May 14, 2010
Students in the Intensive
English Program (IEP) at St. John’s University recently gained
allies in their quest to speak English fluently. They partnered
with undergraduates in the Language Acquisition course taught by
Communication Sciences and Disorders Professor Monica Wagner —
a joint project to help the English
as a Second Language (ESL) students perfect their conversation
skills.
This unique collaboration came about when, seeking conversational
experiences for her students, Director of IEP Sheila Hakner, Ph.D.,
met with Prof. Wagner, who recognized a potential learning
experience for her students. “Understanding the challenges of
learning a second language would allow them to better understand
the process of first language acquisition in children, which is the
focus of my course,” she explains.
Prof. Wagner also saw it as an academic service-learning
(AS-L) opportunity, linking service to those in need with students’
future career goals. “That has been a real success,” she says. “My
students came to class, sharing insights and experiences.”
“It was a very great personal experience that I would recommend
everyone have,” said Language Acquisition student Alesya
Draganchyuk. “I tried to remember the things I wanted to talk about
when I first came to the U.S., so I tried to make our conversations
less formal and more comfortable.”
The ESL students — about half are from China, with others from
Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Russia — met with
their partners for one hour, five times during the semester for
much-needed conversation practice. At the same time, Prof. Wagner
says her students “developed an understanding of the many levels
involved in language learning, e.g., sounds, words, idioms,
grammar, etc. They also witnessed the daunting challenges faced
when one leaves a homeland and way of life.”
Dr. Hakner notes that her students, who also used the
University’s new
Global Language and Culture Center to improve their language
skills, “have few opportunities to interact with American students
and practice their conversational skills. Almost all plan to apply
for admission to St. John’s or are already admitted, so improving
their spoken English has been important to their future
success.”