SIT Digital Collections Copyright (c) 2017 SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad All rights reserved. http://digitalcollections.sit.edu Recent documents in SIT Digital Collections en-us Sun, 09 Jul 2017 01:30:54 PDT 3600 The Communicative Functions of Language: An Exploration of Roman Jakobson’s Theory in TESOL http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/723 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/723 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:48:26 PDT Language is an essential instrument of human expression and communication. In the field of TESOL, much attention is given to the what (vocabulary as building blocks) and the how (grammar as a blueprint for construction) but we seldom explicitly address why language matters in terms of the greater purpose it serves. Roman Jakobson’s model of the communicative functions of language is a compelling framework through which the overarching aims of language can be examined for richer ESL/EFL instruction and more effective, comprehensive use on the part of English language learners. This paper is an exposition and exploration of the model in parts and in tandem, as well as a guide to applying its referential, conative, emotive, phatic, poetic and metalinguistic functions in TESOL contexts.

]]> Angela C. Tribus Mindfulness for Teachers: A Plan for Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Growth http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/722 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/722 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:48:22 PDT Stress is a malady pervasive in today’s culture, which schools are not immune. Teachers are under pressure to raise standardized test scores while students spend more of each day sitting in their seats trying to learn increasingly more abstract concepts at younger ages. All of this leads to a stressful environment. However, there are tools and skills that can be learned to minimize the stress an individual encounters and provide a means to live with more engagement, creativity, and happiness. The author uses his twenty years of meditation and yoga experience to create materials that teachers can implement in their personal lives and in the classroom. This project begins with an introduction to mindfulness and a review of the exciting research demonstrating the benefits of regular mindfulness meditation practice. Next, the author reflects on his experiences working with classes and what he gleaned that can be applicable to teachers wanting to implement mindfulness in their classrooms. Finally, there are a multitude of mindfulness practices for teachers to use in their lives to create more balance and harmony within.

]]> Bryan Meyer Cultural Connections in Santa Fe, New Mexico http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/721 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/721 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:48:17 PDT In an effort to see if there is tension among the various cultures in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this paper examines the social relationships among five cultural groups. The author investigates the nature of the interaction among the Anglo, Hispanic, Hispanic immigrant, Native American, and Tibetan cultures by use of a survey which shows locations where participants sped time, who they interact with, and the purpose of the contact. Participants were questioned concerning their perceptions of cultural borders and interaction among the different cultures. The survey and feedback suggest that tension arises from cultural insensitivity and socioeconomic differences.

]]> Anne M. Birch MULTI IDENTITY CONFLICT: A CASE STUDY ON SUDANESE REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN JORDAN http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/720 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/720 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:48:13 PDT This inquiry was a completed as part of the requirements for earning a master of the arts degree in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation for the student William Clifton at SIT Graduate Institute. It was an independent practitioner inquiry based on the methodology of Grounded Theory that utilized qualitative research by way of in depth interviews and a focus group to understand how the identity shaped the experience of Sudanese migrants living in Jordan. In addition to these qualitative methods, a review of the literature was conducted on Sudanese populations in Sudan and in outside communities to help guide the process and provide information to compare as well as information about how these populations were treated by their host countries, with principal emphasis on the country of Jordan. The purpose of the research was to gain better understanding of this under researched minority population, to explore ways that identity conflict can affect them from various ways related to their identities, and to gather information about their level of institutional support and how that can be changed to further contribute to their well-being. The findings indicated that the participants expressed Geographical, Ethnic, and Religious Identities while also experiencing Racial Discrimination and Ascribed Identity. In addition, the participants expressed their reasons for coming to Jordan, described their livelihoods and institutional support. The author than wrote a 9 track diplomacy plan as a type of holistic intervention to serve the needs of that population.

]]> William C. Clifton Jr. Where No Man Has Gone Before: A Critical Roadmap for the Use of Drones in Targeted Killing http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2527 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2527 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 09:24:49 PDT In the ongoing War on Terror, the Obama Administration has relied heavily on a new form of military technology: the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, more popularly known as the drone. While the program has remained largely a covert operation, gradually more information about its effects, especially concerning civilian casualties, has begun to come to light. As a result of allegations over their allegedly indiscriminate use in Yemen and Pakistan, countries the U.S. is not at war with, a few questions arise. When do drones stop becoming a military precision tool for taking out Al-Qaeda senior command and move into a field of unchecked and rapidly proliferating military assassinations of terrorists and civilians alike? Have they crossed that line, and if so, are the actions of the United States legal under international law? In examining these key thoughts, the effectiveness and ultimately, alternatives to the Drone Doctrine must also be judged.

