Service-learning: Service-learning: Teaching a foreign language Teaching a foreign language from Kindergarten through from Kindergarten through

CollegeCollege

Frédérique GrimFrédérique Grim

Colorado State UniversityColorado State UniversityFrederique.Grim@colostate.edu

CLAC 2008CLAC 2008 1

What is service-learning?What is service-learning? Both a pedagogy and an activity in which Both a pedagogy and an activity in which

students perform a community service as students perform a community service as part of their academic coursework part of their academic coursework (Gascoigne, (Gascoigne, 2001)2001)

An opportunity for service while putting An opportunity for service while putting students directly in the midst of the students directly in the midst of the learning process learning process (Terry and Bohnenberger, 2007) (Terry and Bohnenberger, 2007)

A way “to provide a service to members of A way “to provide a service to members of their communities by allowing them to their communities by allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations” situations” (Overfield, 1997)(Overfield, 1997)

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Experiential education (developing learning Experiential education (developing learning and teaching through concrete applications), and teaching through concrete applications),

Academic achievement and course Academic achievement and course objectives that are linked to community objectives that are linked to community service (profiting the community, the service (profiting the community, the students and the teachers), students and the teachers),

Ongoing and effective reflection (increasing Ongoing and effective reflection (increasing awareness of educational aspect), awareness of educational aspect),

Overall goal of citizenship (increasing Overall goal of citizenship (increasing awareness of community needs). awareness of community needs).

(Goldberg, McCormick Richburg and Wood, 2006) (Goldberg, McCormick Richburg and Wood, 2006)

What is service-learning? (2)What is service-learning? (2)

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Benefits for service-learningBenefits for service-learning

Facilitates effective content teaching, Facilitates effective content teaching, Encourages students to reflect on their Encourages students to reflect on their

experienceexperience Gives a deeper understanding and a Gives a deeper understanding and a

concrete application of the content concrete application of the content learned in classlearned in class

Increases the level of students’ critical Increases the level of students’ critical thinkingthinking

Teaches independence in the real world, Teaches independence in the real world, and provides students with a valuable and provides students with a valuable experience experience

(Goldberg et al., 2006; McKenna & Rizzo, 1999)(Goldberg et al., 2006; McKenna & Rizzo, 1999)4

Very little research on FL service-Very little research on FL service-learninglearning

Very few FL learners involved in Very few FL learners involved in service-learning courses service-learning courses (Grassi, 2003)(Grassi, 2003)

Contextualized the L2 by bringing Contextualized the L2 by bringing cultural meaning and practicality in cultural meaning and practicality in the center the center (Enos and Troppe, 1996)(Enos and Troppe, 1996) →→ Foreign Language National Standards (ACTFL)Foreign Language National Standards (ACTFL)

Research with FLResearch with FL

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Elem. school child grouped with HS student (both Elem. school child grouped with HS student (both learning Spanish) and Hispanic senior citizen;learning Spanish) and Hispanic senior citizen;

To share activities for at least a semester (e.g. To share activities for at least a semester (e.g. weekly outings, meals, shopping); weekly outings, meals, shopping);

Communicative skills learned in class, practiced Communicative skills learned in class, practiced with community partner;with community partner;

Growth in sense of social responsibilities and in Growth in sense of social responsibilities and in their use of Spanish; their use of Spanish;

In return, provide attention to community In return, provide attention to community partner; partner;

Senior citizens were able to bond with younger Senior citizens were able to bond with younger mindsminds

(Shrier, 1996)(Shrier, 1996)6

Research with FLResearch with FL

13 students of Spanish (8 in 213 students of Spanish (8 in 2ndnd semester semester and 5 in 3and 5 in 3rdrd semester College Spanish semester College Spanish courses);courses);

Worked with a newly-arrived Cuban colony;Worked with a newly-arrived Cuban colony; Partnership with a migrant and Partnership with a migrant and

participation in small trips (movie night, art participation in small trips (movie night, art gallery visit, Latin American festival);gallery visit, Latin American festival);

Encouragement for studentsEncouragement for students Ease migrants’ integrationEase migrants’ integration

(Overfield, 1997)(Overfield, 1997)

