These topics are only suggestions at this time. We will decide as a group which topics are of greatest interest for discussion in Berlin - we can't cover everything!
If you have an idea for a topic please email Joe Kearns at joseph.kearns@carminetraining.com with your suggestion. (See below)
- fear and its impact on integration, approaches to dissolving fear
- local integration: how can the local community integrate into the new migrant community (reverse approach)
- populism and its dangers for integration. How to deal with populism in an integrative way.
- technology and how it impacts the migrant experience
- education - access, learning style, teaching style etc.
- generational issues - how different generations in the migrant community adapt
It is important to keep in mind that we are focussing on the role Interculturalists can and should play in the area of Migration.
It is important to keep in mind that we are focussing on the role Interculturalists can and should play in the area of Migration.
We will adapt topics to suit the interest and expertise of the group.
Below are the - unedited - suggestions submitted. There is so much to talk about here!
Below are the - unedited - suggestions submitted. There is so much to talk about here!
From Michael Buchman
- Concerns about, or “Reservations against” ?, immigration: What are they? Why? What can we do?” -
- ‘Core Culture’ AND ‘Open Culture’ (in German ’Leitkultur’ AND ‘Willkommenskultur’).Admittedly, it is not at all an easy topic. But we need to acknowledge both poles, as with all cultural tensions. (In Brussels, about 30 participants from 8-10 countries and all 5 continents worked on the polarity, about 1/3 each being representatives of Goverment Organizations or of NGOs or lecturers / consultants / coaches. Everyone found it to be most useful, as an eye-opener, as an approach helping to reconcile opposites and counter one-sidedness on either side. However, it was just a start.). I’d also love to find colleagues interested to further explore this tension and polarity. I, too, want to open my eyes for potential own biases. There is no better way than exploring and discussing with others. Eventually and hopefully we may come up with a SIETAR Europa webinar and/or a publication.
From Dimitris Polychronopoulos
For the subject of integration, when we discuss education, I
would like to include two primary aspects about language learning:
1 - the new arrivals struggle to learn the new language and
to learn it to a sufficiently professional level - what can interculturalists
do to help make language learning more effective for the new arrivals?
2- the children of the immigrants may not achieve a
professional level of their home language - what can interculturalists do to
help this generation achieve a professional level of the home language?
How to create interest in the receiving countries on these
two issues:
1 - newcomers achieve a high level of proficiency in their
host-country language
2 - their children achieve a high level of proficiency in their
home language
To add to this point, to what degree can a greater interest
be created in the languages present in the classroom? Perhaps some of the
classmates want to learn some of these languages?
For the first point: What role can interculturalists play in
helping newcomers achieve a professional level in the new language?
For the second point: How can interculturalists have engage
school administrators and teachers in this area?
In relation to the second point, a year ago I saw Eithne
Gallagher present in Thessaloniki at the Polyglot Conference. Here are two
videos to give you an idea of her work:
From Erik Hemming - How can the competences that
immigrants bring be made visible? Or perhaps instead of competences: cultural
capital, or capitals (including social capital = networks)
From Noureddine Erradi
Refuges and their identities struggle.
This is also based on my findings while working with former
radicals and recently with refugees.
It is a subject taboo or phantom that should be present in
each plan, discussion or project.
