Best Practices in Service-Learning:  Engaging International Students in Service Experiences

ESL/EAP ProgramSaint Louis University

Contemporary Issues: Social Justice and Intercultural Communication

EAP 110 content class 4 hours per week  Topics of global issues, social justice, and

cultural studies 4 mandatory service projects for the whole

class, accompanied by instructors Reflective blogs, required readings,

presentations, response papers, and final reflection paper

Service-Learning Classes in the ESL/EAP Program

Since 2008… Approximately 400 students… More than 30 teachers… Over 1,000 hours of service.

Service-Learning Students engage in community service

activities with intentional academic and learning goals and opportunities for reflection that connect to their academic disciplines (Cress, 7).

Not common in ESL programs because requires content-based instruction.

Goals Promote critical thinking skills, connection

between class content, ESL skill building, and life experience;

Improve motivation to learn and adapt to the culture;

Create opportunities to improve reading and writing fluency; and

Teach the ideals of social justice within cultural contexts.

How did we do? Connections between class topics and life outside

the university, Students more positive in every area of the class,

especially seeing peers as resources, but Still need explicit instruction for continued

language acquisition, especially reading and writing, and

Formation of concept(s) of social justice still in nascent stages.

Keys to SuccessRelationships inside… ESL Program

Team of instructors Sustained content

Institutional Support Finances Mission

Preparation for students Rationale Scaffolding

And outside… Community Network

Practical Sustainable

Bibliography Crandall, J., & Kaufman, D. (Eds.). (2002). Content-Based

Instruction in Higher Education Settings. Alexandria, VA: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Cress, C., Collier, P., & Reitenauer, V. (2005). Learning Through Service: A Student Guidebook for Service-Learning Across the Disciplines. Sterling: Stylus Publishing.

Pally, M. (Ed.). (2000). Sustained Content Teaching in Academic ESL/EFL: A Practical Approach. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

VOICES. (2007). Retrieved April 22, 2008, from http://voices.slu.edu