the impact of international mobility on children and...

The Impact of International Mobility on Children and Families

How Big is Your Welcome Mat?

Mary LangfordDirector of AdmissionsDwight School London

TheTCKMovie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9sSJymDuuM

Open Apply Conference Barcelona, October 2016

Themindsetoftheprospectiveparent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9sSJymDuuM


The mindset of the prospective parent

Excited

Uncertain

TakingaLeapintotheUnknown

Wherewillwelive?

JobPromotion!

Adventure&Travel!

Wecan’tspeakthelanguage!

CanImakeeveryonehappy(spouse,kids,ourparents,newboss,parents,dogorcat??)

Stressed


Stress

‘It is the degree of change, not the negative or the

positive nature of the change, that produces

stress and anxiety.’

ElizabethCarter,familysystemstherapist


I thought I could speak English but…

Secondlanguagespeakingparentsmayhaveproblemsnegotiatingourdiverseaccents!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UgpfSp2t6k


Then there’s the lingo…InternationalSchooljargon:grades,yeargroup, class

upperschool, secondaryschool,middleschool,junior school, lowerschool,primaryschool,elementaryschool

timetable,schedule

specialneeds, learningsupport,SEN,AEN

formtutor, homeroomteacher,advisor

ESL,EAL,EFL,ESOL,ExtraEnglish, IntensiveEAL…

faculty,staff,teachers,tutors, LSAs,TAs

recess/break/playtime

dininghall,cafeteria,lunchroom, refectory

Director,Superintendent, HeadofSchool,Principal,HeadTeacher

extra-curricular,co-curricular,after-schoolactivities,clubsOpen Apply Conference Barcelona,

October 2016

Parental Guilt:What am I doing to my children?

‘Parentalguiltwasamajorconcernintheproblemsofexpatriate.

Wemovefromcountrytocountrybecauseweaccepttheideathatitisanaspectoftoday’sworldand,evenmoreso,oftomorrow’sworld,butwebalkinternallyatuprootingourchildren.

Welamentthedistancethatseparatesthemfromtherestoftheirfamilyandfeartheywillgrowuprootlessandlost,withnosenseofplaceorbelonging…andcausethemirreparableharm.’

from Portable Roots, Gordon & Jones


CultureShock!!!!!

‘an expatriate’s reaction to a new, unpredictable and therefore unforeseen

environment. Culture shock sets in as the expatriate

begins to let go of the home culture

and to engage with the foreign culture.’

NancyAdler,McGillUniversityOpen Apply Conference Barcelona, October 2016

Some causes of Culture Shock

• Separationfromfamily,friends,children(maybeforthefirsttime)• Lossofsupportsystem• Senseofsocialisolationandlossofcommunityroots• Adaptationtolocalbusinesscustomsandtimeframes• Hostcountryhasdifferentvalues• Povertyappals,andcanleadtoguiltwhenexpatriatesmaybeenjoyingcomparablyluxurioushotelsorexpatriatehomes

• Otherpeople’sbehaviourdoesnotmakesense• One’sownbehaviourdoesnotproducetheexpectedresults


Adaptation Cycle

Source: Elisabeth MarxOpen Apply Conference Barcelona,

October 2016

Feelingsassociatedwithmobility

• Do people at this school know what is happening or how I am feeling?• Do people at this school understand why

I’m feeling this way?• Do people at this school know how this

feels?• Do they care?• Will anyone at this school help me make it

through these challenges?

Dr. DougOtainSafePassage,2015Open Apply Conference Barcelona,

October 2016

OpenApplyAdmissionsDocuments(Applications)

• Application

• ParentStatement

• StudentWritingSample

• LanguageProfile

• ReferenceForm

• SchoolReports

• Passportcopyandphoto

• AdditionalReports(EdPsych/IEP/EnglishTestCertificates)

• Safeguardingconcernslettertopreviousschool(UK)

AccessedbyCommunications,Principals,Finance,Transport,Administrators,HealthOfficer,HeadofSchool,SafeguardingOfficer

Stuff the Admissions Office Knows


Makingiteasyforparents!


