Meeting the Needs of Second Language Learners in the Library

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Meeting the Needs of Second Language Learners in
the Library

• July 24, 2002
• Gina Mikel Petrie
• Dept. of Teaching and Learning
• Washington State University

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Why are we here?

• Communication breakdown

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Questions we need to ask

• 1. WHO are the second language library users here
  at WSU?
• 2. WHAT exactly are the issues that arise when
  communicating with language students?

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A note on stereotypes

• The usefulness of generalizations
• BUT
• The limits and dangers

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International Students

• Enrolled in an ESL program
• 1. Lower level
• 2. Higher level

• B) Enrolled in the university
• 1. EAP graduates
• 2. No EAP prep

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International Students

• Very general characteristics
• Eye learners
• Textbook learning experiences
• Fairly strong CALP

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U.S. Resident Students

• Very general characteristics
• Ear learners
• English through social contacts
• Possibly low CALP

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Which culture?

• Some ways culture can impact your experiences
  with second language learners in library
  instruction
• type of educational background
• questions/answers
• authority
• listening/speaking
• reading/writing

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Some Cultural Group Examples

• South/Central American
• Asian
• European
• Arab

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Which language?

• Contrastive analysis
• Pronunciation
• ex. Vietnamese
• Grammar
• ex. Taiwanese
• Spelling
• ex. Arabic

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Why does communication break down with second
language learners?

• Mixture of cultural
• and linguistic issues

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Specifically, what are these issues in library
instruction?

• Language
• Vocabulary
• Literacy practices

• Genre
• Plagiarism
• Multiple ways

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Language Issues

• Affective aspects
• Communicative Competence
• Low language ability

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Assisting with Language Issues

• Redundancy
• Fulfill expectations
• Multiple modes
• Simply patterned documents
• Technology
• Modeling

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Vocabulary Issues

• Basic vocabulary
• Functional vocabulary
• Academic vocabulary

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Assisting with Vocabulary Issues

• Synonyms
• Checking on search terms
• Widening/narrowing search
• Functional vocabulary suitable for library
• Ideas for locating discipline specific vocab

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Literacy Issues

• Organization of information
• Significance of information
• Abbreviations

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Assisting with Literacy Issues

• Walk through examples
• Talk aloud modeling
• Look at different types of information

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Genre Issues

• Purpose of text
• Audience/author awareness
• Organization of text
• Obvious/subtle argument
• Use of other sources

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Assisting with Genre Issues

• Ask questions
• Give information about genre

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Plagiarism Issues

• Cultural concept
• Emphasis on author

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Assisting with Plagiarism Issues

• Awareness
• Assist with realization that author matters

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Multiple Path Issues

• Confusion
• Overwhelming information

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Assisting with Multiple Path Issues

• Keep it simpleone path
• Avoid more advance information unless approached
  by student
• Be aware of students language abilities

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A closing thought

• By being aware of the literacy, language and
  cultural backgrounds of students,
• we can better meet their needs
• And gain a rich multicultural awareness ourselves.