A major challenge for the increasing multicultural and multilingual community college student population has been the difficulty in accessing the register features which define academic writing. In this study, an analysis of clause structures using writing samples collected from 45 community-college students, 15 from African-American, Haitian and…

Divided into four sections, this bibliography lists: (1) books in Creole or books about Haitian Creole; (2) books on adult literacy and Haitian adults; (3) books written in English and related to Haiti; and (4) children's and adolescents' books with Haitian themes or about Haiti. (KH)

In Haiti, parents expect their children to be taught French in school. Haitian parents living in the United States must be made to understand that Creole speaking children may more easily make the transition into English directly, rather than via French. (ST)

Critiques the claim that Haitian children cannot actively engage in science classroom by examining the cultural practice of "bay odyans," a form of discourse similar to scientific argumentation. Offers examples of Haitian students recreating bay odyans in science classrooms and suggests that these students have a cultural experience that…

This article describes the language skills and factors that predict English-language proficiency for a sample of 209 students ages 10 to 16 from three immigrant groups--Chinese, Dominican, and Haitian. Sources of data included structured student interviews, parent interviews, and individual language assessments. On average, students'…

This handbook for teachers is designed to give information about the social and cultural background of Haitian immigrant students and their transition to life in the United States. The majority of the State's public school districts serving Haitian students have requested help in finding instructional materials for the more than 1,000 Haitians…

The use of the term "Creole" to refer to the Haitian language is discussed, and it is argued that "Haitian" is a more appropriate term. Psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic functions of the term are examined, including its etymological and usage history and images associated with its application in a variety of locations and…

New York State has the largest Haitian population in the U.S. This resource guide presents background information on Haitian society, language, and culture; a list of places of interest and sources of information on Haitians in New York; and a summary of some of the achievements of Haitians. It also outlines suggested resources for teachers and…

Three types of information useful to English as a Second Language teachers of Haitian refugees are provided: (1) a discussion of the Haitian educational system and of reasons for the high illiteracy rate; (2) an explanation of the language situation in Haiti where the official language is French, and the native language of most of the population…

Identity and status conflicts experienced by Haitian immigrants in New York City and expressed in their debates over language usage are examined through an analysis of the struggle over the primary language (Haitian Creole or French) to be used in the Catholic Mass at a Brooklyn Church. (Author/MC)

This study explores the role that language plays in the academic and social transition of Haitian children and parents to urban U.S. schools across multiple school settings, demographic groups, and languages. Semistructured individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with groups of 12 Haitian American teachers, 12 Haitian parents of…

A study of the linguistic proficiency and academic achievement of grade 3 students from different ethnic backgrounds included three groups: (1) ethnic minority students who spoke no French at home; (2) Haitian students who spoke French and Creole at home; (3) monolingual French speakers. All students attended schools in the French sector of the…

This study examined demographic predictors of attitudes regarding religious coping (i.e., prayer during stressful times and look to God for support, strength and guidance) within a national sample of African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites (National Survey of American Life). The findings demonstrate significant Black-White…

This booklet is a basic introduction to the people, history, and culture of Haiti, designed primarily for service providers and others assisting refugees in their new communities in the United States. Haitians have been arriving in the United States since the 1770s, but recent immigration can be regarded as a series of waves, each associated with…

Discusses the procedure and objectives of studies on adult instruction in Creole and the use of Creole in the primary grades. The complexity of the sociolinguistic situation, the extent of illiteracy, the state of the educational system, and implications of change in attitudes to both Creole and French are discussed. (AMH)