A Tandem Learning A Tandem Learning Experience for Second Experience for Second

Language Learners Through Language Learners Through SkypeSkype

Colleen Blaurock, Ph.D.Colleen Blaurock, Ph.D.2121stst Century Grant Century Grant

DirectorDirectorSpanish TeacherSpanish Teacher

Department ChairDepartment Chairblaurockc@perry-lake.k12.oh.usblaurockc@perry-lake.k12.oh.us

Erica Houston,Erica Houston,ESL Teacher/Department ESL Teacher/Department Chair/Teacher/In-Service Chair/Teacher/In-Service

InstructorInstructorerica.millirons@pcls.neterica.millirons@pcls.net

2012 TESOL 2012 TESOL PresentationPresentation

Overview of ESL in Ohio

Demographics of our two districts

Project specifics

Video of Skype exchange

Findings for both groups of students

How to replicate the project

If we were to do this project again…

Questions/comments

AN OVERVIEW:AN OVERVIEW:ESL in OhioESL in Ohio

Painesville City Painesville City Schools Schools

Painesville, OhioPainesville, Ohio

ESL in OhioESL in OhioPre-Las/LASPre-Las/LAS- Administered if another - Administered if another language is indicated on the language is indicated on the

Home Language SurveyHome Language Survey OTELAOTELA – Ohio Test of English – Ohio Test of English Language AcquisitionLanguage Acquisition

(Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)(Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)Administered January-March each yearAdministered January-March each year

1- Pre-functional1- Pre-functional 2- Beginning2- Beginning

3- Intermediate3- Intermediate 4- Advanced4- Advanced

5- Full English Proficiency5- Full English Proficiency *Students exit the ESL program by *Students exit the ESL program by

attaining 2 scores of 4 or a 5 on OTELA.attaining 2 scores of 4 or a 5 on OTELA.

Painesville City SchoolsPainesville City SchoolsPainesville, OhioPainesville, Ohio

It is located in northeast Ohio, just 2 miles south of Lake Erie’s shoreline and twenty-five miles east of Cleveland.

It is a 7.7 square mile urban community made up of a highly diverse population of about 17,500 people.

Of the 3100 children served by Painesville City Local School District, 75% of them are eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch.

The district has just completed its five-year, $91 million dollar construction project; replacing all district schools with five new state-of-the-art facilities.

Painesville City SchoolsPainesville City SchoolsPainesville, OhioPainesville, Ohio

District Statistics Students Student Enrollment 3051 Ethnicity African American 18 % White 34 % Hispanic 35 % *Mostly from Leon,Mexico

Multiracial 13 % Other <1% *Chinese, Arabic

ELL 987 *32% of student population

Perry Local SchoolsPerry Local SchoolsPerry, OhioPerry, Ohio

It is also located in northeast Ohio and is just east of Painesville City. It is approximately 30 miles outside of Cleveland.

Small farms and nurseries contribute to the local economy. Perry is home to the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.

In the 1990s, the district used the tax revenue to build a state-of-the-art educational facility. The school buildings are laid out in a campus-like setting containing an Elementary School, Middle School, High School, Wellness Center and Theater.

The average household income is $67,900

Perry Local SchoolsPerry Local SchoolsPerry, OhioPerry, Ohio

District Statistics Students Student Enrollment 1800

Ethnicity White 97 % Hispanic 2 % Multiracial/Other <1 %

The ProjectThe Project The purpose of the project was to The purpose of the project was to

provide authentic speaking provide authentic speaking opportunities for students studying a opportunities for students studying a second language. second language.

Volunteers were recruited. 6 Perry Volunteers were recruited. 6 Perry High School students in a level 2 High School students in a level 2 Spanish course and 6 Painesville Spanish course and 6 Painesville Middle School ESL students Middle School ESL students volunteered. volunteered.

