Tailoring Earth Works: presenting the course to people from non-english speaking backgrounds
Background
Removing barriers: non-English courses
An evaluation of the Earth Works program undertaken in 1997 found that areas with high populations of people from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) reported significantly lower attendance by people from NESB than the proportion of their population represented in the community. The report concluded that this meant Earth Works courses were either more accessible or more appropriate to people from English speaking backgrounds.
At the time of the evaluation there were no courses being offered in languages other than English. This can be a huge barrier to people from non-English speaking backgrounds. Course organisers can help to overcome this barrier by using qualified interpreters or Earth Works trainers from relevant ethnic communities.
Research findings
Research conducted by the EPA in 1997 suggested that people from non-English speaking backgrounds seemed to know less about waste than other members of the community. In response to this result the EPA conducted further research, and this discounted the earlier finding. The Environment and NSW Ethnic Communities is highly recommended reading for all trainers who have course participants from NESB. (Available from Pollution Line, phone 131 555.) It shows that many ethnic households undertake practices, such as home composting and vegetable growing, that can be used to great effect in illustrating ways to minimise waste.
The findings also suggested that previously reported low levels of awareness about waste issues in NESB communities were due to a lack of education programs catering for these communities. This situation has changed recently, with the development of several programs that provide waste education for ethnic communities.
Recent research undertaken by the Southern Sydney Waste Board and the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW found that often there is a high level of awareness about waste reduction in ethnic communities.
This research found that knowledge about waste minimisation was often learned from life experiences, not from education campaigns. For example, Greek participants spoke of living in rural areas where there were no regular garbage collection services. As a result, families reduced waste by burying their food scraps or feeding it to the family's chickens. Members of the Chinese community recalled arriving in Australia being surprised that supermarkets, with their packaged goods and plastic bags, were the normal way of shopping. The low-waste alternative of taking your own basket and buying fresh produce from the local market on a daily basis just didn't exist.
While awareness of recycling schemes or the relevance of composting to people living in urban areas may not be high among some ethnic communities, there is an understanding of the need to reduce waste and the ways this can be done.
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Special aspects of the NESB context
As each ethnic community has its own culture, it is difficult to produce just one guide for adapting Earth Works for all people from a non-English speaking background. The examples discussed earlier and found in The Environment and NSW Ethnic Communities provide some insight into the wide range of experiences that people may have had before arriving in Australia — and this is just concerning waste!
Cultural factors may influence the way people learn and the teaching styles they are comfortable with. In some cultures, education is seen as the transfer of knowledge from the teacher or educator to the students. This is viewed as a formal process in which the information presented should be accepted without question. Other communities see education as an exchange of ideas with a focus on discussion. Given these differences, it is important that any adaptations of Earth Works occur in close consultation with members of the relevant ethnic community.
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Organising an Earth Works course for people from NESB
Trainers from ethnic communities
Using Earth Works Trainers from specific ethnic communities is the most successful style of Earth Works course for people from NESB. In February 1999, the EPA and the NSW Waste Boards held a NESB Earth Works Train the Trainer program. As a result there are now Arabic, Greek, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Tagalog-speaking Earth Works registered trainers. In addition the Macarthur and Illawarra Waste Boards are continuing to train Earth Works facilitators from ethnic communities in their regions. Many Earth Works courses have been held in languages other than English since the completion of this training, with more planned for the future.
Adapting the course to specific needs
NESB courses have varied in length and style of delivery. Common to all has been the involvement of the trainers in designing a course that best meets the needs of the participants. This has meant that Earth Works has been adapted in ways that organisers may never have thought of.
For example, a course for the Mandarin-speaking community held in Ashfield combined the Earth Works course with English classes. According to the trainer, this was a very effective method of recruiting participants as it 'met the need of the Chinese community for English language skills as well as encouraging and supporting them to practise waste minimisation in their everyday lives.'
Using an interpreter
Running an Earth Works Course using an interpreter can be difficult due to the free-flowing communication and discussion that the course is based on. An English-speaking trainer can be left out of the communication loop as discussions jump quickly from one topic to the next.
However, in the absence of an alternative, using an interpreter can work. When using this model make sure the interpreter has an understanding of waste reduction issues. Meet with them beforehand to brief them about the course and give them an introduction to waste minimisation.
Targeting one NESB community
The first step in organising a course for NESB people is to decide which ethnic community to target. This decision may already have been made, or you may need to investigate local needs.
The People of NSW, produced by the Ethnic Affairs Commission, provides an excellent statistical summary of ethnic communities in each local government area in NSW. This information could help you to identify the largest ethnic community in your particular area.
Forming a partnership
Nearly all the NESB Earth Works courses that have been run successfully have occurred as a partnership between a Waste Board or council and a local ethnic community organisation. This approach combines the waste knowledge and experience of the Waste Boards and councils with the community organisation's expertise in issues that are of concern to people from NESB. The Ethnic Communities Council of NSW produces a directory of ethnic community organisations. This resource is an excellent way of identifying ethnic community organisations that may be interested in becoming involved in Earth Works.
