Center for Health Statistics. A random-digit-dial sample of households with children less than 18 years of age was selected from each of the 50 states and DC. All children in each identified household were screened for special needs (N = 373,055). Detailed interviews were conducted for one randomly selected child with special needs from each household with CSHCN (n = 38,866). Interviews were completed in 11 non-English languages.

Based on weighted data, 47.7 percent- of Hispanic children were screened by a Spanish-speaking interviewer and 26.7 percent- of Asian children were screened by an Asian-language interviewer. Prevalence rates of CSHCN within these racial/ethnic groups were substantially lower when interviews were conducted in a non-English language (56 percent- lower for Hispanics, 82 percent- lower for Asians). However, compared to the Hispanic CSHCN identified in English interviews, Hispanic CSHCN identified during Spanish interviews were 44 percent- more likely to have conditions that usually or always result in activity limitations or that limit activities a great deal. Though differences in health literacy and health beliefs may contribute to these and other disparities, the results presented will demonstrate that language barriers in surveys may exclude important and unique communities.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In this paper, I examine change in the spatial patterns of non-English language groups in Chicago, a city that has received a continuing stream of immigrants. Using the 1990 and 2000 United States Census summary files, results from the spatial autocorrelation analysis show that all growth of language communities were in the suburbs for Spanish, Polish, and Chinese language groups. The growth of non-English language communities in the suburbs suggests that living in the suburbs may not be strongly related to linguistic assimilation as the model of spatial assimilation describes. Therefore, living in the central city is not the only place where residents can share a community with those who speak a same non-English language. However, suburban language communities did not mean higher socioeconomic status for some language groups, such as Spanish, while suburban Chinese language communities are characterized with high socioeconomic status.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This study helps reduce workplace injury rates among non-English-speaking workers by identifying ways to improve safety communication. Current data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that persons of Central American origin constitute eleven percent of the American workforce. Many of these and other foreign-born workers in manufacturing and production do not speak English or have poor English-speaking and reading skills. Language barriers may be a significant causal factor for injuries and deaths on the job. This study quantitatively assesses the level of understanding of safety warnings by non-English-speaking (NES) industrial equipment operators as compared to English-speaking (ES) operators. Worker knowledge of warning signs, verbal operating directions, and written operating procedures are assessed with standardized oral tests. Areas of strength or weakness of NES workers are identified. Results enable industry managers to target problem areas for improving communication for NES workers. Recommendations are made for improving safety communication for NES workers, which may help reduce workplace accidents and injuries.