Simple speaking/listening tasks were Simple speaking/listening tasks were created. Students took turns asking created. Students took turns asking and answering questions in the and answering questions in the second language. Both groups second language. Both groups practiced their second language. A practiced their second language. A tandem relationship was encouraged.tandem relationship was encouraged.

The ProjectThe Project

The ProjectThe Project

The ProjectThe Project Students connected through Students connected through

Skype. Skype is a free, online Skype. Skype is a free, online application that allows users to application that allows users to interact through video, voice, interact through video, voice, and/or text in real-time and/or text in real-time

Students connected once a week Students connected once a week for 30-40 minutes over a 12 week for 30-40 minutes over a 12 week period of time. period of time.

Students were encouraged to stay Students were encouraged to stay in the target language and were in the target language and were given useful phrases (Slower given useful phrases (Slower please. Can you spell that?) to please. Can you spell that?) to refer to.refer to.

The ProjectThe Projectvideo clipvideo clip

Perry FindingsPerry FindingsThe students experienced a variety of different feelings which evolved over the course of the project, and these feelings were tied to their interactions with their NS partners and their own knowledge of the second language.

•Fear

•Frustration

•Joy

•Sadness

Perry FindingsPerry FindingsThe students acquired second language skills by taking ownership of their own learning and by using specific strategies.•Students used English to negotiate meaning of the unknown

•Students used mimicry to improve pronunciation

•Students took ownership of their learning.

Perry FindingsPerry FindingsThe students developed relationships with their NS counterparts that contributed to their feelings about the project and to their second language use. •Students built a relationship by sharing personal information.

•Students offered support to each other in their use of the second language.

•Students made plans to continue the relationship outside of the Skype environment

Painesville FindingsPainesville Findings

MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION

Behavior IncentiveBehavior IncentiveIncreased AttendanceIncreased Attendance

Self-ConfidenceSelf-Confidence

Painesville Findings Painesville Findings

Relationships Forged Relationships Forged Across CulturesAcross Cultures

Students who normally associate Students who normally associate within their own cultural became:within their own cultural became:

Actively engagedActively engaged and and

enthusiasticenthusiastic about the project about the project Eager anticipationEager anticipation of “Skype Day” of “Skype Day”

Less apprehensiveLess apprehensive about about communicating with those communicating with those

from other culturesfrom other cultures

Painesville Findings Painesville Findings OTELA OTELA

DATADATA (2009-present)(2009-present)

4/6 saw growth in composite 4/6 saw growth in composite

score by at least 1 levelscore by at least 1 level 6/6 saw growth in Listening 6/6 saw growth in Listening 4/6 saw growth in Speaking 4/6 saw growth in Speaking

4/6 saw growth in Reading4/6 saw growth in Reading One student has since exited ESL One student has since exited ESL

How can I do How can I do this in my this in my district?district?

Determine the resources Determine the resources

you will need to connect you will need to connect (webcams, headsets with (webcams, headsets with microphones, internet microphones, internet connection)connection)

Contact a district who Contact a district who would be willing to would be willing to collaborate with you. collaborate with you. Epals.comEpals.com

How can I do How can I do this in my this in my district?district?

Recruit students.Recruit students. Set up Skype accounts for each Set up Skype accounts for each

computer with a generic ID (Perry-computer with a generic ID (Perry-lake-01). Set up safe accounts. lake-01). Set up safe accounts. Create a directory of student with Create a directory of student with whom they can chat.whom they can chat.

How can I do How can I do this in my this in my district?district?

In-service teachers and students on In-service teachers and students on

the use of Skype. Students need to the use of Skype. Students need to become comfortable in front of the become comfortable in front of the camera. camera.

Collaborate weekly on lesson Collaborate weekly on lesson designdesign

If we were to If we were to do this do this project project again…again…

Let the students choose Let the students choose the topicsthe topics

Challenge the studentsChallenge the students Use the video footage to Use the video footage to

communicate strengths communicate strengths and weaknessesand weaknesses

Talk about a long term Talk about a long term partnership. partnership.