There are a number of very positive implications to using this partnership approach. Involving ethnic community organisations gives the Earth Works course credibility within the community. This in turn assists with recruiting participants as well as spreading the Earth Works message. Other people attending activities at the community organisation often become curious about Earth Works and then sign up for the next course that is offered.
Involving local council
Involving local councils in NESB Earth Works courses has potential promotional benefits. In many communities, local council involvement will elevate the importance of the issue being discussed. Participation by council could take many forms, including using the council logo on any promotional material about the course, using council premises as the venue for the course or a guest appearance from the council waste educator to explain local recycling services.
Tips for organisers
The following tips may also be useful for course organisers:
- Many community organisations run their activities during the day. This has proven to be the best time to run Earth Works courses for people from NESB.
- Childcare may also need to be provided. In many cases those attending groups or courses at community organisations have responsibility for looking after their children or grandchildren.
- Make sure the venue that you choose is close to public transport.
- Ensure that any refreshments provided for the course are culturally appropriate. For example, if you're running a course in Arabic, you could buy the biscuits from an Arabic bakery.
- Translate any promotional material about the course.
- If you are running the course in partnership with an ethnic community organisation, it is a good idea for them to act as the booking agent, to avoid language difficulties.
Working with cross-cultural groups
The most significant challenge will be working with Earth Works groups that are cross-cultural. Often this means that language and cultural realities need to be considered during every step of the training.
- Assess the need for interpreter services as early as possible and provide them if necessary.
- Use differences in cultural perspectives about waste as issues for discussion and reflection during the course.
- Seek assistance from registered Earth Works trainers who are experienced in working with the cultural groups involved.
- Consider whether there are advantages in transferring some participants to a future course which might be more appropriate in terms of culture or language.
- Make the most of the cultural diversity and the way it enriches the training.
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Delivering the course
Tips for trainers
- Close communication with the course organiser is essential, especially if this is the first time they have run an Earth Works course for people from NESB.
- Develop a checklist of the materials that you need the course organiser to supply you with.
- Venue requirements for the training and practical demonstration day may also need to be detailed, especially if children or elderly people are attending. The lack of toilet facilities or shade at many of the sites used for practical demonstrations may be problematic for these groups.
- English-speaking trainers planning to use an interpreter should give the interpreter some training on waste issues.
- It may not be appropriate to show the videos normally used in Earth Works courses. Even though many are highly visual, they still rely on the spoken word to communicate essential elements of the waste reduction message. There may also be cultural differences that affect the way in which the messages in the video are received.
- The emphasis of each course may change according to the ethnic community you are working with. Listen to the needs and issues raised by the participants and move forward with them. It is not appropriate to rely on a standard format or approach.
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Evaluating the course
- When using bilingual facilitators to run Earth Works courses, seek their advice on the best approach to evaluating the course. Asking participants to fill out a form may not be the most appropriate method of evaluation with some communities. Any evaluation forms used should be translated into the relevant community language.
- To assist with future planning, it may be useful to seek information about the relevance of the course content and venues in terms of cultural factors.
- You may wish to consider evaluating other benefits, such as the usefulness of the course in helping participants to gain a better understanding of aspects of living in Australia.
- You should also evaluate the experience of any of the partners (e.g. community organisations) involved in the Earth Works course.
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Supporting outreach
There are endless opportunities for Earth Works outreach within ethnic communities. Activities can be undertaken in numerous settings, including ethnic schools, retirement villages, religious organisations or community festivals. Participants in the course or local ethnic community organisations will be able to provide more details. Activities undertaken in the past have included:
- holding a waste minimisation stall for the Chinese community at a local community festival
- screen-printing calico bags with a waste reduction message to hand out at a religious festival
- writing an article for the Chinese newspapers about waste reduction
- writing a press release for local English newspapers about a Vietnamese Earth Works course held in the area
- setting up an Earth Works demonstration garden in the home of an Earth Worker.
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Specific resources
The Earth Works participant's notes Down To Earth: An Earth Works Learners Guide are available in Vietnamese, Chinese and Arabic. The non-English versions of the Down to Earth manual can be downloaded from this website.
The Southern Sydney Waste Board has produced waste minimisation materials in Chinese, Arabic, Italian and Greek that provide a useful overview for participants of Earth Works courses conducted in these community languages. The resources are free for Earth Works courses being conducted in the Southern Sydney region, otherwise a small fee may apply. The EPA also has materials on waste in community languages, phone Pollution Line on 131 555.
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Useful phone numbers
The Community Relations Commission
Phone (02) 9716 2232
The Ethnic Communities Council of NSW
Phone (02) 9319 0288
Resource NSW
Phone 1800 2255 87
NESB Earth Works facilitators
Contact Linda Tohver on (02) 9319 0288 or the EPA on 131 555
NSW Environment Protection Authority
Phone 131555 for information and publications or phone (02) 9995 5000 for the switchboard
Page last updated: 27 February 2011
