From the Classroom to the Community: Building Cultural Awareness in First Semester Spanish

Service-learning has been primarily explored in world language education at the intermediate- or advanced-levels. Although a more advanced-level of language proficiency allows students in service-learning classes to participate in a wide array of projects, connecting beginning language students with the community may help serve to break-down cultural barriers or stereotypes and/or increase students’ motivation for language learning. This paper presents one example of a first semester Spanish class with a service-learning learning component. The results of this evaluative case study suggest that service-learning can be an effective pedagogical tool to help increase first semester students’ awareness of cultural practices as well develop their intercultural competence. The paper also presents valuable lessons learned and suggestions for other language educators interested in implementing service-learning in their novice classes.