Published in ConnectED Newsletter - Volume 6 - Issue 4 - June 2023
Dr. Yana Shifrina-Piljovin is an English as a New Language (ENL) teacher and coordinator at PS/IS 206 in Brooklyn. She also participates in planning curriculum materials for an English-Russian dual language program in her school.
From January to May 2023, Dr. Shifrina-Piljovin participated in a project sponsored by Childhood Education International that engaged 30 Ukrainian TESOL faculty in a year-long professional development experience. Supported by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and the Regional English Language Office in Kyiv, and led by Dr. Laura Baecher (Hunter College), this intensive professional development was designed to advance English language pedagogy in Ukraine, while also attending to the vitally important integration of mental health and psychosocial supports, including social and emotional learning. Throughout the program, these Ukrainian teacher educators were active in sustaining and developmental communities of practice with fellow Ukrainian educators and U.S. colleagues in order to foster Ukrainian-U.S. engagement in relation to English language teaching and learning.
During the planning stage, Dr. Shifrina-Piljovin was involved in creating a detailed itinerary for the visit. Through zoom meetings, team members discussed and formulated an agenda for professional development opportunities and cultural enrichment for the Ukrainian teacher educators who were visiting New York City in person. Additionally, since she was born and raised in the city of Dnipro, Ukraine, she was able to connect with participants and create a bridge between them and the American faculty members. Then, during the three weeks that the Ukrainian colleagues spent in New York City, her role was to attend academic and cultural events with them and answer any questions they had about the American education system, including matters related to curriculum and the struggles and success of immigrant students and educators. “My presence in this team made them feel emotionally comfortable. I was able to provide them with emotional support while they were here away from their families, who are left in a country torn by war,” she explained. In addition, she said that “even though all Ukrainian colleagues speak English fluently, the presence of their compatriot helped them feel emotionally comfortable and supported in many aspects of their professional development. They were able to observe a real example of a Ukrainian who moved to America and became an educator here.”
At the same time, Dr. Shifrina-Piljovin participated in virtual exchange meetings with 15 participants who were not able to travel to the U.S. The two main topics they focused on were social emotional supports needed by students, educators, and families because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and various technology applications that can be used for remote instruction.
Dr. Shifrina-Piljovin holds an Ed.D. in education from Hofstra University. She wants to conduct research related to multilingualism (including heritage bilingualism), multiliteracy, multiculturalism, linguistics, and immigration processes. She said, “as an ENL student and immigrant myself, I went through assimilation, accommodation, and acculturation processes, and have a deep understanding of how difficult it can be. Using my personal experience and professional expertise, I would like to aid other teachers and future educators to understand the challenges their students are going through and create adaptive curriculum and teaching methods that will serve students with various academic and language needs.”
Last Updated: 06/01/2023 17:45