You tell your academic colleagues he’s bilingual…but

what kind?• EliteorPrestigiousBilinguals• SimultaneousBilinguals• SequentialBilinguals• AdditiveBilinguals• SubtractiveBilinguals

• Sears1998• Carder2007


LevelsoflanguageacquisitiondefinedbyCummins

• BICS BasicInterpersonalCommunicationSkills

allowsforeffectiveinterpersonal communicationwhenLanguageisusedwithothercontextualcues(eyecontact,facialexpression, intonation,gestures).

• CALPCognitiveAcademicLanguageProficiencySkills

achievedthrough knowledgeofthelanguageoftext,complexvocabulary,grammaticalstructuresmakinggreaterdemandsonmemory,analysisandothercognitiveprocesses.(Cantake5Years.)

Cummins2000andEzra2003


Language Profile


StudentWritingSample


TeacherReference


TheParentStatement


AdmissionsMemo


OpenApplyAdmissionsDocuments(AfterAccepted)

• FinancialResponsibilityForm(Accounts)

• MedicalForm(StudentHealthOfficer/Administrators)

• NewStudent InformationUpdate(Admissions/Administrators/

• MYP4/5andIBDPCourseSelectionForm(Principal/IBCoordinators/Timetabler)

• MYP1LanguageSelection(Principal/IBMYPCoordinator/Timetabler)

• Letterreclassstart-ofyeartrips(includingkittobringalong)

• ParentAmbassadorForm(ParentAssociationParentAmbassadorCoordinator)

• SunTanLotionPermissionForm(LowerSchoolAdministrator)

AccessedbyCommunications,Principals,Finance,Transport,Administrators,HealthOfficer,HeadofSchool,SafeguardingOfficer

StufftheAdmissionsOfficeKnows?


FittinginatthenewSchool


ParentAmbassadorForm


AfterAccepted:OpenApplyEmailLinktoFinalsite Forms


Finalsiteformsfornewfamilies

EmailsentviaOpenApplywith linkstoFinalsite ParentPortal

• TransportRequestForm(TransportManager/Admissions/Adminstrator)

• MusicLessonsRegistration(HeadofMusic/Finance)

• SchoolTripsSignUpForms(TripCoordinators/Finance)

• LunchRequestForms(LowerSchoolAdministrator/Finance)

• AfterSchoolActivitiesSignUp(LowerSchoolAdministrator/Finance)


Finalsiteparentportal


NewStudentForm


DevelopingTransitionProgrammesforYourSchool

• Persuadeyourschooltostartastrategically-planned,fundedtransitionprogramme• Considerthepopulation,schoolsize,location,hostcountrycultureandlanguage•Whatareyoualreadydoing?Audit•Whatcomesnext?


Who’sinvolvedintransitions?ParentTransition Students inTransition StaffinTransition

AdmissionsDepartment AdmissionsDepartment HR(DVT)Relocation /GlobalMobility StudentCouncil/Parliament HousingSupport (ACO/DJA/?)Employers ‘Buddies’ (Pastoral/FormTutors) Peer/mentor teachersDirector (DRO) PrimaryTeacher/USFormTutors Director (DRO)HeadofSchool(ACO) TechDepartment (NBR/SNY) HeadofSchool(ACO)Principals(MPA/JHO/JWA/KHO) SpecialistTeachers(ETS/ASE) Principals (JHO/JWA/MPA/KHO)BusinessOffice(DJA/SMA) SchoolAdministrators (NMC/JDO/MMC) SubjectLeadersIBCoordinators (PJO/JWA/JBR) Pastoral(JLO/BVE) BusinessOffice(DJA)ParentAssociation (ADU) Uni/Career Counsellor (FMC) IBCoordinatorParentAmbassadors(ABR) Librarian (GMA/AMA) StaffAssociationSchoolAdministrators (NMC/JDO/MMC) MTLanguageTeachers(ADI+++) SchoolAdministratorsPastoral(JLO/BVE) SportsCoaches/ExtraCurricular (AGO/LS?) Uni/Career Counsellor (FMC)Uni/Career Counsellor (FMC) EALTeachers(RMI/GFA) Librarian (AMA/GMA)Librarians (AMA/GMA) BusDrivers(MPA/KHO/JDO) MTLanguageTeachers

