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Cultural Adjustment, Mental Health, and ESL: The Refugee Experience, the Role of the Teacher, and ESL Activities
Adkins, Myrna Ann, Dina Birman and Barbara Sample
Spring Institute for International Studies, 1999

Spring Institute for International Studies
1610 Emerson Street
Denver, CO 80218

PHONE (303) 863-0188
FAX (303) 863-0178
E-MAIL spring@springinstitute.org
WEB http://www.springinstitute.com

ISBN 0-940723-16-6; free

This 56-page book is intended to help ESOL teachers understand mental health as it relates to the refugees in their classroom, and to offer strategies for addressing issues of mental distress that may become apparent. It is based on research on the cultural adjustment and mental health of refugees, and guides the ESOL teacher to be a link between the student and the network of other services available. It is in three parts. The first section describes the basic concepts of mental health as it relates to the refugee experience. The second part describes the connection between ESOL and mental health. And the third section offers specific classroom activities to encourage active listening, sharing, and processing of the students' journeys from their home cultures to their life here. In the back is a list of resources that includes individuals and organizations that address refugee mental health.

KEYWORDS: Advocacy, Cross-cultural Communication, ESOL, Immigrants, Literacy Education, Mental Health

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What This Guide Is About | Introduction | Materials | Indices | Home

World Education
November 2000