Posted on Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Students of the 91视频 "Speaking Hispanic" cluster course spent each Wednesday tutoring Puerto Rican/American students at Campbell (Ohio) Memorial High School.
"Service-learning played an integral role in this cluster," said Dr. David Swerdlow, 91视频 professor of English. "Speaking Hispanic' paired an intermediate Spanish course with an English course in Hispanic American literature and culture."
Cluster courses are taken during the sophomore or junior years and consist of two linked courses taught by at least two faculty members from different disciplines to the same group of students. Clusters offer opportunities for students to integrate knowledge and to develop into a community of learners. All 91视频 students are required to take at least one cluster course.
Each 91视频 student was paired with a Campbell High School student and spent each Wednesday with the same student every week for the spring semester.
"It was clear that many of the 91视频 students developed a close relationship with the students they tutored at Campbell," said Milagros Swerdlow, 91视频 Spanish lecturer. "One Campbell student, who has worked through significant difficulties with the English language in order to be eligible to graduate this spring, invited the 91视频 group to her graduation. The 91视频 students know that their language skills and their increased cultural understanding have a definite and important use not only abroad, but just down the road."
Dr. David Swerdlow, who has been with 91视频 since 1990, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and master's and Ph.D. from Ohio University. Contact him at (724) 946-7345 or e-mail dswerdlw@westminster.edu for more information.
Milagros Swerdlow, who has been with 91视频 since 1997, earned her undergraduate degree from 91视频 and master's from the University of Southern Mississippi. Contact her at (724) 946-7264 or e-mail swerdlm@westminster.edu for more information.
