|
Learning through Service
|
Students at Central College have a chance to
help people, practice their Spanish and earn credit all at the same time.
Students can fulfill their experiential learning
("x") requirement
by doing service learning projects in Des Moines, such as helping with
childcare through Hispanic Educational Resources, assisting with ESL
classes at Trinity United Methodist Church, helping immigrants complete their paperwork through Des
Moines Hispanic Ministries, or working with migrant farm workers through
Proteus. Additional projects are available in Ottumwa, such as
interpreting for Legal Services Corporation of Iowa or tutoring
Spanish-speaking children through St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic
Church. Students from intermediate to advanced levels have participated in
these projects. |
| Here are some comments students
wrote for Dr. Ally Krogstad's Intermediate Spanish II class after their first experience with service learning
(translated from their Spanish reports): |
| "I was afraid to speak
Spanish with the Latinos at HER, but I quickly got over my fear while
talking to and playing with the children." |
| "All of the children
understood English, and I thought they would speak English more because
they are young and live in the U.S. I learned that they just prefer
to speak Spanish." |
| "On our way back to
Pella, we all talked about our experiences. We were all worried about the
experience before we got to the church, but by the time the night ended,
we were very happy to be part of this process. We learned a lot and we
want to help out again!" |
| "I learned how fortunate
we are as citizens of the U.S. It is very difficult for immigrants to
become citizens...and I learned through this experience that others would
do just about anything to have the life that I have." |
| From Cheri Doane, Director of
the PLACES office: "I think perhaps the most surprising thing for
the students was the empathy they felt immediately. It would be impossible
to participate in this project and not have an appreciation for the
challenges associated with immigrating to this country. The bureaucracy
and confusion that surround the procedures is astounding... Your students
are to be commended for the way they pitched in without a word of
complaint." |
|
More information about service learning is available from
Cheri Doane in
the PLACES office:
641-628-5332. |