This report finds that the drone program has become counterproductive and should be stopped. The indiscriminate killings of civilians are in violation of International Human Rights Laws and have caused an environment where to continue drone strikes will only result in a permanently damaged relationship with the people of Yemen and Pakistan. The only way to carry out a successful drone program is to have it in the open, overseen by the international community. Even when that happens, drones are not a complete counterterrorism strategy. Other methods for building infrastructure and state empowerment must be used in conjunction with drones to stop terrorism and violence at their roots.

]]> Valerie Heinmets Conflicting Currencies: An Examination of the USD and the Geoeconomics of the International Monetary System http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2526 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2526 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 09:24:46 PDT What is the future of the United States dollar within the international monetary system? The dollar has certainly enjoyed supremacy as a unit of account, store of value, and medium exchange since World War II, but what about new challengers (most notably the euro and Chinese yuan)? Using “geoeconomic” analysis to determine what strategies or actions a state might pursue in the international political economy can help to begin answering these questions. Geoeconomic considerations used in this paper do not dismiss cultural, political, or military aspects of international power relations, they supplements them. The short-run status of USD preeminence within the international monetary system is stable, but medium and long-term prospects are more uncertain. Important currency contenders, such as the euro and yuan, raise important political and economic problems for the U.S.’s borrowing, policy options, and, ultimately, its national sovereignty. Future outcomes and possibilities will be explored to highlight the need for the U.S. to fix its domestic issues in order to retain currency supremacy and national control.

]]> Cullen Millikin Disturbing the Peace: SALW in Post-Conflict Sudan and South Sudan http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2525 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2525 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 09:24:42 PDT According to the Small Arms Survey, there are an estimated 875 million small arms and light weapons (SALW) in circulation across the globe. All countries, as well as numerous non-state armed groups, have access to these types of weapons. There are both legal and illegal means of obtaining such weapons, and they can be used for a variety of purposes [1]. While SALW do have a range of legitimate uses, these are also the primary instruments of violence used in most internal and inter-communal conflict.[2] This study aims to address negative impacts that access to these types of weapons has on the human security and development of impoverished and underdeveloped regions. To do so, this research shall focus on one region in particular.

Access to SALW has had a particularly destructive impact on Sudan and the new nation of South Sudan. The proliferation of SALW, especially by non-state actors (particularly armed groups and civilians) is an important factor in the escalating violence of the Sudan region [3]. In order to understand the harmful role that small weapons play in Sudanese conflict, it is crucial to understand the history of this conflict and its sources. Much of the armed conflict in this region occurs as a result of ethnic or political divisions that simply grow beyond government control. This violence, worsened by the ease with which portable SALW are obtained, creates a myriad of problems for the region. Development stagnates, and in some cases ceases completely. Human security diminishes for people living within the direct conflict zone, as well as beyond the country’s borders. It is important that adequate measures be taken to reduce the danger that SALW create in Sudan and South Sudan. Many organizations believe that the best way to do this is through disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, also known as DDR. This paper provides some alternatives to traditional DDR strategies.

[1] Small Arms Survey, “ Weapons and Markets,” http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/index.php?id=122 (accessed November 10, 2013)

[2] Peter Hazdra, Small Arms- Big Problem (Vienna: Schriftenreihe der Landesverteidigumgsakademie, 2007), 15.

[3] Human Security Baseline Assessment, “Arms and Ammunition Tracing Desk,” http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/facts-figures/arms-and-ammunition-tracing-desk.html (accessed November 9, 2013)

]]> Kylin Mueller Misguided Saviors: An Analysis of International Adoption Issues and Necessary Considerations for Prospective Adoptive Parents http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2524 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2524 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 09:24:39 PDT International adoption flows from poor countries to rich countries and in the past it has been regarded as a good way to help those in need, by giving impoverished abandoned children families. Recently, however, the need for adoption in these countries has lessened considerably, but the desire to adopt has not. With less children available for adoption and a high demand, combined with large sums of money pouring into less developed countries, adoption scandals and poor practices have been surfacing over the past few years. The right of the child is often not being protected in adoption procedures and associations such as UNICEF, Terre Des Hommes, and the International Social Service are concerned with the pressures coming from receiving countries on the countries of origin. Many prospective adoptive parents are not informed about these issues and continue to line up for their turn to adopt. International adoption involves many actors at different levels and thus it is difficult to fully comprehend the situation. Who is truly benefitting from this and is it in the best interests of the child? Why are so many prospective parents unaware of the risks involved? This report will try to answer these questions and analyze the considerations that should be taken in when deciding whether international adoption is the right decision.

