1. Stephanie Schechner Widener University Chester, PA
Students Using French: Community Engagement with Recent Francophone Immigrants
Stephanie Schechner
Widener University
Chester, PA

2. Overview of session Why engage with the community?
How can you find community partners?
What are the elements of a successful partnership?
What do we do in our partnership?
How can you maximize student learning through community engagement?
What are some of the rewards and challenges of community engagement?
How can community engagement be assessed?

3. Why engage with the community?
Access to native speakers of French
First hand knowledge of Francophone cultures
Using French in a “real world” setting
Welcoming new immigrants to our country
Sharing linguistic and cultural knowledge of the English language and US culture
Strengthening bonds between universities and communities
Advocacy for French: Demonstration of what French is good for
Recruitment

4. How can you find a community partner?
Data
US Census Bureau American Communities Survey
MLA Language Map and Data Center

5. Geographic Information System
“A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface. GIS can show many different kinds of data on one map. This enables people to more easily see, analyze, and understand patterns and relationships. […] GIS can use any information that includes location. The location can be expressed in many different ways, such as latitude and longitude, address, or ZIP code. Many different types of information can be compared and contrasted using GIS. The system can include data about people, such as population, income, or education level.” Source:

7. Elements of a Successful Partnership
Matched student learning outcomes and community partner needs
Flexibility
Communication
Clear tasks
Location
Timing
Motivated students
Willing community members
Upper Darby Welcome Center Director, Raya Fagg

8. Widener University French Program and Upper Darby Welcome Center Partnership
Summer ESL classes for Francophone immigrants with a focus on health-related topics (prep for doctor visits, nutrition, stress management) led by two Widener University students

9. Academic Year Bi-weekly French-English Conversational Practice with students from all levels of French classes

10. Summer Paid Internship as Assistant to the Director of the Upper Darby Welcome Center

11. Maximizing Student Learning Through Community Engagement
Increase confidence in speaking and listening
Increase intercultural awareness and competence
Develop other skills
Communication in English
Leadership
Lesson-planning
Flexibility
Team-work
Professionalism

12. Rewards Students meeting people from the countries they have studied
Successful communication without teacher mediation
Promoting successful programs gives positive public exposure to both the French program and the community partner

13. Challenges Finding a time that works for all involved
Transitory population that frequents Upper Darby Welcome Center
Motivating recent immigrants to join less-structured conversational exchange

14. Assessment
Syllabi
French 288 Civic Engagement in the Philadelphia Francophone Community
French 406 French Internship

15. Community Partner & Self Assessment Rubric

16. Questions? Handouts and ppt in AATF shared files
French at Widener on FB