Opportunities for Mason Students
Earn service-learning credit while sharing the gift of langauge
and literacy!
There are many workers on the Mason campus who need help in learning
to speak English or improving their reading and writing abilities. Discover
an opportunity for a rewarding service activity through which you can
build valuable relationships as you help a campus employee build his or
her language skills. Find and exercise the teacher in you! You will also
learn first hand of the difficulties confronting those who lack sufficient
English language and basic academic skills to be fully functional in their
work and other daily activities and you’ll reap tangible and intangible
rewards from co-creating solutions.
Here are some questions and related issues you may want to consider in
order to help you decide whether you want to work with a campus employee:
Phrases in italics are suggested focal points that could be developed
under these questions if we decide to go this route.
1. How have others benefited from teaching English and other basic
skills to campus employees?
Students report knowledge gained through the development of relationships
with campus employees who often have entirely different backgrounds and
life circumstances, satisfaction from helping people who need help that
they can provide, and appreciation for the opportunity to develop their
own teaching skills. Students have also benefited from the opportunity
to earn academic credit in conjunction with their out-of- the classroom
learning and service experiences.
2. How much time would be required?
Time commitments are made on a semester basis and typically vary from
one to six hours per week. Several alternatives for volunteer participation
are outlined below. Other roles will most certainly be developed
as the program evolves
•Links Tutors work with one learner for a minimum of one
semester, usually from two to three hours per week spread over two sessions.
The learning pair meets at a time and place meeting both individuals'
needs, and works through a curriculm designed especially for this adventure
by Mason educators. All student
•Links Classroom Prep Partners (Partners) are teaching
assistants who partner with a small group of students enrolled in a larger
ESOL class which typically meets twice weekly for an hour and a half.
The partner
attends the larger class, which is conducted by a lead teacher, but then
works with his or her small group on breakout activities developed in
conjunction with the teacher. Partners can earn academic credit by meeting
periodically for group sessions with supervising faculty, some of which
will be devoted to tutor training, and completing related
assignments.
• Links Language and Literacy Lab Aides (LALAs) work with
teachers in an open lab for language and literacy that runs for 3 hours
or more twice a week. The time comm LALA may range from an hour and an
half
once a week to 3 hours twice weekly, and includes both one-on-one and
group instruction. Optional academic credit can be arranged on ad individualized
basis.
•Links Classroom Teachers Aides (CTAs) spend regularly
scheduled class
periods with classroom teachers and a group of 10 to 25 ESOL students
in a formal, interactive, curriculum based classroom environment, and
maybe responsible for teaching groups of 10 or more ESOL students.
Optional academic credit can be arranged on an individualized basis.
3. How could I earn academic credit?
Opportunities vary. Some students will take a service learning class specifically
designed for student tutors. Others may take an independent study co-designed
with a faculty member, or simply tutor to fulfill service practicum requirements
associated with existing courses in a variety of departments. Your credit
experience will be co-managed by faculty advisors from the Department
of Education and the Center for Service Learning and Leadership in the
New Century College to insure that you get the most from your experience.
Be a part of something great. Help design an enduring
tradition of giving and learning. Make a better you.
For more information call Michael Galvin at 703-980-8747 or write mgalvin@gmu.edu
.
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