Grateful Thanks and a Smile

Ready for my first volunteer session at Rock Island High School in the ELL program, I am reminded how times have changed. After signing in at the door, I notice students needing ID badges on their person at all times and security officers patrolling the halls. I am wondering how much this distracts students from learning, especially if I were a student who knew very little English.

After introductions to teachers and students, my assignment was to help a young lady with her child development homework. It seemed that she had struggled through it for several days. According to our reading in Foundations of Interpersonal Communication our perceptions affect our communication with others. One of the areas that we often fail others is our need to make snap judgments. My suspicion is several people thought this student was not very smart because she could not finish what seemed like a simple assignment. When shown how to find information in the text book, she quickly finished and demonstrated to all that a lack of understanding of the procedure was all that stood in her way of being successful. The obstacle she faced was not understanding how the packet and book corresponded. She found success when I showed her how to find the information in the book. Grateful thanks and a smile and we both felt good about what we accomplished.

Stepping Out

As a student in St. Ambrose University’s Interpersonal Communication’s class, I am required to complete a service learning project. Service to others is a great way to enhance interpersonal skills, positively impact the person’s life that receives this service and makes me feel good that I have helped another person. I have chosen to complete my project at the Rock Island High School, volunteering with their English Language Learner’s (ELL) program. My hope is to assist students with their homework. This may take some pantomime as we work to understand each other’s language. I hope my assistance makes a positive impact in their school experience when they are successful at completing homework which will help understand subjects and in the end help with their career goals. My future career goal is to become an Occupational Therapist. Much of the work I will do with patients requires communication. Some may speak a different language or have trouble understanding directions. This experience will help me improve communication skills with others, especially those whose primary langue is no English. The experience will also help me gain confidence in speaking with others outside my usual peer group.

My assumption is that Rock Island High School has a culturally diverse population of students in the 9^th-12^th grade. Rock Island, like the rest of the Quad Cities, is large enough to attract immigrants who are searching for a better life for themselves and their families. Students in the ELL program are there for extra assistance, as English is not their primary language, making school twice as challenging. I would also assume that their parents and siblings are also learning English and they might speak in their native language at home. I would also expect they have few to none English reference books or even reading books at home. These students are in need of assistance with written and spoken English as well as classwork and they might be intimidated by the English speaking students. My assumption is most will want help in order to improve their English. They will also want approval as they expand their English skills in weeks to come.

My assumption is the staff at Rock Island High School, in particular those working with ELL students are doing all they can to help them master the English language. They are most likely finding games and projects to help them learn English words. They are also offering study hall sessions. Our presence will help augment the number of people who can provide assistance. We are also closer in age to the students so they might enjoy having “teen” help.

My assumption is the school staff are helping students in 9^th-12^th grade. Some of these students might have had limited schooling and are not performing at grade level even without the difference in language. My assumption is there are students of many languages so it would be challenging to have experts in all of them. I would expect there would be more Spanish speaking students than any other language knowing there has been an increase in the mid-west of Hispanic people.

I recently graduated with an Associates of Science from Cottey College, an all-women’s liberal arts college in Nevada, Mo. We had students from 42 different states and 17 different countries. I lived in a suite with a student from Afghanistan. She spoke very little English when she arrived on campus. I watched her struggle with assignments. While she received help from the student success center, all of our suitemates helped her in learning English phrases and words as well as time spent explaining homework. I saw firsthand the positive influence we were for this student and I would like to be able to help others as well. I believe it is so important students I ELL master English quickly as they will soon want to get into college or technical schools. It will be easier as their understanding of English expands, which will improve career choice and future job prospects.

How does service relate to learning?

Service relates to learning in many ways. It provides a hands on opportunity to learn about other cultures, values and gives an appreciation to the volunteer of how these individuals are part of society. It is also a way to help others set goals and learn from our experiences. Service puts the needs of others before our own and helps people develop and perform to the highest level possible without doing the work for them. The volunteer would also have the opportunity to teach skills to others. Many who volunteer or provide service to others comment that they received as much or more benefit to themselves as the person or groups they have helped.