]]> Louisa Rich Transforming Language: Nonviolent Communication in Educational Settings http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/sandanona/spring2017/may1717/1 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/sandanona/spring2017/may1717/1 Non-violent communication is a four-step process that consistently yields incredible results. This useful tool can benefit every individual, especially educators. This presentation and workshop will help you transform the way you communicate with your students, as well as how you teach your students to communicate with the English language.

]]> Aurora Lucas et al. Using Feedback to Critically Evaluate and Develop as Teachers http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/sandanona/spring2017/may1517/3 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/sandanona/spring2017/may1517/3 This lecture discusses the importance of being critical of one’s own teaching and using feedback in the classroom, and teaching context as a whole, to assess one's teaching. Participants will explore some techniques of asking for feedback in ways to ensure the most relevant and useful feedback.

]]> Eliza J. Mandel Culture and classroom management http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/sandanona/spring2017/may1517/2 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/sandanona/spring2017/may1517/2 How do different cultures manage classroom environments? This workshop gives the participants the chance to explore this question with video, hands-on exercises, and group discussion.

]]> Maura Mvukiye “In Trouble”: Effective Practices for Teaching ELL Teens http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/sandanona/spring2017/may1517/1 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/sandanona/spring2017/may1517/1 This presentation will provide insight into the behavioral patterns of teenagers in order to address common problems related to classroom management for ESL/EFL teachers in middle school and high school settings. Participants will work to create plans of action that allow for healing and growth, while setting models of behavior.

]]> Clifton Tressler Semester at Sea Global Studies Program http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3011 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3011 Tue, 30 May 2017 08:14:32 PDT Increasing intercultural competence in students is becoming extremely important to institutions around the United States. With the current trends in higher education, study abroad programs need to address intercultural competence as a necessity for the global age (Fantini, 1995). There is no clear consensus on how intercultural competence should be defined. Despite the varied definitions, the need for preparing students for an interconnected world could not be more important.

There has been a recent push for assessing intercultural competence in study abroad programs. Many institutions and organizations claim that their programs are developing global citizens and intercultural competence, but they do not describe how they are developing these competencies. Intercultural competence, for most, does not “just happen.” It must be intentionally addressed in higher education programs, experiences, and courses.

The Semester at Sea (SAS) Global Studies Program (GSP) has been remodeled to support students in understanding the importance of intercultural competence on the ship and in a port. Intentionally addressing intercultural competence in co-curricular activities can provide a more comprehensive and integrated approach, while aiding students on their intercultural discovery. Successful intercultural interactions are at the heart of study abroad; therefore, it is worth investigating the criteria by which SAS in-country programs help students become more culturally sensitive and less ethnocentric. SAS believes in providing students with a hands-on field experience in-country. Thus, it is necessary to discover what kind of GSP curriculum would mirror the students’ learning outside the classroom. This expanded program will support SAS participants in further engaging in global initiatives while in-country.

]]> Laura B. McDonald Is Restorative Justice Doing Enough To Address The Power Imbalances Caused By Systems of Privilege and Oppression http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3010 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3010 Fri, 26 May 2017 08:19:09 PDT Restorative justice is an ever growing philosophy which is causing a paradigm shift in the way society understands and responds to crime, punishment and victimization. The State of Vermont has become a pioneer and an example of how to implement restorative practices into the official criminal justice system, developing an alternative process to traditional punitive approaches. However, it is now more important than ever to ensure that there is not a false sense of success or a level of complacency in the further development of restorative practices. It is time to critically analyse the current restorative process and explore the difficult question of whether these practices are doing enough to address the power imbalances caused by systems of privilege and oppression.

