SETESOL 2012 Session Notes - "Cultural Immersion Program"

THURSDAY 10-10:45am

Cultural Immersion Program: University Undergraduate Student Involvement in IEPs, Nate Bloemke, University of Florida

• degree seeking university students who are native English speakers or have native-like proficiency
• IEP students interact with Americans?
• teachers, roommates, other university students
• How can IEPs improve the quality of interactions with university students outside of the classroom?
• Cultural Immersion Program
• 1. Administration
• 2. UG student roles
• conversation partners
• language assistant position (paid!)
• L/S class
• activities
• training
• compensation
• 3. History and future of CIP
• 4. Benefits of UG student involvement
• 5.  How to get started
• Program Admin
• CIP Coordinator (M-T, Sat)
• CIP Assistant Volunteer Program
• etc.
• Conversation Partners
• L1 English students
• 1 hour per week
• IEP students paired first, then other internationals
• optional language exchange
• invited to weekday activities
• 300 students involved in CP program
• difficult to monitor interactions
• Language Assistance (L.A.s)
• UG students or recent grads
• 35-55 LAs per semester
• Part of L./S class
• attend extracurricular activities
• build friendships with students (more of a peer relationship)
• L/S class divided in two halves
• Teacher focuses on academic objectives
• seen as authority figure
• LAs review objectives in fun, informal activities; focusing on conversation skills
• assumes peer leader role; defers disciplinary actions to teacher
• avoid academic vocab like "teach" or "teaching assistant"
• led by two LA partners working together
• 10-15 L/S students
• utilizing outdoor areas around campus - NOT in classroom!
• attendance only, no grading
• class activities in small groups, student centered
• required activity topics in Week 1
• Conversation Partners
• Needs Analysis
• Alcohol Discussion
• Sexual Harassment
• Speaking English Discussion
• Culture Shock
• *Strict English-only policy… students must be in an English immersion environment
• LA Class Activities
• Scavenger Hunts - Speaking with UF students around campus
• Vocab Gmes - idioms, slang, phrasal verbs
• Roleplay - ordering at a restaurant, getting a haircut, going to the airport
• Pronunciation - minimal pairs bingo
• Discussion - who is American? stereotypes
• Music - American song information gap activities
• LA Class Structure
• 50 minutes
• 5 minute warm-up
• 2-5 minutes: announcements
• 5-10 minutes: objectives and directions
• 20-40 - small group activities
• 5 minutes - wrap up with review of objectives, feedback from students
• CIP
• 20+ hours of extracurricular activities per week
• English only policy at activities
• no alcohol
• LAs provide consistent interaction in English during activities
• Weekday activities
• each activity is sponsored by one LA
• LAs compensated for their participation
• LAs attending activity sign in and out with sponsor
• LAs help students practice their English by conversations, games, etc.
• Weekday Activity Schedule
• Monday - Game Night
• Tuesday - Field Night
• Wednesday - Coffee Talk
• Thursday - Volleyball
• Friday - Gator Nights and Volleyball
• Most activities scheduled from 7-10pm (Friday, 6-9)
• Weekend Events
• Carpooling: Ginnie Springs, Medieval Faire, Paintball, Payne's Prairie
• Bus Trips: Daytona Beach, Disney, Busch Gardens (1-2x per semester)
• Local Events: Welcome Picnic, Thanksgiving Dinner, Homecoming Parade
• Volunteering
• 2 volunteer days per semester
• LAs carpool and participate with students
• LA Training
• 2 days of training before class
• 20-30 minutes of training during LA meetings
• 2 observations per semester with 15-30 minute feedback sessions
• professional development week
• weekly logs
• Compensation
• 9 LA minimum hours per week
• 4 hours class leadership
• 4 hours planning (3 with LA partner, 1 hour with LA partner and teacher)
• 1 hour LA meeting each week
• Additional hours earned from activities
• Weekday activities (6:1 student to LA ratio required)
• Weekend events (4:1 student to LA ratio required)
• LAs reimbursed for weekend event costs including mileage and admission
• CIP started at UF in the 1980's - it has evolved over time
• Future of CIP
• Adjustment to recent IEP growth
• Expanding weekday activity schedule
• CPP Socials
• formation of clubs within IEP led by LAs and teachers
• Talent Show revival
• LA Committees for activity and training development
• Benefits of UG Student Involvement
• English learners 
• build stronger relationships with American peers
• build friendships and sense of community within IEP
• feel more connected to university student body
• able to gain confidence speaking English
• UG students
• learn about cultures and languages
• get first step in ESL career
• gain work experience for teaching abroad
• Starting Point
• Conversation Partners
• International Club
• Discussion Tables
• Informal Language Classes
• Recruiting College Students
• Advertise in major news bulletins (linguistics, education, study abroad)
• CPP
• reach out to profs/student group in diverse fields of study
• word of mouth
• LAs paid $8.10 per hour