Service Learning
The Modern Languages Department faculty is heavily involved in Service-learning projects and invites you to join them whenever you can. Two projects are in the works for the Spring 2013 semester, one in the Dominican Republic and the other in Haiti. Here are some photos of activities that took place in the Fall 2012 for Academic Day and were made possible thanks to the participation of incoming freshman.
Dr. Lesman
Since 2011, Dr. Lesman has worked with Reach Out: The Shippensburg University Honors Program's Literacy and Leadership Initiative in the Dominican Republic. Each year, students and faculty travel to Santo Domingo to implement new curricular ideas and work with teachers and students at the school. In 2013, the group supplemented their work at the Dominican school with a visit to a batey where Haitian migrants live, a tour of a university that specializes in teacher education, and an exploration of historical sites in Santo Domingo.
Drs. Mitaut and Ragone
Drs. Mitaut and Ragone led a group of students to Haiti in January 2013. The service-learning project addressed the needs of a school in Gros Mangles on the island of La Gonâve. Students and faculty built a 5200 square feet playground for l'École Presbytérale. The project was the conclusion for a six-credit seminar taken over the winter break that introduced the students to the rich history and culture of Haiti. The seminars are offered with French and English options. Next year the playground will be completed and the renovation of the dispensary of the village will be in the planning stage.
Dr. Blandine Mitaut
“Parlez-vous français?Literacy in the 21st Century: English and Beyond”
The project took place in the context of the Franklin County Literacy Council Literacy Carnival organized each year in the Chambersburg Mall.
Dr. José Ricardo
Beautifying the Chambersburg Hispanic-American Center
A group of majors and minors in Spanish and Spanish Education helped improve CHAC new quarters.
Dr. Agnès Ragone
A Future at Shippensburg
Twelve children in the Migrant Worker Educational Program in Franklin County spent the day at Shippensburg and received information about the University. The children visited the University Planetarium and cheered at a soccer scrimage game.