Spanish Outreach and Service Learning

Spanish Service LearningOutreach group 2021

Service-learning is an educational experience in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs. It is a reflection on the service activity to gain further understanding of course content and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility.

The Modern Languages and Classics department offers a variety of courses where students can engage in service-learning opportunities.

SP 362: The students in the Spanish for Healthcare Professionals class are expected to engage in a total of 15 hours of volunteering at a local Health Clinic and/or a related health fair activity. They currently are assisting with interpreting at 2 local health clinics: Maude Whatley and the Good Samaritan Clinic where they provide assistance that is necessary and crucial for the well-being of members of the Hispanic community.

SP 389: The Spanish Outreach Program is a unique service-learning class that seeks to place Spanish majors and minors as semester interns in local schools where they assist school-age and adult Hispanic members of society with individual tutoring, comprehension of lesson, personal dialogue, interpretation, and other language-based tasks.  At the same time the UA “Outeachers” can hone their linguistic skills while they serve the Tuscaloosa-Northport community.

SP 390: Special topics: Fundamentals of Translation and Interpretation in Spanish (new fall 2022) will introduce students to fundamental concepts and practices of English-Spanish and Spanish-English translation and interpreting studies. Students will refine their grammatical skills in Spanish while volunteering for different community organizations in Tuscaloosa County. This course has a service-learning component that involves at least 10 service-learning hours outside of class time.

  

   

Spanish Outreach

Spanish Outreach was developed by Dr. Michael Schnepf and is offered by the Spanish program within the Department of Modern Languages and Classics. With the rapidly growing Hispanic population in Tuscaloosa County and Alabama in general, there is a growing need for bilingual speakers (Spanish & English) who can help in the Latino community in a wide spectrum of areas such as schools, health care, law enforcement, fire prevention, and other social services.

The Spanish Outreach Program places the most accomplished Spanish majors and minors as interns in local schools, where they can assist students with individual tutoring, comprehension of lessons, personal dialogue, interpretation, and other language-based tasks. In addition to providing a valuable community service, these students-interns receive three hours of college credit (SP 389, applicable to major or minor) as they hone their own linguistic skills.

Participants are required to spend six hours a week during the entire semester at their assigned school. Each participant will arrange their schedules in consultation with the on‐site ELL supervisor and Kelley Luna.

Eligibility

Students must have completed SP353: Spanish Conversation and SP356: Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition. This is not a general course; students must have Kelley Luna’s written permission to enroll, so those interested should start by setting up an appointment with her (contact info below). Interviews will be conducted after the midterm of the semester. Students will be notified the month prior to the end of the semester.

Is Spanish Outreach Right for You?

  • Are you a Spanish major or minor with a 3.0 GPA?
  • Do you feel it is time to give back to the community?
  • Are you interested in helping Latino kids in local schools?
  • Do you need 3 hours of credit to apply toward your major or minor?
  • Have you taken SP 353 & 356?

If you answered yes to these questions, Spanish Outreach may be a good course for you.

More Information

For additional information about the program and the availability of students/interns, contact Kelley Luna at keyarber@ua.edu.