Community-based Learning

Community-based learning (CBL) engages our students with local Spanish-speaking communities, making Spanish relevant, practical and beneficial for all involved.

The three basic elements of community-based learning are:

• academic content directly linked to service work
• mutually beneficial community partnerships
• structured student reflection

Community-based learning (also known as service learning) merges the academic rigor of a traditional university course with student engagement in the community. After establishing a relationship with a community partner—normally a non-profit enterprise—the course is designed to be mutually beneficial to the students and the partner. Students provide a valuable resource to the community partner, and the community partner provides valuable real-world learning experiences that complement the course content. Additionally, the course must include opportunities for students to reflect upon the community experiences (journaling, classroom information exchange tasks, etc.). Finally, community-based learning enables students to increase their community involvement, strengthen their leadership skills and build bridges between the university and the communities that surround it.

CBL courses put Spanish to use. Our courses allow students to move beyond the classroom, speaking Spanish with native speakers and with a real purpose—to be of service to the local Spanish-speaking communities and the organizations that assist them.

“My experience at East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center (ECIRMAC) introduced me to all of the difficulties immigrants and refugees face coming to the United States," states Matthew Ossman, student volunteer from SPAN 202. "I used my Spanish skills to translate documents, help clients complete paperwork, and accompany clients to appointments in the community.  No two days were the same!”

These real-world responsibilities challenge students, but the instructors and the course materials also support them as they learn more about the Spanish language, Latino cultures, and the information they need to serve their community.

Spanish CBL courses:

• Intensive Spoken Spanish (SPAN 232)

• Spanish & Entrepreneurship: Languages, Cultures & Communities (SPAN 332 )

Our goal is to create mutually beneficial relationships with our Community Partners in Champaign-Urbana. Our partners provide a rich learning environment for our students, and our students provide the partners with additional manpower and much-needed Spanish-speaking skills.

“When the students are away in the summer and during breaks,” says Guadalupe Abreu, counselor at the ECIRMAC, “our job becomes much more difficult.”

If you would like to join our list of community partners, please contact us.

Spanish & Illinois offers international CBL experiences for our students, because our community connections extend beyond Champaign-Urbana.

• Barcelona, Spain. “Spanish & Entrepreneurship: Languages, Cultures & Communities” (SPAN 202) was taught in Barcelona during summer 2005. For one month, a group of U of I students study entrepreneurship with Prof. Ann Abbott and work in organizations within Barcelona. This was an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the cultures of Barcelona, be of service to those communities, and experience international entrepreneurship. LAS Courses Abroad sponsored the course. See more about the course (may take a moment to load):

An introduction to the course

Students' community work

More community work

Classes

Fun & Travel

• Instituto de San Joaquín de Flores, Costa Rica. Students who study on the Costa Rica program can enroll in a special CBL section of Oral Spanish (SPAN 208) and Intensive Spoken Spanish (SPAN 232). The community service learning focuses on education and places our students directly within local classrooms. Ideal for education and BAT majors, this experience will broaden students’ concepts of education and multiculturalism. Learn more about the program and apply through the Study Abroad Office.

Spanish & Illinois appreciates the support of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Public Engagement. Their funding permitted the creation and expansion of CBL in Spanish courses.