Service Learning Pairs Students with Lifelong Learners

For the first time this year, the UCBA Service Learning Program (SL) offered its services to the students who are part of the Osher Life Long Institute (OLLI).
One of the programs held this past semester was in the Foreign Language Department and led by French Professor Jody Ballah. This program was designed for UCBA students to work with the seniors in OLLI and teach them the basics in French in a fun and appealing way.
In this program, Ballah was less of an instructor and more of a guide. She and the SL students met in the first few weeks to discuss how they planned to actively engage OLLI students in the program, and together they created a lesson plan for the course, which included teaching the basics in French, such as intros, vocabulary, verbs, grammar, and themes.
The French SL Program was not only beneficial to the OLLI students who took it, but also to the UCBA students who taught it. Michelle Helton, one of the SL students, said she enjoyed being able to have conversations with the OLLI members. Another SL student, Melissa Schmerr, said she appreciated working with and being around different kinds of people. Because French is a passion of hers, she also enjoyed being more involved with it.
There are more opportunities in French SL approaching, such as working with elementary students over at the Blue Ash Elementary School. This will be a three-credit course and for Spring Semester.
For more information on the Service Learning in French, students can contact Professor Jody Ballah at ballahjy@uc.edu or (513) 745-5657.