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Research with FLResearch with FL

In the Teacher Education FL Methods course In the Teacher Education FL Methods course To provide real teaching experience at K-12 levelsTo provide real teaching experience at K-12 levels 4 hrs/week for 14 weeks, by tutoring or teaching 4 hrs/week for 14 weeks, by tutoring or teaching

mini-lessons in Fr., Germ or Span. lang. and culture mini-lessons in Fr., Germ or Span. lang. and culture Creation of own lessons Creation of own lessons Benefits: Benefits:

– first-hand experiencefirst-hand experience– application of concepts learned in classapplication of concepts learned in class– lesson plan development for true purpose lesson plan development for true purpose – facilitation of the transition to student teaching facilitation of the transition to student teaching – children exposure to a foreign language and culturechildren exposure to a foreign language and culture

(Gascoigne Lally, 2001) (Gascoigne Lally, 2001)

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Research with FLResearch with FL

Most projects in FL on Most projects in FL on – health care, health care, – translation, translation, – migrant education programs, migrant education programs, – summer camps, summer camps, – elementary schools, elementary schools, – Hispanic achievement, Hispanic achievement, – social services, social services, – community services community services

Spanish students can be exposed to Spanish students can be exposed to many different opportunities many different opportunities (Mollica, (Mollica, Nuessel and Cedeño, 2004)Nuessel and Cedeño, 2004)

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Programs with FLPrograms with FL

ButBut…

What about other languages than What about other languages than Spanish?Spanish?

What are opportunities for FL What are opportunities for FL students to be involved in their students to be involved in their community?community?

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Research questionsResearch questions

How does service-learning How does service-learning impact College learners of impact College learners of FrenchFrench

a. On personal learning a. On personal learning motivation?motivation?

b. On community children?b. On community children?

c. On professional aspirations?c. On professional aspirations?11

Project DescriptionProject Description

Teachers = Colorado State University Teachers = Colorado State University students enrolled in French classes students enrolled in French classes (with at least one semester of French)(with at least one semester of French)

Students = preschools-Grade 6 Students = preschools-Grade 6 from Fort Collins, CO public and private schoolsfrom Fort Collins, CO public and private schools

2 semesters of volunteerism 2 semesters of volunteerism → → pilot pilot

Subsequent semesters Subsequent semesters → → service-learningservice-learning Grants (AATF, CCFLT, CSU service-Grants (AATF, CCFLT, CSU service-

learning)learning)

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CSU students:CSU students:– 24 students in fall 200624 students in fall 2006– 16 students in spring 200716 students in spring 2007– 20 students in fall 200720 students in fall 2007– 17 students in spring 200817 students in spring 2008– 27 students in fall 200827 students in fall 2008

TOTAL = 104TOTAL = 104 7-11 schools each semester7-11 schools each semester ~ 450 children involved since fall 2006~ 450 children involved since fall 2006

Project Description (2)Project Description (2)

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GoalsGoals

Encouraging French use in authentic Encouraging French use in authentic situations;situations;

Show ability to use French outside of Show ability to use French outside of the classroom;the classroom;

Giving confidence in oral skills; Giving confidence in oral skills; Benefits others through use of Benefits others through use of

French; French; Giving valuable teaching experience;Giving valuable teaching experience; Strengthening of résumésStrengthening of résumés

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Impacts: motivationImpacts: motivation

Question 1:Question 1:

““Yes, it has. Intuition-based questions – the Yes, it has. Intuition-based questions – the kind most asked by children – provided me kind most asked by children – provided me the opportunity to thoughtfully reexamine the opportunity to thoughtfully reexamine and introspect on my own language and introspect on my own language apprehension and retention patterns.” A.apprehension and retention patterns.” A.

““Yes, I’ve done a lot of review of vocabulary Yes, I’ve done a lot of review of vocabulary that I don’t use very often. Also having to that I don’t use very often. Also having to explain things to the kids helped solidify explain things to the kids helped solidify my understanding.” J.my understanding.” J.

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Question 2: Question 2:

““I have loved teaching the preschoolers. It’s the I have loved teaching the preschoolers. It’s the highlight of my week, so it has motivated me to highlight of my week, so it has motivated me to continue with French and Education.” R.continue with French and Education.” R.