EALTeachers(RMI/GFA) Nurse/Health Support (AWE) ICTStaffMotherTongueTeachers(ADI) Support Staff(lunch/maint.) SpecialistTeachersMarketing/CommsDept(KST) AlumniStudents Welfareandhealth(AWE)Transport Coordinator (MPA) Support Staff(maintenance)BusCompany( SCGWelfareandhealth(AWE)SchoolConsultative Group (??)AlumniFamilies(??)


Resources/eventssupportingtransitions?ParentTransition Students inTransition StaffinTransitionAdmissionsinterview AdmissionsInterview InterviewAdmissionsProcess Welcomeemail/skype/letter WelcomedocumentationOpenApply ClassDisplays Orientation toCountry/CultureOrientation/First Day SchoolDisplays Orientation toSchoolBacktoSchoolNights NewStudentOrientation Housing/utilities/phone/internetPTAWelcomeCoffees TCKWorkshopsforKids Residency/police registration/biometric visasClassCoffees ClassroomEvents/Activities GP/Nat’l InsuranceregistrationNewcomer SocialEvenings ClassWelcomeRituals BankingarrangementsTCK/Transition Talks Routine LeavingClassRituals Pre-PlanningFOCUS BuddySystem PDandINSETExpatinBritain Conference Schoolleavingtoken/gift MentoringSystemWomen’sClubs Alumniinduction Departure ritualsNational SocialAssociations Transferdocuments/records Transition friendlystaffroomAlumniactivities Extra-curricular activities StaffSocialwelcomeeventsLanguage support (EAL) Languagesupport (EAL/MT) StaffDeparture eventsDeparture/Repat workshops Departure/Repat workshops Routine leavingtoken/giftPre-Uni Departure workshop Pre-Uni Departure workshop TCK/Transition INSETStudent&ParentHandbook Languagesupport (EAL/MT)Website Website WebsiteEmails/skype Emails/skype Emails/skype

Student&ParentHandbook TeacherHandbookStudentLibrary Resources TeacherLibraryResourcesCurriculum Content Professional books/websitesDeparting studentdisplays


Third Culture Kids - a definition

TCKs are individuals who, having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than that of their parents, develop a sense of relationship to both (cultures).

These children of business executives, soldiers and sailors, diplomats, and missionaries who live abroad become “culture-blended” persons who often contribute in unique and creative ways to society as a whole.

Dr.RuthHillUseem,MichiganStateUniversity

Prof.ofSociology,Psychology,Anthropology1976

Creativity & Transition Institute 2014 London

‘Fromourearliestyearswewerequiteaccustomedtochangingcountryandcontinent,schoolandfriendsandlanguageatthewhimofsome

unseenpower.Wethoughtitwasnormal.Ithasleftsomeofus,atsomelevel,slightlyabnormal.’

Libby Purves, OBE British journalist, broadcaster, author and

'diplobrat'Creativity & Transition Institute 2014 London

How can we help parents?

Share all the information you have gathered with the relevant colleagues and stakeholders

Help parents understand that the experience of living abroad can be a wonderful experience for their children.

Develop a Transition Programme


Admissions Staff and Practice in IB Schools should model the IB Learner Profile!


GraciasBarcelonayOpenApply!!!

[email protected]

@langfordiecwww.langfordiec.com