Page 32 - ELG1706 Jun Issue 448

RESOURCES .

The

art of

teaching

Photographer and EL teacher

Steve Pellerine talks to

Claudia Civinini about using

the visual arts to boost

learners’ literacy

anding English language learners their own experiences. public health dataset from the Europe Social
a sponge and some paint and To build literacy skills, he would use Survey, migrants in the UK who lack English
asking them to ‘paint what comes’ devices such as stencils as a ‘way to start proficiency have challenges accessing both
Hmight not appear like a promising writing immediately’, and vocabulary primary and secondary health care.
teaching method for a foreign language. But flashcards to glue on worksheets. However, he said, integration can be a
Canadian EL instructor and photographer He worked with these groups for seven to sensitive topic.
Steve Pellerine has found that the technique, eight hours a day for a period of about two ‘In migration studies,’ he explained,
along with others based around the visual weeks. By the end, ‘most of them were able ‘many academics fret when they hear “the
arts, has helped some of his most challenging assimilation or integration of a migrant”
groups to learn. into a community.’ But from his fieldwork
His love of both art and education Visual art allows for and experience, he has seen that many
has even led him to study for an MSc in migrants want to integrate and see language
migration studies – looking at how visual arts accessing the mind proficiency as critical.
may be the key to unlocking literacy skills With developed language skills, Steve
and motivation for migrants who need to of the individual in explained, ‘success in accessing work and
learn English. becoming accepted into a community is
Steve has been investigating this form unique and interesting greatly increased.’
of alternative literacy instruction since he ways – even without Art can help migrants both master the
noticed that his students in Dubai, where language and embrace the community.
‘there is a widespread motivation problem’, words ‘Imagine displaying photos and artwork from
were more motivated and learned faster a class of migrant students in a local library,’
when taught English through photography. Steve said. ‘It would build a bridge into the
He then became interested in how best to write a few words down’ while others had community.’
to teach migrants in English-speaking improved more noticeably. What’s on the cards for the future? He
countries, and decided to carry out a study An episode that took place in Ethiopia says he will most probably complete a
in Africa. further motivated him to research language doctorate in education (Tesol) at Columbia
‘I isolated migrant communities in instruction for migrants. Some of the women Teachers College in the US.
Ethiopia who were illiterate in all languages,’ he was working with couldn’t carry out ‘My hopes are to further develop and
he explained. ‘This allowed me to gain simple tasks as first – and he thought there refine the approach, embedding the
insight and collect baseline data on whether could be a problem with their sight. theories into initiatives that assist in a
visual arts could be the primer to start He got them tested by an optician – and smoother transition for migrants relocating
reading and writing instruction. It worked.’ sure enough they all needed glasses. This into nations where English is the official
Aided by a translator, he used photography made him consider the language challenges language,’ Steve explained.
and drawing to start a conversation with that migrants face and what this could ‘Evoking the intrinsic motivation of
these students. He asked students to take mean in terms of access to services and individual learners is critical,’ he added.
photos of their life – or sketch milestones – employment. During his MSc course this
and then build vocabulary and phrases from year, he found that from an analysis of a
32 May 2017

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