The document discusses the benefits of Spanish community service learning (CSL) for students. It notes that CSL aligns perfectly with language learning standards and involves students leaving the classroom to serve the community. There are three fundamental components of CSL: communication, culture, and connections. The document provides examples of "Can-Do" statements for each component, describing what students can do with their Spanish skills through community service. It emphasizes that CSL helps students see the practical applications of Spanish beyond the classroom and helps connect students and communities.

1. The message that there is one
way to success, and it’s not the
humanities, is strong.

2. It can feel like our work,
values are being dismantled.

3. The drop in enrollments is also
alarming.

4. Students say, “I love Spanish,
but what can I do with it?”

5. They can do a lot with Spanish
in the community, if we take
them there.

6. Annie R. Abbott
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
@AnnAbbott
Can-Do Statements for___________________________________________________________________________________
SPANISH COMMUNITY
SERVICE LEARNING (CSL)

7. CSL maps perfectly over
ACTFL’s standards: the 5 Cs

9. Can-Do Statements are
Standards & modes entwined.

10. The definition of CSL requires
students to leave the building.

11. There are three fundamental
components of CSL.

12. COMMUNICATION

13. I can solve problems in
Spanish.

14. I can understand complexity.

15. I can document
and share
what I learn.

16. CULTURES

17. Click for photo source.
I can negotiate among
cultural practices.

18. I can discern other viewpoints
within cultural products.

19. CONNECTIONS

20. I can use what I learned in
other classes in this class.

21. I can learn from, not just about
other cultures.

22. COMPARISONS

23. I can shift among the
language’s registers.

24. “Muchísimas gracias a quienes regalaron y
siguen regalando ropa para el estudiante
que mencioné la semana pasada. Sólo
uno de muchos chiquillos que han
cruzado solos esa travesía entre dos
países para reunirse con sus padres o sólo
para tener una mejor vida.
“En su primer día de escuela no tuvo más
que sonrisas para todo mundo a pesar de
no entender lo que dicen porque su
idioma es Q'anjob'al. Al final del día se fue
feliz a casa y mucho mejor vestido para
protegerse del frío. ¡Muchísimas gracias
por su apoyo!”
I can recognize multiple Latin
American cultures.

25. COMMUNITIES

26. I can be civically engaged.

27. I can learn and serve
anywhere.

28. The humanities have an
important purpose.

29. Can do statements aren’t
just for students.

30. We can connect
students and
communities.

31. We can use
language for
advocacy.

32. We can bridge
theory and action.

33. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Gracias_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Annie R. Abbott
arabbott@illinois.edu
@AnnAbbott_____________________________________________________________________________________________