Déjame que te cuente
  • Inicio
  • Teaching Philosophy
  • About Me
  • Courses
  • Curriculum Vitae

Service Learning

Some Thoughts

Service Learning is the interpolation of community service and academic pursuits. Research shows that students learn more when they are able to apply, in a practical way, the things they learn in the classroom. Whether the Service is local or abroad it creates important connections between the academy and the community. Students who participate in these courses are more motivated to learn, more likely to develop their language skills, and better able to apply what is learned in the classroom not only to the course-related service, but also to their own career development. Projects may be long or short-term, but they must have a clear connection to the topics covered in the course. In language and culture courses, it is easy to see the value of getting students involved in communities in which they have to interact with people, use their language skills, and begin to see the world from the perspective of the community with which they are working. Even short programs that take students abroad to work on service projects have value in enhancing their comfort level in the language, boosting their confidence in their ability to communicate, and increasing their vocabulary. The most important learning experience, however, comes from seeing first-hand the evidence of the things they have learned in class, such as the results of poverty and the effects of historical events on the current reality.

Past Projects

My Community Partners

Por un mejor Hoy
This organization sets up service programs for students who travel to Cuernavaca, Mexico. They combine service with visits to historical sites and tourist destinations, to create a more well-rounded learning experience. I have found them to be highly organized and experienced in working with the dynamics of a group of young travelers. The couple that organizes it are also kind and erudite people who know the value of culture and history in the development of an understanding of current situations. 

Hope for Honduran Children
This is a wonderful organization that does so much for children in Honduras. I have worked with them in the past and look forward to continuing to do so in the future. Take a look at their site and learn about their many inspirational projects.

Migrant Farm Workers Ministries: Read this article about one of the many projects we did with this group that helps migrant farm workers in a number of ways. Unfortunately this organization did not survive internal structural problems, but the individual members continue to work with the migrant community in Florida and their work is selfless and admirable.

ProNiño: I went in 2007 with a group of students from Elon University to work with this group. They do very important work in northern Honduras with street children, and have since then developed their programs and are able to more effectively help more children. 
Con tecnología de Crea tu propio sitio web con las plantillas personalizables.
  • Inicio
  • Teaching Philosophy
  • About Me
  • Courses
  • Curriculum Vitae