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.

1. “Service-learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity (emphasis mine) are key concepts of service-learning” Jacoby, 2003<br />Unit 1: Yourself as a Volunteer<br />Days Class work Homework Class 1:Defining Volunteerism and Community Service; Presentation about future work in the US Study Websites; Prepare questions Class 2:What Color is Your Parachute? for Teens; Volunteer Opportunity Presentations 1 & 2 Study Websites; Prepare questions, Class 3:Parachute, cont; Volunteer Presentations 3 & 4 Study Websites; Prepare questions Class 4:Parachute, cont; Presentations 5 & 6; Reflection of Volunteer Choices --Group Work Volunteer Choices Informal Speeches Class 5:Formal Student Presentations about Skills and Hopes for Future Work Paper #1 <br />Unit 2: The Problem of Homelessness in the U.S.<br />Day Class Work Homework Class 6: Peer Review; Reflection through Journaling; Listening Practice: Talk of the Nation Study Homelessness Fact Sheets Class 7: Listening Practice: Talk of the Nation: Solutions to Homelessness; Preview of Union MissionStudy Union Mission Website; prepare questions Class 8: Presentation: Homelessness 101 by Director of Community Involvement, Union Mission Study for Midterm Exam Part I: Vocab, Grammar & Short Answer Class 9: NPR Story Corps Review information about Homeless for Timed Writing Class 10: Review Issues and Vocabulary of Homelessness; Timed Writing <br />Unit 3: Pay It Forward Movement<br />Day Class Work Homework Class 11: Pay it Forward Trailer Prediction and Vocabulary Exercises; Study Vocabulary Class 12: Pay It Forward: Genesis of Book Listening Exercises Reflection on Volunteer Experiences Class 13: Pay It Forward Film Exercises: Chapters 1 & 8; Act of Generosity and Thorson’s Tale Plot Synopsis Cloze Reading Class 14 Pay It Forward Exercises : Chapter 25; “Save My Life” Draft #1 on Volunteer Experience Class 15: Pay It Forward Ending: The Movement Plot Synopsis Cloze Reading II Class 16: Timed Writing #2 <br />Unit IV: Course Wrap-up & Assessments<br />Day Class Work Class 17: Portfolio Review Workshop Prepare Final Draft of Volunteer Experience PaperClass 18: Presentation #2 Prepare 3-5 minute Presentations;Study for Final ExamClass 19: Presentations, cont.; Final ExamPrepare 3-5 minute PresentationsClass 20 Breakfast Pot Luck with Volunteers <br />Our Partnering Agencies<br />Name of Organization Opportunities for VolunteeringClean Coastwww.cleancoast.org912-239-9663Saturday Feb 20th 8 am to 2 pm? Wassaw IslandPick up trash off the beachGo out in boats to islands only accessible by boat. Savannah Tree Foundation3025 Bull StreetSavannah, GA 31405Phone - (912) 233-8733Fax - (912) 233-8799info@savannahtreefoundation.comSaturday Feb 13th 9-12 am Westlake FEMA site to plant trees and clean the foresthave need for:forest keeperstree plantersgraphic designersteachers for education and outreachoffice workersThe Loop It Up Savannah Projectwww.loopitupsavannah.blogspot.com looplinktangle@gmail.comM-Th 4:30 to 5:30 pm, West Broad Street YMCA 1110 May Street have need for:playing with childrenworking on art projectsHospice Savannahwww.hospicesavannah.org912-355-2289Arranged to your own schedule, various locations in the cityHave need for:Counselors for an overnight camp in May for children who have experienced a death in the familyCooking a mealCutting hair, doing art activitiesRecording storiesRoyce Learning Centerhttp://www.roycelearningcenter.com/M/W 5 to 7 pm, T/Th 3:30-5:30 or 5:30 to 7:30 any portion of that time you can spend4 Oglethorpe Professional Blvd, north of Star Castle on Mall Blvd. near Oglethorpe MallHave need for:Observers of the Tutoring ProcessMath tutorsAmerica’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgiahttp://www.helpendhunger.org/8:30 -3, M-Th, 2501 E. President St. Have need for:Sorting food and stock shelvesKid’s CaféM-Th 4:30 to 5:30, 8 sites within walking distance of SCADHave need for:Tutors to help kids with homework and art projects.Assessment Results:<br />Students--More than 50% of 18 students surveyed reported that they<br />learned more about social problems and non-profit agencies in U.S. (66% & 89%)

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

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

4. gained a greater knowledge of Savannah and its communities (50%)Problems:<br />project time too short (54%)