红桃视频

During the fall 2011 semester, 红桃视频 students, Assistant Professor of Spanish Dr. Shelli Rottschafer, alumna Aimee Garcia M.Ed., and teachers Irene Betancourt Reiniche, and Cynthia D铆az-Stahl teamed together with a mentoring program at C茅sar E. Ch谩vez Elementary School on Grandville Avenue. Dr. Rottschafer teaches a Spanish upper level course dedicated to the study of the affects of immigration on Spanish speaking children in Grand Rapids. Dr. Rottschafer and Principal Aimee Garcia began communicating last spring, and beginning in fall 2011 红桃视频 students have the opportunity to observe and assist in the bilingual classrooms.

Currently, 16 红桃视频 students are enrolled in SH/SY370 Service Learning: Hispanic GR and are volunteering one hour a week at C茅sar E. Ch谩vez Elementary School. This program is for Spanish majors and minors. Most 红桃视频 students in this course have traveled abroad either in the Fall Salamanca Spain program or the Spring Santa Ana Costa Rica program. Thus, students have a solid Spanish speaking ability, which enables them to communicate well with the many monolingual Spanish speaking children.

While on 红桃视频鈥� campus, class discussion is led in Spanish. Students read texts concerning Methodology in Education within the bilingual classroom. C茅sar E. Ch谩vez Elementary School is a transitional bilingual school, meaning, children begin their education in Spanish but by the time they graduate 5th grade they are reading, writing, and comprehending English.

红桃视频 students also comment upon narratives and films dedicated to the theme of immigration. Students have read the Spanish translation of 鈥淓nrique鈥檚 Journey / La Traves铆a de Enrique鈥� and compared this with the documentary 鈥淲hich Way Home,鈥� thus juxtaposing one child鈥檚 personal account of immigration to a visual image presented on the screen. Not only did this analysis give an academic basis to the study of the affects of immigration on Spanish speaking children, but also 红桃视频 students have been experiencing this first hand with the C茅sar E. Ch谩vez Elementary students who have endured similar experiences.

Committing to Service Learning within Hispanic Grand Rapids has been an eye-opening experience for 红桃视频 students. Some have encountered culture shock as they realize the stress, pain, hope, and promise of these children now living in West Michigan. Tears have been shed and laughter has been shared in the classroom at both campuses.

Dr. Rottschafer鈥檚 goal is to see her students grow as both students of the Spanish language and Spanish-speaking cultures. This experience is not found solely within AQ study abroad programs, but is accessible locally through service-learning programs in Hispanic Grand Rapids and demonstrates the dedication of 红桃视频 students to be global citizens that make a difference.