Teaching resources for the Karen?

[ClarkerBino]

Dear Friends,

Does anyone have any more teaching materials for helping Karen
people. Especially early highschool students. Some of the Karen, who
work at my parents' restaurant, have children who are having a lot of
trouble understanding their classes outside of their ESL course.

My mom has asked me to help them with their math and science and
possibly language. I have background in teaching ESL, but that's it.
I found the Karen Konnection website, but I find its materials
limited.

Apparently these students come home crying everyday, ready to give up,
because after a week of classes they still feel completely lost. They
have recently been transfered from a limited ESL program (which
included assistance in all subject materials), possibly for a
semester. They've been lumped together with the general American
population at the beginning of this month (all except their English
class). If anyone can help me, that would be great.

Also if anyone knows where I can find Bibles in their language(s) that
would be great. I've yet to discover which sub-Koren language group
they belong. I infer that their are three main branches: Sgaw, Pwo,
and Pa'o; they are not considered to be mutually intelligible (Lewis
1984). (from wikipedia.com). Are their Bibles in all three of these
branches?

Thanks
Clark

[DE Adams]

Clark, if the children are middle school and high school they should
be in the New Comer's program at Shawnee High School. This program
gives them lots of great help. Do you know where they go to school?
If you can spend some time going over the homework instructions that
would be a great help. Usually the main problem is they are not sure
they understand the instructions, thus they are unsure of what to do.
This creates great anxiety as they want to please the teacher.

If they are Christians I'd be surprised if they did not have a Bible
in Karen or Burmese. They most likely do not understand what you're
asking. Do you want a Bible? Do you need a Bible? These questions
would always get a Yes. It doesn't mean they don't have one.

de

D.E. Adams, EDGEweb Director, troubadour
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[ClarkerBino]

Thanks DE for your quick response. Unfortunately they are transfered
from the New Comer's program, which they were in last spring. Now they
go to Atherton High school, they still have an ESL class, but now they
are grouped in with first language students in all other subjects.
I'll help them with the instructions, but what ends up happening is
they don't remember anything from the class lecture, or they didn't
realize they needed to bring the textbook with them, or the teacher
doesn't allow them to take the textbook home.

Last time I met with them I went over how to ask the teacher questions
in order to clarify instructions and identifying material aids (like
atlases, legends, experiment notes etc.)

What would be really good is if there were a Karen study guide that
explained all of this bilingually, so they could transition more
smoothly into the American classroom style.

If you know of any other materials available or if any church or
ministry has study hours for Karen, let me know.

Thanks
scr

[DE Adams]

What are their names and where do they live?

[ClarkerBino]

I only know two of their names:

Tadidi and Kya Wah. They live in the Americana apartments near the
Valu Market and Vietnam Kitchen. Down off of South Third Street.

peace,
Clark

[DE Adams]

Clark I think the children we've been talking about go to Crescent
Hill Baptist Church. We have other youth that go to Atherton and we
are working through them to get some tutoring and common study hall
time. That should happen this coming week.

The church is also working on a tutoring class on Wednesdays where by
all the Karen youth that come to our church, at least 30, will be
brought to the church after school for an extended time of working on
school problems.

Thanks for being involved. de

[swm...@gmail.com]

Try this site for online Sgaw Karen Bible .

http://www.myanmarbible.com/bible/
I believe most Karen Baptist from Mae La refugee camp are Sgaw Karen.
That is unfortunate that they are lumped with the rest of the students
in other subjects. But if they are willing to try, they will succeed.
I was in that situation as well many years ago, it was sink or swim
for me. I don't know what else to tell you, but you can tell them
someone from Burma many years ago made it (I subsequently graduated
from UCLA) and if they try their hardest, they should too!

Blessing,
Sam