Service-learning involves students engaging in activities to address community needs while also promoting student learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity, where all parties involved benefit, are key concepts of service-learning. This document outlines a service-learning course where ESOL students volunteered with various organizations in Savannah, Georgia to practice their English skills while helping their community. Students reported learning more about social problems, non-profits, and communication skills from this experience. Both students and volunteer organizations found benefits, though agencies cited demands on staff time as a drawback. Overall, most felt the benefits of service-learning outweighed any problems.

2. benefitted from more practice in English (83%)

3. felt happiness to be doing good (83%)

6. doing good things makes me happy

7. I feel so comfortable and enjoyed during volunteering

8. the hard work

10. It was wonderful to widen our range of volunteers!

11. Meeting students from another culture sharing in a community service project

12. meeting the enthusiastic faculty and students at SCAD and benefiting from their talents and energyReferences:<br />Enos, Sandra and Keith Morton. “Developing a Theory and Practice of Campus-Community Partnerships.” Building Partnerships for Service-learning. Ed. Barbara Jacoby. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003. 20-41. Print.<br />Faculty Resource Guide. Center for Community Engagement, California State University, Long Beach. 9 Nov. 2009. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. < www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/personnel/cce/faculty/documents/ResourceGuideforFaculty0706_000.pdf ><br />Jacoby, Barbara. “Fundamentals of Service Learning Partnerships.” Building Partnerships for Service-learning. Ed. Barbara Jacoby. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003. Print.<br />Jones, Susan R. “Principles and Profiles of Exemplary Partnerships with Community Agencies.” Building Partnerships for Service-learning. Ed. Barbara Jacoby. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003. 151-73. Print.<br />Kendall, J. C. “Combining Service and Learning: An Introduction.” Combining Service and Learning: A Resource Book for Community and Public Service. Vol. 1. Ed. J. C. Kendall. Raleigh, N.C.: National Society for Experiential Education, 1990. Print.<br />Steinke, Mollie Hand. “Learning English by Helping Others: Implementing Service Learning into the ESOL Classroom.” Journal for Civic Commitment 12 (2009): n.pag. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <br />