Beyond Johnny Appleseed: Learning English As a New Language Through Ethnically Diverse Literature (Teaching Strategies‪)‬

Language and culture are intrinsically connected (Banks, 2006; Bennett, 2002; Chaika, 1994; Damen, 1987) and dynamically changing (Banks, 2006). Learning to communicate effectively in a new language involves gaining familiarity with the present-day culture of the country in which one resides. For both learners of a second language and those of a foreign language, this can mean developing an awareness of the changing demographics of the country or countries where the language is spoken. In this article, the importance of promoting language acquisition through ethnically diverse literature is examined, followed by suggestions for books to use in the classroom and related activities. The linguistic, cultural, and ethnic mixture in many countries, including the United States, is changing rapidly and varies significantly from such old standbys as "Johnny Appleseed" or "Dick and Jane." According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2003), the number of people living in the United States who reported being foreign-born increased by 57 percent between 1990 and 2000, from 19.8 million to 31.1 million, while the total U.S. population increased 13 percent. Between 1989-90 and 2003-04, the enrollment of students with limited English proficiency in U.S. public schools more than doubled, from 2,030,451 students to 5,013,539 (National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs [NCELA], 2005). Therefore, it is recommended that learners of English, both inside and outside of the United States, become familiar with a rich diversity of cultures.