By: Kehau Wahilani

ED294 Spring 2011

Micronesia is a country in the Pacific Ocean.

Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap are the 4 main islands.

Became self governing in Fall 1986

Introduced into the United Nations in September 1991.

July 12, 1978 the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) was formed

The capital city of Palikir is located on the island of Pohnpei.

The official language in Micronesia is English. There are 8 indigenous languages spoken in the Federated States of Micronesia: Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Chuukese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, Nukuoro, and Kapingamarangi.

Language

*In 2006-2007, 2558 public school students in Hawai’i spoke Chuukese, Marshallese, Pohnepian as their primary language.

*Hawai’i educators value verbal performance, however Micronesians view verbal performance as a means of showing off what they know. Micronesian students listen, they do not discuss.

Micronesian students tend not to ask questions, take initiative and compete.

Micronesian students come alive in group work; they are competitive for the group rather than as individuals.

SPACE is…..TIME is…..In Micronesia anything that

belongs to the family or community is for use by everyone. Asking permission is not required.

Family is valued more than education so if a student is needed at home, she is expected to stay home and help.

Time is relative, commitments to schedules and appointments are not highly valued. “I’ll do it when I’m ready” kind of attitude.

KINDS OF PROBLEMS WHY

Not asking questions or taking initiative

Spitting

Daily school attendance

Individualistic and competitive values are encouraged in school

Parents are not involved or appear to care about their child’s education

Students don’t care and are uninterested in learning.

Others don’t like it and consider it a health issue.

In Hawaii school attendance is required and expected.

Higher value in sharing and keeping interest of the group dynamic.

Schools lack of sensitivity, tolerance, and understanding of immigrant groups.

A Micronesian student stays home from school to help care for a younger sibling, this is expected from his family.

Making eye contact or speaking out is a form of disrespect.

Micronesian students prefer to work in groups rather than individually.

Auditory

Some Micronesian students learn visually

This learning style is the most popular in the Micronesian culture. Their societal and family connections expects them to work for the betterment , success and survival of the group.

Small cooperative groups with rotating roles and partners is an effective strategy to help the student get to know everyone in the class.

Assign responsibilities rather than letting the student choose (even if the student wants to, he may never participate) . Start with small and easy duties,

then gradually increase the difficulty level.

Praise

Every student likes to be praised for a job well done, but for Micronesian students it is preferred that it not be done in front of others.

Dialogue

Written feedback on student’s paper is recommended as a way to establish a dialogue between the student and the teacher.

Micronesian students are like any other immigrant student population. As individuals and as a group, they are learning the good and bad of their host nation and trying to work their way through unfamiliar systems as best they can. Overall, for us as educators we must have patience and perseverance.