Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

‘I Learn America’ to Be Screened Sept. 30

Wednesday, September 30, 2015, By Jennifer Russo
Share

The School of Education will host the first installment of the Douglas P. Biklen Landscape of Urban Education Lecture Series on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. in Gifford Auditorium with the screening of the documentary film “I Learn America.”

ilearnamericaImmediately following, filmmaker Jean-Michel Dissard will participate in an open discussion with the audience. Students featured in the film, Sandra and Sing, will also participate in the discussion. The event is free and open to the public. CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) services will be provided, and the film is captioned. This event is supported by the Lynn D. and John L. Kreischer TELL Scholars Lecture fund.

In the United States, nearly one in four children is an immigrant or was born to immigrant parents. Classrooms are meeting a growing influx of students who are English language learners, who may be unfamiliar with American culture and, in some cases, lack formal education. In the feature-length documentary “I Learn America,” five immigrant teenagers come together over a year at the International High School in Brooklyn and learn about their new country. The International High School is a New York City public school dedicated to serving newly arrived immigrant teenagers, with more than 300 students speaking two-dozen languages from 50 countries. The students strive to master English, adapt to new family structures, confront the universal trials of adolescence and search for a stable future. The film follows them over a school year in, after and outside of school, to experience first hand the many difficulties of coping with a foreign culture and contending with adolescence.

Dissard has always been creatively involved in the critically acclaimed films he’s produced, including: “Raising Victor Vargas,” “Rikers High” and “Ezra.” He also co-wrote and produced “Down to the Bone” by Debra Granik. Recently, Dissard wrote a TV series in Paris derived from workshops organized with French immigrant teenagers. Through his company, Dissard sells and distributes internationally award-winning short films. Eight films from Dissard’s catalog premiered in Cannes, and six films have won major prizes in Sundance. He is on the advisory board of Cine-Institute, the only film school in Haiti. Originally from France, Dissard immigrated to America when he was a teenager.

Since 2005, the Landscape of Urban Education Lecture Series has been dedicated to the presentation of current ideas and strategies for navigating urban education terrain in the United States. The speakers engaged for this series are renowned scholars committed to revitalizing inclusive urban education.

A generous gift by School of Education Board of Visitors member Jeryl Mitchell ’81, G’83 named the lecture series in honor of Dean Emeritus Douglas P. Biklen. This will allow the lecture series to continue its mission and expand its audience and national reach for many years to come.

  • Author

Jennifer Russo

  • Recent
  • ‘Putin’s Rules of the Game’
    Tuesday, April 13, 2021, By Lily Datz
  • Important Public Health Update: Barnes Center Will Pause Distribution of J&J Vaccine
    Tuesday, April 13, 2021, By News Staff
  • ‘Should the COVID-19 Vaccine Be Required for the Military?’
    Tuesday, April 13, 2021, By Lily Datz
  • Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders Highlights Importance of Interfaith Collaboration
    Tuesday, April 13, 2021, By News Staff
  • LLL Provides Students a Virtual Taste of Italian Food and Culture
    Monday, April 12, 2021, By Dan Bernardi

More In Campus & Community

Important Public Health Update: Barnes Center Will Pause Distribution of J&J Vaccine

Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff: A short time ago, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a temporary pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson single dose…

Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders Highlights Importance of Interfaith Collaboration

Conversations about faith and religion are often avoided. In the midst of polarized times such topics can be especially daunting. However, as shared by Rev. Brian E. Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, a key to understanding others lies in having…

Appointments Now Available for Wednesday, April 14–Sign Up Today!

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff: Have you signed up to get an on-campus vaccination yet? If not, but you plan to be vaccinated, we urge you to take action today. The Barnes Center at The Arch now has appointments available…

Twice-Weekly Testing Schedule (April 12-16)

Dear North Campus Residents: As a reminder, we continue to conduct twice-weekly testing for all on-campus students living in North Campus residence halls. We are writing to share this week’s testing schedule. All testing takes place at the Stadium Testing…

Message From Dean of Students Marianne Thomson

Dear Students: On March 30, New York State legalized the personal use of marijuana for individuals over the age of 21. Despite this change in state law, Syracuse University will continue to comply with federal law, which prohibits all use, possession,…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2021 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.