Understanding Cultural Narratives: Exploring Identity and the Multicultural Experience (Michigan Teacher Training) Book

Understanding Cultural Narratives focuses on the narrative as a tool for uncovering the individual stories of second language students. Narrative that reveals aspects of a student's experience in both a first and second culture can also reveal attitudes and expectations toward second language acquisition; this knowledge provides an invaluable bridge between student and educator and provides the educator with a context in which to develop an effective learning plan. Understanding Cultural Narratives features poems and excerpts from the work of well-known authors--including Isabel Allende, Gloria Anzaldúa, Jhumpa Lahiri, V.S. Naipul, Pablo Neruda, and Zadie Smith--to explore questions and feelings that are part of identity formation in a second culture. Questions for Writing and Discussion guide teachers and students through a rich examination of the passages presented. This is an excellent resource for educators and teachers in training interested in better understanding their students by first understanding their unique stories. Read More