Bridging Classroom and Community: Languages and Cultures in Action

Items

• Inter-generational Discussion on Cultural Evolution
  The portrait examines three generations of an Italian family and how the culture is passed on through these generations. We began by discussing the migration to Canada of my community partner’s father, how he felt in the first couple of days in Canada, and how he was able to maintain his cultural heritage while being in a foreign land. We discussed how Beverly’s father would cook Italian food, go to church and listen to Italian opera to immerse himself in his roots. Beverly then expressed the importance that her father placed on family, and how this is a core value that has been passed on to her children. She then told me a story about how every Sunday, her family still gets together in her house to have Sunday supper.
• Maintaining Japanese identity: Life as a Canadian immigrant and Mother
  The video explores the life of Chigusa Peters who is a new Japanese immigrant to London, Ontario and also a mother of three daughters. During the interview, Chigusa first talks about her own identity and the difficulties she encountered in adapting to Canadian culture. She also discusses the differences between life in Canada and life in Japan. In the hopes of passing on Japanese traditions to her daughters, she takes them to karate classes every Monday and Wednesday, and to the Japanese language school every Saturday morning. The video ends with her talking about which aspects of Japanese culture she hopes her kids will be able to learn through these activities.
• Finding Home: The Waves of Life
  A story about the struggles and hardships that come with moving to multiple countries within a short time period. What does settling mean and where does one find home.