Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 28, 2003)
May 28, 2003 * The Clackamas Print * 5 FEATURE ESL finds conversation partners Spanish-speaking class joins forces with English-speaking class in Canby ing for the students from both class es to meet together for 20 to 30 min utes to have conversations with one “It really brings together lan another. This allows native English guage and cultural exchange in a speakers learning Spanish to speak unique way,” Kathleen Fallon, out to a native Spanish-speaker and vice reach instructor, said on the recent versa. “There’s just something that hap addition to the college’s ESL pens when you’re speaking to a Outreach program. native speaker that The college cur doesn’t happen rently offers three “There’s just anytime else,” said ESL classes at something that Fallon. Ackerman Jr. High Fallon got the in Canby on Monday happens when and Wednesday you’re speaking idea for the conver sation program nights. The two to a native when she studied higher-level classes, speaker that Spanish in Mexico. Beginning Grammar She was involved and Intermediate doesn’t happen in a program that Conversation, have anytime else.” utilized conversa recently experienced tions with native a change in curricu Kathleen Fallon lum. speakers as a Instructor method of learning ESL has joined ESL Outreach the language. forces with another “I learned the class, Teachers on Special Assignment, which also value of speaking with a native meets at Ackerman on Wednesday speaker and just having conversa nights. The class teaches educators tion time,” said Fallon. When Fallon returned from how to speak Spanish. When the two classes discovered each other Mexico she arranged for a mini they immediately realized how each grant to fund a conversation partners program at the Harmony Campus. could benefit from the situation. The two programs started arrang However, “when the money ended, Shadra Beesley Editor-in-Chief A student learning English in Clackamas’ ESL Outreach program meets with an educa tor learning Spanish in the Teachers on Special Assignment program. the program ended,” said Fallon. She has been trying to find a way to instate another similar program ever since. “We had been brainstorming and trying to figure out how we could get a conversation parthers program out here,” said Fallon. “It was so serendipitous that they just hap pened to be meeting at the same time.” Other outreach instructors Betsy Kraft and Trista Johnston, as well as Teachers on Special Assignment instructors Joe and Elainey Morelock, agree that the conversa tion partners concept has been a very successful addition to the pro gram. “Everyone loves it,” said Fallon. “(The Morelocks) love the concept of having our students talk to each other.” The ESL Outreach program plans to continue this program next fall. The Teachers on Special Assignment class is planning to make their schedule coincide with the ESL classes “so we can repeat a successful program,” said Fallon. Author shares Arabian culture many have never experienced. “It’s more than just buildings,” said Han, attempting to explain his “[Diana Abu-Jaber] is writing to native land to Serene. “It's like I can the world,” said an audience member sense the ghosts from all the people at this year's Author's Night. and empires that used to be there.” The event, held last Wednesday After the reading, a curious audi in the Gregory Forum, featured ence, anxious to hear more about Portland Arab-American author Abu-Jaber, made comments and Diana Abu-Jaber. asked questions. Abu-Jaber The evening was designed to explained that she “wrote mostly allow the audience to share in the from memory. I remember the sense enjoyment of Arab-American influ you were at the center of everything; enced fiction. Afterward, Abu-Jaber a cultural entity.” answered questions about her writing Although most of the book takes and her experiences as an Arab- place in America, there are bits and American. It was an opportunity for pieces of Arabian culture inter the author to provide a small bit of spersed within. clarity and compre “You know it's hension of the there,” said Abu- “You know Arabian culture and Jaber, “but you just traditions. (Arabian culture) get .a taste of it.” Abu-Jaber began Abu- Jaber, is there, but you daughter the event by reading to an just get a taste a 30-minute portion American mother of her latest novel and Arabian father, of it.” “Crescent” to her admits that although Diana Abu-Jaber audience, which con she was bom in Author sisted of around 30 America, there are listeners ranging many issues her from young teenager to senior. family must face. “My realtor picked this section “There is a certain anxiety that out,” said Abu-Jaber as she opened comes up about how Arabs are repre the novel, “because there is romance sented on the media,” Abu-Jaber and food.” A delightfully entertain said. ing and curiously intriguing reading She hopes her books, “Arabian ensued. Jazz,” “Crescent” and her third, still The story depicted the slightly in the making, will provide an accu awkward, anxiously excited interac rate depiction of Arabs and their tions between two characters—an lifestyle. “Arabian Jazz,” she adds, is enchanting Iraqi man, Han, and an more comedic and slightly autobio American chef, Serene—who were graphical, while her third novel is romantically interested in one anoth more of a multi-cultural family story and, she said with a smile, “a father's er. During the story character Han food obsession.” An audience member comment talked of his Iraqi home. “Iraq is end less,” said Han. Listening to the dia ed, “['Crescent1] exposes the human logue between the characters gave a «ide of the Arabian culture,” he said' great amount of insight into a world “and it's beautifully written.” Karen Hill The Clackamas Print If you're planning to transfer, check out Washington State University Vancouver. Conveniently located just 10 miles north of the Columbia River, WSU Vancouver offers 14 bachelor's and 7 master's degrees, small classes and opportunities to work with Ph.D. faculty on research. In-state tuition opportunities exist for Oregon residents*. For more information... ■ Call the WSU Vancouver Office of Admissions - 360-546-9779 ■ Visit www.vancouver.wsu.edu ■ Visit campus - Off of 1-5 or 1-205 just 10 miles north of the Columbia River at 14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue * Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Murrow, Multnomah, Sherman, Umatilla, Union Wallowa, Wasco, and Washington county residents pay in-state tuition when enrolled in 1-8 credits. W ashington S tate U niversity ^VANCOUVER Wrrld Class. Face to Face.
