Service Learning
"The programs of the Service Learning Institute engage the content, practice, and pedagogy of service learning to promote social transformation and create a more just world." See the course page for course information, course description, and course work.
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My service learning hours were conducted through an organization called Community Partnership for Youth (CPY) at one of their sites: King Elementary School. I worked with two other classmates to create and conduct lessons with a group of about 10 students who were interested in Japanese culture (See "Lesson Plans" on course page). Some of the students participated in Japanese class previously and had some prior knowledge, but many knew nothing about Japanese culture, which made managing the classroom an interesting and somewhat challenging experience.
Overall, this service learning experience was very educational due to both the first-hand experience I acquired through service activities and the supporting knowledge we covered in class (See "Reading Reflections" on course page). In terms of compassion, I learned about communicating with children and returning their attention with equal respect. For social responsibility, I learned about the many elements that should be incorporated into the classroom in order to promote a socially responsible lifestyle. For social justice, I learned about the circumstances surrounding the children at CPY and what programs were available to combat social injustices in the area. For diversity, I learned how to create culturally diverse lessons and respecting each individual’s diverse background. These topics were also included in the final group presentation as well. This experience enhanced written language skills through the many reflections (See "Additional Course Work" on course page) and final essay as well as spoken skills through the three group presentations (See "Course Work" on course page). In addition to recording the events that took place during each lesson, writing the site reflections also required a measure of reflective writing, which I find more difficult than simply describing past actions. My cultural knowledge was also enhanced through this experience because we needed to be overly prepared for our lessons in case the students asked questions. |