“ “ Yes. There’s a certain amount of motivation Yes. There’s a certain amount of motivation that comes with young children, who start that comes with young children, who start learning French with nothing and succeed, that learning French with nothing and succeed, that prompts me to drive myself to learn more” A.prompts me to drive myself to learn more” A.

““Yes, it was a really fun way to use the language. Yes, it was a really fun way to use the language. It actually felt like French was useful to me.” J.It actually felt like French was useful to me.” J.

“ “ This experience has definitely been a great This experience has definitely been a great motivation for furthering my learning of the motivation for furthering my learning of the French language and culture.” M.French language and culture.” M.

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Impact: childrenImpact: children““Not only did the experience demonstrate the Not only did the experience demonstrate the

difference between the cultures, but it also difference between the cultures, but it also showed them similarities and the connections showed them similarities and the connections they could make to the French language, they could make to the French language, country, and culture.” M.country, and culture.” M.

““Maybe not significant, because they only used Maybe not significant, because they only used French for a few minutes once a week. But I French for a few minutes once a week. But I think it encouraged some of them to study think it encouraged some of them to study French more, maybe in Middle School.” T.French more, maybe in Middle School.” T.

““Yes, by the end, the kids were able to have short Yes, by the end, the kids were able to have short conversations with each other in French.” J.conversations with each other in French.” J.

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““Absolutely. Children who spoke not a Absolutely. Children who spoke not a word of it on day can now converse word of it on day can now converse in simple terms and an appreciation in simple terms and an appreciation for this language’s origin comes for this language’s origin comes with it.” A.with it.” A.

“ “ No. I only taught 10 half hour No. I only taught 10 half hour sessions. I think it takes much more sessions. I think it takes much more exposure to a foreign language for a exposure to a foreign language for a significant impact to take place.” G.significant impact to take place.” G.

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Impact: professional Impact: professional aspirationsaspirations

““I’m not necessarily more motivated to study I’m not necessarily more motivated to study French but I am motivated to pursue a career French but I am motivated to pursue a career choice away from teaching” G.choice away from teaching” G.

““I am more interested in this age group and the I am more interested in this age group and the Waldorf philosophy.” R.Waldorf philosophy.” R.

““It did help, but it made me realize I’d like to It did help, but it made me realize I’d like to teach older kids.” T.teach older kids.” T.

““This opportunity has provided a lot of great This opportunity has provided a lot of great experience regarding education and has experience regarding education and has made me consider teaching French as an made me consider teaching French as an option. I really liked the creative aspect.” M.option. I really liked the creative aspect.” M.

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Goals accomplished?Goals accomplished?

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Encouraging French use in authentic Encouraging French use in authentic situationssituations

Show ability to use French outside of Show ability to use French outside of the classroomthe classroom

Benefits others through use of Benefits others through use of FrenchFrench

Giving confidence in oral skills Giving confidence in oral skills Giving valuable teaching experienceGiving valuable teaching experience Strengthening of résumésStrengthening of résumés

YESYES

YESYESYES

YESYES

YESYESYESYES

Is it still worth it?Is it still worth it?

Very time consuming for organizer Very time consuming for organizer and studentsand students

Beginning of semesterBeginning of semester– Often slow with students Often slow with students – With programmatic issuesWith programmatic issues

Need of teaching material – grantsNeed of teaching material – grants Children won’t remember very Children won’t remember very

muchmuch

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Yes, because…Yes, because… Appreciation for a language Appreciation for a language (in particular French (in particular French ) )

Memories will stayMemories will stay In contact with college students In contact with college students

– motivation for pursuing higher-education studiesmotivation for pursuing higher-education studies– Influence from older figuresInfluence from older figures

Fun for allFun for all Great social and mental experience for our Great social and mental experience for our

studentsstudents Appreciation for teachingAppreciation for teaching Community involvementCommunity involvement CV boosterCV booster Might be the solution to prepare K-6 licensure Might be the solution to prepare K-6 licensure

in FLin FL

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Merci!Merci!

Questions?Questions?

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