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
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