Posted by Katie Butler on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 in SLA, Motivation, and Service-Learning.

Project MUSE – Hispania – Language Learners as Teachers: Integrating Service-learning and the Advanced Language Course.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the applications of service-learning pedagogy for an advanced Spanish language course through a case study conducted at Rollins College, a comprehensive liberal arts institution in Winter Park, Florida. The paper discusses diverse theories on service-learning pedagogy, explaining how and why this teaching method should be implemented given the changing expectations for institutions of higher education in general as well as for today’s foreign language programs. Additionally, the paper evaluates how the course objectives of the subject of the case study have been enhanced by its partnership with Junior Achievement of Central Florida, including reflections and responses from the student participants themselves, as well as an analysis of the program’s limitations and areas for future improvement.

Tags: community engagement, language learning, reading list, student motivation