The Third Space: Building Student Identity and Supporting Migrants
Explore the Third Space and student identity formation. Learn how educators support migrant students in NYC schools during the silent period and beyond.
Best quote from The Third Space: Building Student Identity and Supporting Migrants
Identity is not a static passport photo, but a vibrant, living playground called the Third Space—a constant negotiation and a creative act of survival and joy.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
The project aimed to improve the social inclusion and well-being of migrant and refugee students. Tuana wants to create a podcast about identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Third Space is described as a vibrant, living playground where students who have crossed borders negotiate their identities. Rather than a static passport photo or fixed coordinates on a map, identity in this space is a creative act of survival and joy. It serves as a bridge between who a student was in their home country and who they are becoming in their new environment, such as schools in Connecticut or the Bronx.
In New York City alone, over 36,000 migrant students have enrolled in the school system within the last two years. This significant influx highlights the urgent need for educators and neighbors to act as co-creators in building bridges for these students. Understanding the scale of this migration helps schools better prepare for the deep, internal labor of identity formation that each of these thousands of students must undergo.
The silent period is a timeframe that can last for several months as migrant students adjust to and process their new surroundings. During this stage, a lack of participation should not be viewed as a deficit. Instead, it is recognized as a period of deep, internal labor and identity formation. By understanding this process, educators can transform classrooms into inclusive spaces that support students as they learn to navigate a new language and culture.
For students traveling from places like Afghanistan or Mexico, identity is not something they are simply born with; it is a constant negotiation and a creative act. These students carry backpacks full of stories that require the right keys to unlock in a new setting. As they navigate unfamiliar hallways, they must reconcile their past experiences with their current reality, making the formation of their student identity a dynamic and ongoing process of bridge-building.
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
