6 Tips To Help Asian American Students Feel Seen And Heard

Many people in the West have a simple but wrong idea about Asian students. Most think every Asian parent runs a strict household, and their kids are focused highly on academics. This view leads many to label Asian students in America and other Western countries as "model students."

But how much do we know about the hidden struggles that Asians face on a day-to-day basis in culturally different countries? Think about what these students face daily: They are trying to speak and write in a new language. They are learning new cultures that often clash with what they know from home. They feel pressure to get top grades while also trying to make friends and fit in with their classmates.

Being a teacher, you can make a real difference in these students' lives. Below are some helpful ways to support Asian American students in your classroom:

Practical Tips to Help You Empower Asian Students to Thrive in Your Classroom

Here are a few ways to help your students thrive in a ESL classroom:

1. Including Asian Language to Bridge Cultural Gaps

At home, Asian students speak their native language, and at school, they navigate a different linguistic world. This constant shift between languages can lead to feelings of alienation and self-consciousness, predominantly when their bilingualism is misunderstood or ridiculed. As a teacher, your duty should be to welcome this linguistic diversity. Wondering how?

You can actively encourage Asian students to share simple words or phrases from their native languages- How are you, Thank you, and Hello. Learning such phrases and words builds a sense of inclusion and cheers up the classroom culture. From the position of a teacher, you manifest a powerful message: every language and culture matters!

2. Creating Safe Spaces for Emotional Expression

Scared of being misinterpreted and sometimes out of respect, students of Asian cultures hide their struggles. They keep quiet when they fail to understand what is said and discussed in class. They do not want to stand out, fearing mockery for their poor communication skills.

To address this issue, you can develop easy methods to help them communicate. Tell them to use a simple secret signal, such as raising and tilting a pencil, or gestures like touching their foreheads. These signals will allow them to alert you without attracting attention to themselves.

Create these safe and judgment-free channels to support Asian-American students to express themselves comfortably.

3. Encouraging the Involvement of Parents in Activities

You must be wondering why Asian parents must be in classroom activities. Besides language and cultural barriers, they respect teachers wholeheartedly and might not speak up. But here's how you can change the scenario. Use tools like Google Translate or invite interpreters to facilitate smooth communication.

Even a small effort to send a translated message about their child's progress or classroom activities can bridge the gap. Moreover, when you invite Asian parents to classroom activities, the collaboration benefits everyone. Parents gain insights about the education system, and you, on the other hand, receive valuable cultural context to support their children better.

4. Celebrating Culture and Traditions in Class

Balancing cultural identity is a challenge. At school, Asian students try to fit in with their peers, while at home, they hold onto their cultural roots. How do you build a bridge between the two so that your students feel comfortable? You can encourage students and invite their parents to share aspects of their culture.

Isn't it exciting that during these sessions, your students will learn to drape a saree, taste traditional snacks, and understand the importance of holidays like Lunar New Year and Diwali?

In this way, you make Asian students feel proud of their heritage and educate their peers, satisfying curiosity and strengthening respect for diversity.

5. Building Peer Support Networks

One common thing that Asian students struggle with is isolation. Belonging to minority groups with different cultures, racial backgrounds, and languages makes them feel sensitive, lonely, and depressed. Being a teacher, you wouldn't want your class to have some students who are secluded from others.

In these cases, you can build student-led support groups. What can be better than individuals of the same age helping each other? Through these groups, peer relationships improve. The individuals do not have to be formal. Pair the ones with similar interests. Help them collaborate on projects, participate in activities, and build friendly bonds. Understanding and uplifting Asian American students then becomes comparatively smoother.

6. Going Beyond the Syllabus

Students love to hear stories- fictional or non-fictional. You can put this interest to your advantage. Be it Indian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or any Asian student present in your class, include them in your lessons.

If you teach history, try to educate the entire class about the Indian, Thai, or Chinese counterparts. While teaching Geography, show the world map and try to locate the Asian nations with the students. During Science class, educate them about Asian scientists and their contributions. If you practice this method, you will be surprised at the high engagement of your students.

Bottom Line

Understanding and embracing cultural diversity is not optional; it is essential. By taking these meaningful steps and pursuing TEFL Course in Thailand, you ensure that every student has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and succeed.