1. The
Limits of
Langua
e
by Jill Kamas, 2013

2. I’m Jill.

3. This is Maruek.

4. He was my student during the fall semester
of 2012.

5. 2
Maruek is from Bangkok. His first language is Thai.

6. 2
He is studying architecture.

7. 2
Teaching/learning architecture involves a lot
of talking between the teacher and student.

8. ….and between students and their
classmates.

9. Talking & writing
Teacher
assigns a
project.
Student Talking with classmates
makes a
drawing or
model.
Student Talking
presents
project to
teacher.
Teacher Talking, drawing & writing
gives
feedback.
2
The process looks something like this.

10. Much of the talking is conversational which
means it can be fast, full of slang and
riddled with poor grammar.

11. aahhem…, The potentiality of the spatiality
could lend itself to a functional
modernity.
Not to mention… architects have a bad habit
of simply making up words to suit their
immediate need.

12. ?
Mai translated every word as fast as possible
but still, he was struggling.

13. ?
And…I was struggling to understand what
Mai was saying.

14. The class would have benefitted from being able to
better understand what Mai was saying.

15. I needed a solution.

16. After making a few phone calls, I realized the
Program had no strategy or tools for helping
students like Mai.

17. So, I did some research to find out what I
could do to help the situation.

18. I found three things that could help:
1. Speaking properly
2. Dual-coding + supplementing
3. Outlining & summarizing

19. I use a LOT of
slang, idioms and
improper grammar!
This will be
challenging.
1. Speaking Properly

20. I can:
• draw & diagram during desk reviews
• provide more images to illustrate concepts during lecture
2. Dual Coding & Supplementing

21. I’ll email a lecture outline before class and send further explanation or
summary after class is over.
This way, he will have more time and he
can go at his own pace.
3. Outlining & Summarizing

22. I should try one strategy at a time…
From then on, Mai and I spoke and drew, we made diagrams with arrows and captions.

23. Having the composure and perseverance to slow down and speak, write and draw until we really understood each
other was a big challenge for both of us.

24. Email worked very well for sending Mai either
outlines of what to expect in class or summaries
of lecture & review.

25. By the end of the semester, we had made
good progress. Mai was happier and more
relaxed.

26. That semester, Mai won the AIAS (American
Institute of Architects – Student Chapter)
Award of Excellence!

27. The End
Kamas - Reflection Project for INTE6750, Spring 2013