Creating Authentic Dialog: ESL Students as Recipients of Service Learning

An environment where authentic dialog with native English speakers occurs on a regular basis presents ESL students with the possibility to grow both linguistically and socially. In this article, I will describe how introducing a service-learning component to an ESL program provides the students with the opportunity to meet regularly with native English speaking peers, to apply what they have been learning in class, and to engage in various extracurricular and cultural activities in the community. I will present guidelines about how to initiate a service-learning element to your ESL program, give examples of various activities our students have engaged in and provide tips on how to make the experience smoother for both the ESL students and the service-learning students