Instructor interview for Place-Based WAC/WID writing instruction in Indo-Pacific Languages, clip 11 of 16

Abstract

Brief excerpt from interview: Most students are non-literature majors, almost all Samoan, almost all of them are from American Samoa, many speaking English as a second language. I'd like to have better diversity and perhaps next time will do a better job of advertizing the course ...These are students who have not had in-depth experience in literature ... Many of them have never heard of Albert Wendt or read any of his books ... So once they start reading, they begin to see the place—the place that they also belong to ... Most of them are migrants, if you will, many travel back and forth between Hawaii and Samoa. So they have a very good sense of Hawaii. Most are juniors and seniors, finding courses to complete their degrees ... So many come with pre-conceived notions that "just because I'm Samoan," things were going to be easier. But since the books are in English, we have to make sure that we are conversing in English ... writing for them is a struggle, the post 'Nation at Risk.'