This study conducts an Oppression Theory based analysis of the restorative practices taking place at a Vermont Community Justice Center and a Vermont High School. The analysis breaks down the impacts of systems of privilege and oppression at the micro and macro level. At the micro level, it explores how conferred dominance and learned societal behaviours that are dictated by an individual’s social identity groups, can impact their willingness and ability to meaningfully engage in restorative practices. At the macro level, it explores the concept of a societal disequilibrium and the danger of restorative practices perpetuating systems of inequality and oppression.

This study finds that several individuals engaging in the restorative practices it explored did not acknowledge the impacts that systems of privilege and oppression can have of the restorative process. Those who were able to identify the negative effects that inequalities can have on restorative practices, did not appear to have the knowledge or resources to address such issues. Therefore, the author of this study designed “A Restorative Justice Course: Understanding Privilege and Oppression” (pg. 28-49), which is a practical Oppression Theory based framework to help restorative practitioners better understand the impacts of societal inequality. It is an easily accessible, adaptable and implementable framework which can be used to further develop restorative practices and to ensure those who engage in restorative processes do so in a more socially conscious way.

]]> Matthew Furnell Enhancing Global Education in China - A Global Citizen Language Program http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3009 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3009 Fri, 26 May 2017 08:19:03 PDT The acceleration of globalization calls for education with an aim of creating global citizens who are able to learn, live and function in an increasingly interconnected world. Educators should remember that they are creating future leaders who need to understand how to perform and interact in a global arena. For global citizens to effectively function in such an environment, they are required to have competencies such as: intercultural understanding, curiosity for discovery, cultural self-awareness, sociolinguistic awareness, and ability to listen, observe, interpret and analyze etc.

Chinese students who live in second and third-tier cities receive significantly less global education due to the lack of resources, qualified teachers and the opportunities to interact with the outside world. English language acquisition appears to be the only subject that can let them come into contact with different cultures and customs. However, the purpose of learning this language is overshadowed by China’s examination-oriented educational system. Current English teaching and learning in China are very time consuming and students’ overall English proficiency is poor.

The Global Citizen Language Program laid out in this paper, aims to connect learning English and Global Citizenship Education to equip students with highly competitive language skills and cultural competencies, cultivate and inspire creative and open minds, and nurture a sense of understating and compassion for other people and cultures.

]]> Wen Amy Luo Media, Borders, and Citizenship: Internationalization and Social Justice in an Undergraduate Communication Program at a Public University in New England http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3008 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3008 Fri, 26 May 2017 08:18:57 PDT Higher education in the U.S. is becoming increasingly internationalized, a process which is necessitated by the global economy and the increase in communication and mobility across borders. The process of internationalization has many effects on institutions, programs, faculty, and students. It also has many purposes, among them to improve students’ future employability and to foster understanding of social issues. The communication discipline, which encompasses a variety of studies ranging from media production to interpersonal communication, has seen the effects of internationalization. Those effects are evident in evolving curriculum and pedagogy that reflect the shifting dynamics of the media landscape and the changing interactions between individuals and organizations. This qualitative study sought to answer the question of how faculty and administrators approach the internationalization process in an undergraduate communication program at a mid-sized public university. The research, completed through a series of interviews and document analyses, illuminates the successes and challenges of internationalization in this communication program. The findings of this study show that both building students’ employability and giving students tools to understand social justice issues are key components of internationalizing the discipline. Understanding the relationship between those components is essential for the discipline to educate future communication professionals to become responsible global citizens.

]]> Kristi Mientka Assessing the Influence of Career-Linked Experiential Opportunities on the F-1 Undergraduate Student Enrollment Decision-Making Process http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3007 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3007 Fri, 26 May 2017 08:18:51 PDT International mobility efforts in the United States have garnered increased attention and funding in recent years, with such government-led initiatives as Generation Study Abroad and 100,000 Strong driving up inbound and outbound student numbers. Recent inbound mobility reports from the Institute of International Education show double-digit percentage increases in international student enrollment. Other countries also experiencing an influx of international students continue to research these trends to shape their own education strategies. Research conducted by the International Education Association of Australia points specifically to hands-on professional experience and enhanced employability as key factors important to Australia’s international student population. As strategies take shape around the globe and U.S. institutions scramble to attract prospective international students, many questions arise: What do these students value in an institution? What are their perceptions of career-linked experiential education in the United States? How do career-linked experiential opportunities factor into the enrollment decision-making process of international students in the U.S. context? What are the implications for international student support strategies? Are elements of Australia’s national inbound mobility strategy worth importing? This study sets out to begin this conversation by focusing on the perspectives of current and former F-1 undergraduate students.

