1. BREAKING THROUGH THE
COMMUNICATION BARRIER:
Effective Strategies and Resources for
Overcoming Linguistic and Cultural
Challenges in the Service of Our
Students and Their Families

2. PRESENTER TEAM
Donna Goserud –B.S. Special Education; B.S. Elementary Education;
M.A. French; English-Secondary Education; Reading Specialist; ESL
Specialist; Kutztown University; Millersville University; University of Laval,
Quebec, Canada
Vicki Reed – B.S Biology/ Environmental Education, M.S. Biology,
M.S. Geo Environmental Studies; Shippensburg University; Instructional
Technology Specialist, Penn State Worldwide Campus, ESL course
completion, Penn State
Deedee Staik0s – B.A. Biology & Foreign Languages, Vassar College;
Institut d’Études Françaises d’Avignon, France; Post-baccalaureate
Certifications in Secondary Ed., Spanish, English & ESL Specialist, Millersville
University; La Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile.
Wanda McClean – Hempfield Secretary Star
Carissa Rhodes – Hempfield Secretary Star
Erik Goserud – B.S. Kinesiology, Penn State University; Semester at Sea,
University of Virginia
Hempfield secretaries – shared responses to secretary questions 

3. OBJECTIVES
1. REVIEW CULTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
HSD
2. ANALYZE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF
LANGUAGE MISCOMMUNICATION VS. CULTURAL
MISINTERPRETATION
3. IDENTIFY THE ELEMENTS OF “FIRST CONTACT” SCENARIOS
4. FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AT PIVOTAL POINTS OF
CONTACT

4. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
I. How can we best support secretaries to
work with families in a culturally sensitive
manner in our growing diverse populations?
2. How understanding about cultures from
other countries can help facilitate
communication and foster connections?

5. 3. What steps, procedures,
techniques, and strategies will help
secretaries to respond to the needs of
families from other countries?
4. How can learning and practicing
pronunciation and expression of
Spanish words and phrases assist
secretaries in welcoming families to
their schools?

6. 5. Where are the
RESOURCES ?
HOW MUCH 
DOES A SMILE 
COST ?

7. HEMPFIELD SCHOOL
DISTRICT
DEMOGRAPHICS
ROLE OF THE SECRETARY
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

8. ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
FAMILY
SCHOOL
HOME
ROLE OF THE SECRETARY

9. CULTURAL
CONSIDERATIONS
LANGUAGE
CUSTOMS
GESTURES / BODY LANGUAGE
EGYPT, ETHIOPIA, VIETNAM, HAITI, KOREA,
PUERTO RICO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, MEXICO
SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES

10. SCENARIO # 1
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
REVIEW
DISCUSS
SUGGES
T

11. SCENARIO #2
REVIEW
DISCUSS
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
SUGGEST

12. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
FAMILIES/EXTENDED FAMILIES
CHURCHES
SPONSORS

13. RESOURCES
Secretary training Wikispaces resource page
There are a number of links here that will be updated periodically

14. PRACTICE TIME
FRENCH WORDS, PHRASES, EXPRESSIONS
KOREAN WORDS, PHRASES, EXPRESSIONS
HANDOUT OF LANGUAGES – WORDS, PHRASES,
EXPRESSIONS
SPANISH WORDS, PHRASES, EXPRESSIONS
QUIZLET PRACTICE

15. THANK YOU!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
ATTENTION. 
REMEMBER A SMILE GOES A LOOONNNG WAY!
