Español para migrantes – Lot fason panyol
Optimizing Spanish Language
skills for dignified Migration
An A1 level Spanish Course,
migrant focused
by The Other Way Spanish.
- Open and free platform with a A1 Course, for Spanish learner Haitian migrants and voluntary teachers.
- With 20 ready-to-use classes available for teachers and volunteers working with migrants.
- A Curriculum Plan and a Teacher Manual.
- A research article exploring Spanish as a Second Language teaching in the fields of linguistics, web development, and migration.
THE CONTEXT OF THE MATTER
The current situation in Haiti is critical in terms of food security, poverty, and, most notably, social safety due to a growing wave of violence compounded by the devastating aftermath of natural disasters such as the earthquakes in 2010 and 2016, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The control of armed groups in various parts of Haiti has forced the displacement of thousands of families. As a result, 1,769,671 people left the country in search of stability, migrating to various Western countries in 2020 alone, according to UN data.
In the case of Chile, 13% of recent Haitian migration is directed towards the South American country, causing the Haitian diaspora to grow nearly eightfold in under seven years. This phenomenon has heightened the challenges of structural integration (economic, employment, access to housing, and basic services) and cultural integration (language, education, network-building) for this population. Notably, compared to other migrant nationalities in the Metropolitan Region, who tend to concentrate in the central areas of the capital, the Haitian population, on the other hand, tends to settle in the peripheral and suburban zones (Edwards, R. Greene, M., 2022)
Based on the same data, among those who choose migration routes within the American continent, 56% opt for migrating to another Latin American country, with the Dominican Republic, Chile, and Brazil being notable destinations. Meanwhile, 39% head to the United States. Many of the latter group embark on their journey to the North American country after having previously resided in another Latin American nation. A current case is that of Chile, where Haitian migrants face a grueling period of bureaucratic uncertainty, compelling them to migrate once again. This has led to an 81% increase in Haitian emigration from Chile to the United States through periplous overland routes traversing other Spanish-speaking countries to the north over the past two years (Jesuit Migrant Service, 2022).
However, even more distressing, the language barrier has also contributed to racist neglect that has tragically cost lives of numerous Haitian men and women.Incidents of women dying in childbirth or due to medical negligence are not uncommon (Action Woman and Mother NGO, 2017).
And we sadly remember the heart-wrenching case of Joan Florvil, a mother who is believed to have taken her own life in jail, unaware of why she was arrested, perhaps thinking her 2-year-old baby had died, and being unjustly accused of abandonment, all because she couldn’t communicate in Spanish and public servants fatally ignored her. In response to this unacceptable case, Chile commemorates National Day Againts Racism on September 30, honoring the day of Joane’s death in 2017.
Additionally, numerous cases of conditions resembling slavery, overcrowding, and other abuses have been reported.
DELIVER 2 LEVEL
A1 COURSES
- With 20 in-person class guides and 2 assessments, self study digital materials and asynchronous digital contents. Aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages principles for level A1.
- Focused on student-centered learning, utilizing methodologies that leverage interdependence between native and target languages, and emphasizing literacy techniques.
- Based on and studying the most current and effective approaches in the teaching of a new language, since Krashen and Choamsky until Bachman, Hymes and Freire. Language acquisition, functional communicative approach, languages interdependence, literacy and cultural competences.
DEVELOP AN E-PLATFORM
- Accesible on mobile phones, tablets and computers.
- Offering asynchronous and interactive resources, including exercises, forums, and open, permanent and free digital tools for project students with individual user accounts.
- Includying and applying the most recent technologies in education and new digital methodologies, in addition to digital literacy.
CREATE A CURRICULUM
PLAN FOR SSL TO HAITIANS
- Develop a curriculum plan for teaching Spanish as a Second Language to the Haitian Community.
- This involves the systematization and enhancement of the evaluated experience, resulting in a digital document that includes syllabi for Courses A1.1 and A1.2, a teacher training handbook for volunteers or migration-related officials, and the contents structured into 20 classes.
BENEFICIARY COMMUNITY
Women and men from Haiti, migrants in Chile, aged 17 and older, are going to be the direct beneficiaries, totaling between 45 and 60 students just in this first version of face-to-face classes.
Nevertheless and additionally, the project aims to disseminate the educational material to amplify the number of beneficiaries, potencially reaching over 300,000 people in Chile alone.
Simultaneously, the digital aspect of the project enables greater interaction with spanish as a second language learning process for all migrants, specially those who are crossing the Latinamerican Continent to get in the US or Canada.
Direction and research on language teaching. Creation of content for classes and digital resources. Overall monitoring of courses. Curriculum formulation.
Read more…
Maintenance, installation, development, and management of websites based on Content Management Systems (CMS) such as Moodle and WordPress.
Read more…
Planning and execution of logistical matters. Execution of classes. Translations to Kreyòl. Research collaborator and content creator.
Read more…
ACTION PLAN
The planning of our work into months, based on a Gantt chart and on our Work Organization
Total months: 12
1. Promoting project awareness and reaching more users:
- Promote the project and reach a larger audience with app access.
- Develop a registration form for user sign-up.
- Manage social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp.
2. Material Extension and Outreach:
- Extend class materials to volunteer teachers and migration-related personnel; considering municipal officials and bureaucratic staff, with a focus on grassroots organizations supporting Haitian migrants, particularly women.
- Map and contact grassroots organizations working with the Haitian population and women in Chile.
- Map and contact basic-use public services and agencies (clinics, health posts, migration departments, people’s defense offices, public schools, and high schools).
3. Sharing the research experience:
- Write and publish an academic article.
- Share the creative and research experience of “Lòt fason panyòl – The Other Way Spanish for Migrants” with language education professionals and linguistics experts.
- Map and contact professionals dedicated to teaching Spanish as a foreign language in public spaces, both in Chile and other Latin American countries.
- Map journals and academic centers publishing on language education, literacy, and migration.
SUPPORT US IN OUR
ONGOING COMMITMENT TO DIGNIFY MIGRANTS
THROUGH LINGUISTIC PROFICENCY
HELP US
Refine and unify the materials we’ve developed so far.
Perform and boost our app for Spanish as a second language and migrant lingua franca.
Share our materials freely with everybody who needs.
