IELP5307 - American Language and Culture through Service Learning

Course Description

Language and Culture through Service Learning will guide students to experience language and culture through community service, an important part of American life. This learning experience allows students to use language skills in meaningful, real-world contexts while doing volunteer work in local community organizations. Each Tuesday, instructors will guide students on a field trip to volunteer at different community organizations such as a retirement community for elderly people, a community garden, a soup kitchen to feed the homeless, the YMCA community program, and other interesting service organizations. Students will walk or take public transportation to the sites. In the classroom, students will watch videos and read about volunteer efforts in the United States, keep a journal of their experiences, and complete a final project by planning a service learning project and creating a video or social media post of their projects.