Keywords: internships, co-operative education, F-1 students, work-integrated learning, international student enrollment, practicum, school choice

]]> Harrison Fuerst Increasing Equity through B Corp Certification in the Coffee Commodity Supply Chain http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3006 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3006 Fri, 26 May 2017 08:18:45 PDT The coffee industry is a cornerstone of Nicaragua’s economy. Coffee production shapes communities and is a major factor in the development of the country. Coffee cooperatives in Nicaragua are often Fairtrade and Organic certified, yet their farmers continue to struggle to secure stable livelihoods. In this inquiry, I sought to understand whether becoming a Certified B Corp and interacting with the B Corp network could improve farmer livelihoods for production cooperatives. B Corp Certification seeks to redefine success in business with the unifying goal of creating a more inclusive economy. B Corps, for-profit businesses which have passed the rigorous B Impact Assessment, are certified by the nonprofit B Lab. B Corp certification may increase access to the market through the B Corp network and may thereby increase farmers’ incomes. B Corp Certification may also be a means to redistribute value in the commodity’s supply chain. Most importantly, the B Corp movement could promote sustainable change in the coffee value chain by joining like-minded companies in the global north and south. I argue that B Corp certification within the coffee industry could help to redistribute value in the supply chain by working within the B Corp network and will ultimately improve the livelihoods of farmers.

]]> Emily Hlavka Ndoto Au Ota: Jifundishe's Strategic Planning Process: A Case Study of an Appreciative Approach to the Strategic Planning Process for a Small NGO http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3005 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3005 Fri, 26 May 2017 08:18:39 PDT In January 2017, Jifundishe, a small, local nonprofit organization based in Ngongongare, Tanzania undertook its first strategic planning process. I was asked to design and lead this initiative for the organization, finding a way to introduce tools and resources so that they, or a similar organization, could replicate the process in the future. To better reflect the values, culture, and constraints of Jifundishe, the methodology selected to drive the process was Appreciative Inquiry (AI). AI is a change model focused on strengths, and an appreciative strategic plan looks to take the best of what you already have and work to develop that further. This Independent Practitioner Inquiry Capstone (IPIC) seeks to identify how AI was used in the strategic planning process, examining what tools and approaches were chosen and how they were implemented. And then to present how those who participated in the process experienced it. Through a series of portraits, it became evident that using appreciative inquiry as an approach to the strategic planning process allows for the participants to participate in an inclusive, positive way and to dream big. This study highlights the importance of using a tailored approach to strategic planning grounded in AI methodology.

]]> Margaret Bearor Health Budget Tracking at Local Levels: A Training Manual for Uganda’s Youth Leaders and Advocates http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3004 http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3004 Fri, 26 May 2017 08:18:34 PDT Uganda’s decentralization policy was introduced in 1997 under the Local Government Act to transfer power from central government to local government levels. The main purpose was to promote participation of all citizens in decision making processes to enhance responsibility and accountable monitoring of services delivered to citizens at all levels. The policy “aimed to achieve efficiency and effectiveness” in services delivered and managed at lower levels (Kebba & Ntanda, 2005). But how were citizens at local levels going to participate in accountability processes? How would they monitor the quality of services delivered under this policy framework? In what ways were they to be included in decision making processes?

The core of this capstone is a training manual on health budget tracking that targets young leaders and advocates at the district and sub-county levels. The manual proposes a step by step budget tracking guide to assess the effectiveness of the decentralization policy in achieving its objectives. It specifically focuses on healthcare services delivered to citizens at the local levels while at the same time illustrating how the social accountability method works. Situated in Uganda, this study merges my reflections and learnings through research and practice about budget tracking as a social accountability method used in citizen-led advocacy. The manual is divided into five sections with an introduction to youth engagement in social accountability, an overview to budget tracking, and information about the health sector and power structures at the local to central government levels in Uganda. Ultimately, the paper also suggests some actions users can take at the end of the budget tracking process.

]]> Rehema Z. Namukose Ms.