SPAN 301S: Service Learning in the Chicano / Latino Community
Course description:This course is part of your Spanish language learning experience, and offers you the opportunity to interact in a personal way with members of the local Latino community, thereby enriching your understanding of Hispanic cultures and the Spanish language. As a community-based learning experience, the course provides students with career-related experience working collaboratively with community agencies to address community concerns / issues.
Course Narrative:
For my Service Learning I volunteered in the Cesar Chavez Public library in Salinas, CA. I did my service helping in the homework center and during the dinner time. Ms. Graciela was the supervisor and led the program. Through her guidance, I learned to work with the students and help them with their reading and math homework. During this time I also learn about many of the free services our public libraries in Salinas offers to the community. Some of the services include English classes for adults, homework center for students k-12, free admission to the Monterey Aquarium once and free lunch for students up to 18 years old.
Working in the homework center was a wonderful experience for me. I had the opportunity to learn more from my community and their needs. Many of the families that use services form the public library, work in the fields and do not speak English. Many parents do not know how to help their kids with the homework because of the language barrier. For them the help that their kids received in the homework center is extremely important. I even offer my help to teach one of the parents about the program that his daughter is using in school. I feel that parents should be able to understand what their kids are doing on the computer. Unfortunately a big part of our community does not have the knowledge to do this. I felt responsible to answer their questions the best I could. During my service I also had the opportunity to practice my first language, Spanish, and learn from more about other cultures like people from el Salvador and Honduras. It was great to serve in my own community.
Working in the homework center was a wonderful experience for me. I had the opportunity to learn more from my community and their needs. Many of the families that use services form the public library, work in the fields and do not speak English. Many parents do not know how to help their kids with the homework because of the language barrier. For them the help that their kids received in the homework center is extremely important. I even offer my help to teach one of the parents about the program that his daughter is using in school. I feel that parents should be able to understand what their kids are doing on the computer. Unfortunately a big part of our community does not have the knowledge to do this. I felt responsible to answer their questions the best I could. During my service I also had the opportunity to practice my first language, Spanish, and learn from more about other cultures like people from el Salvador and Honduras. It was great to serve in my own community.
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SL_finalpresentation_Lopez.pdf |