SPAN 301S - Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community
Course Description: Students will become involved in community projects of importance and relevance that engage them in matters relative to justice, compassion, diversity and social responsibility, and help them become effective multicultural community builders. The course is designed to help you enhance your skills in personal and professional communication as well as classroom discussions and oral presentations in Spanish.
Course Narrative: This class was my service learning class where I was placed in the community and volunteered in the Salinas Public Library and Literacy Program at Cesar Chavez Library in Salinas, CA. I was placed in a citizenship class which I participated in virtually as well as an adult computer literacy class that I attended in person. I can connect the effective communication objective of the course with my service site because I can communicate with adult learners in English and Spanish. For citizenship class, I would translate test questions from English to Spanish with ease, just as in the computer literacy class I would help students with instructions in Spanish. Finally, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in my community of Salinas and speak Spanish with adults from the community. I learned a lot from wonderful individuals in the community and where they come from and how I was able to be a good instructor. Also, I learned the need for these free courses in the community. I had the opportunity to connect with students in so many ways that I hadn't thought of, and I personally didn't know about these services until I helped. I also learned that the adult students and my parents' lives were quite similar, and I admire how much the students wanted to learn and improve. Likewise, I noticed a great need for bilingual volunteers, if it weren't for the fact that I speak Spanish, I don't think I would have connected as I did with the students. Furthermore, for my final paper, I reflected on my experience growing up bilingual and what speaking two languages meant to me. I am glad that my parents taught me my first language, Spanish, and that they continue to encourage my siblings and I to speak Spanish. In the future, I plan to work with my community in Salinas, and I will be able to inform my students and their families about opportunities like this one at the library.
Major Learning Outcome Fulfillment:
MLO 5
Evidence:
Final Paper
Final Presentation
Course Narrative: This class was my service learning class where I was placed in the community and volunteered in the Salinas Public Library and Literacy Program at Cesar Chavez Library in Salinas, CA. I was placed in a citizenship class which I participated in virtually as well as an adult computer literacy class that I attended in person. I can connect the effective communication objective of the course with my service site because I can communicate with adult learners in English and Spanish. For citizenship class, I would translate test questions from English to Spanish with ease, just as in the computer literacy class I would help students with instructions in Spanish. Finally, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in my community of Salinas and speak Spanish with adults from the community. I learned a lot from wonderful individuals in the community and where they come from and how I was able to be a good instructor. Also, I learned the need for these free courses in the community. I had the opportunity to connect with students in so many ways that I hadn't thought of, and I personally didn't know about these services until I helped. I also learned that the adult students and my parents' lives were quite similar, and I admire how much the students wanted to learn and improve. Likewise, I noticed a great need for bilingual volunteers, if it weren't for the fact that I speak Spanish, I don't think I would have connected as I did with the students. Furthermore, for my final paper, I reflected on my experience growing up bilingual and what speaking two languages meant to me. I am glad that my parents taught me my first language, Spanish, and that they continue to encourage my siblings and I to speak Spanish. In the future, I plan to work with my community in Salinas, and I will be able to inform my students and their families about opportunities like this one at the library.
Major Learning Outcome Fulfillment:
MLO 5
Evidence:
Final Paper
Final Presentation