Following up on the Partners' Match workshop in early December 2009, I have met with a member of the ELI staff to discuss working as a volunteer in a pilot project: The Conversation Club. This program is new for ELI, and it will be closely monitored to assess what, if any, effect it might have on facilitating speaking English among the various levels of ELI students. I will begin facilitating a conversation group on Monday, February 1, at 5pm.
Initially, the classes will last for an hour or so, once a week. Students from all levels of the ELI program - that is, all levels of familiarlity and proficiency - will be in the groups. Attendance - on the student's part - will be voluntary.
ELI staff overseeing and monitoring this program will be providing feedback throughout the semester, which will be very helpful. This should prove to be a great challenge to me .. to find ways to engage students from different countries and of varied levels of proficiency in English. I have planned to begin the first class with a) some light munchies .. always an ice breaker ... especially at 5 in the afternoon/evening, b) a little notebook for each student to encourage them to note questions and topices and things they'd like to talk about in the group, and c) my inflatable globe to use as a tool for introductions, and hopefully conversation starters.
This will be my first time volunteering for ELI, and I am looking forward to participating.
I also begin another conversation class at Arlington Reads! this Friday, January 29th. I have been a volunteer with Arlington Reads! since June of 2009, and I am looking forward to seeing some of my former group members.
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Well, off to a dazzling start as usual! This was meant for my 5110 Practicum blog. Ah ... misbehaving fingers and typing toes!!!!
ReplyDeleteEven though you meant this to be for a different blog, I wanted to let you know that I'm excited you are doing this! I have some undergraduate students that might be assisting you for service learning credit in my Ling 2301 class.
ReplyDeleteUpdate on Service Leaning positions ... I have had some difficulty getting a response from Brookhaven. I recently spoke with one of the teachers there, who told me that they were looking for tutors. When I went to the DCCCD-Brookhaven site Friday afternoon, I found that the e-mail addresses for the people heading the writing-grammar, and speaking-conversation parts of the program were different than the ones on their Brookhaven business cards. I have left a telephone message (they were already closed), and intend to call back Monday. Once I speak with someone, I will post again with any current or corrected info. I STILL hope to get a readin' & writin' service learning class! [But I love the suggestions on how to adapt from one type of class to the other!]
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