Partners in Learning: College

Students and Workers at the

University of Virginia

LESLLA Conference 2011Presented by Elizabeth Wittner

Academic Director, Center for American English Language and Culture, University of

VirginiaOctober 1, 2011

11:30-12:15

Agenda

Seeds of the idea

Evolution: Toward a more inclusive definition of “University Community”

But we’re not teachers!: Students from conversation partners to literacy/English mentors

Challenges and unexpected benefits

Discussion

Why a Workplace ESL Program?

• Personal/professional connection to LESLLA populations

• UVA –IRC

• UVA student ethos

1999 12 Classroom Volunteers

Class is over!!

VOLUNTEERS WITH

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND

SCHOLARS

University Community Re-defined

VOLUNTEERS WITH INTERNATIONAL

STUDENTS, SCHOLARS AND STAFF!

The Workplace Program:

Many iterations

Evolving, flexible program starting its 4th year

• Language Consultants

• Conversation group

• Traditional Class

• Theme based Workshop

“Language Consultants”

Meet during break time in pairs:

volunteer and service-employee ELL

Conversation Group

Meet, mingle, chat for an hour of relaxed English conversation, twice a week.

We want a “Class”

Large group lesson

Rotate to different stations to practice

Classroom community

Some pairing off

Workplace Workshop:

Go at your own pace

Interns’ curriculum units, fall

2010 Health [emotion, condition, illness,

body parts, describing people]

Time/Seasons/Calendar

Food/Nutrition

Shopping

Housing/Community?

Transportation/Directions (Address)

Employment/Jobs

Traditions/Celebrations

Starting off with a mini-lesson

Fanning out into smaller groups

The Interns

All Student Staff

Academic Director

Interns

Volunteers

English Language Learners

Volunteers

Interns

Director

Interns

Volunteers

Challenges and Puzzles

Volunteers are students

Inconsistent support from contractor/employer

Few resources and zero funding

So, is it worth it?

Unexpected Benefits

Teaching each other

I've had the pleasure to work with Hawa G., Fatuma and Karama. This has been a rewarding experience that inspired me to continue working with immigrants and refugees. During one of the lessons, the four of us were talking about clothing items and how to wear clothes properly. I remember Karama said that she had to tell a student to zip up his fly using hand gestures because she didn't know how to say it in English. We exploded into a communal almost endless laughter. I will never forget this experience. Or these people. :) -- Vera Melo, Workplace ESLA

Questions and Discussion