Students step out of the classroom and collaborate with non-profit organizations which provide educational services to the local Latino community.
Three days a week, Ursinus students are tutoring Spanish-speaking children, teaching basic English and art, helping them with homework, playing educational games, and providing mentorship.
IN addition, the department has a team of students who teach English to Spanish-speaking adults from different countries on a weekly basis, sharing not only language skills, but culture. This experience gives our students the opportunity to not only teach, but learn as well, They develop interpersonal and professional skills such as teamwork, leadership, dependability, communication strategies, cultural awareness, and empathy.
These hands-on experiences will be valuable in my career path. I currently work in an office that has a number of Spanish-speaking patients. The ESL opportunities at Ursinus have provided a better understanding of how I can approach explaining things in an effective way — forcing me to reevaluate my approach to teaching.