ERIC Number: EJ1249264
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Mar
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-2133
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Exploring the Long-Term Impact of Service-Learning: Former Students of Spanish Revisit their Community Engagement Experiences
Pak, Chin-Sook
Hispania, v103 n1 p67-85 Mar 2020
Service-learning (SL), as a pedagogy that promotes reciprocal partnership building between campus and community through meaningful service and critical reflection, can provide language students with not only valuable language and cultural immersion experience, but also civic learning opportunities. Although SL research has revealed numerous positive outcomes on students' academic and civic learning, most studies have focused on short-term effects. In particular, in the context of language classrooms, there is a dearth of research examining the lasting impact of SL pedagogy. This study explores the long-term benefits of SL on students of Spanish, two to seventeen years after their SL experience. Former students who participated in various types of SL projects across different levels of Spanish courses at a public university in the Midwest completed surveys (n=60) and interviews (n=15) identifying aspects of the SL experience they consider valuable. The majority of former students in the study noted SL participation as one of the most significant educational experiences in college, leading to positive gains in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors for interacting with target language communities. The study also explores the value respondents placed on engaged learning, relationship building, and language learning for community engagement.
Descriptors: Service Learning, Program Effectiveness, Spanish, Educational Benefits, Second Language Learning, Public Colleges, School Community Relationship, Value Judgment, Longitudinal Studies, Hispanic Americans, College Graduates, Educational Experience, Cultural Awareness, Consciousness Raising, Positive Attitudes
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Inc. 900 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI 48390. Tel: 248-960-2180; Fax: 248-960-9570; e-mail: AATSPoffice@aatsp.org; Web site: http://www.aatsp.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Indiana
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A