Service-learning (also called community-based learning) is an intentional and reciprocal teaching and learning strategy that connects academic courses with the local or global community. The advantage of using this pedagogical approach in French courses is two-fold: not only will it build a stronger French program, it will also help build a stronger community of language learners. We have seen that service-learning increases interest, motivation and retention of students who now understand the impact of their academic skills and knowledge on the welfare of their own community. Furthermore, service-learning projects provide opportunities to 1) increase the visibility and innovativeness of the French program, 2) advertise French courses, 3) increase enrollment and 4) capitalize on connections to offer students internship and career opportunities. By developing strong and consistent relationships with local community partners, French programs can attract future students, donors, and French program “ambassadors” who will spread the word about the program. In terms of learning outcomes, students are exposed to a wider range of audiences and can witness economic, social, political, racial diversity in different local francophone communities or others where they are volunteering. Depending on the type of service-learning project, students also gain insight into broader discussions on topics like health, education, the environment, the economy, and social justice. We will also show that, in completing service-learning projects, students exhibit agency and develop greater self-confidence, empathy, civic responsibility, cross-cultural literacy as well as leadership and interpersonal skills. During our session, we will first present the conceptual and theoretical benefits of service-learning. We will then walk participants through specific examples of service-learning projects that we have developed for our students and communities, providing them with a ready-to-use package detailing the process of realizing various service-learning projects. Examples that will be presented are mentorship or after-school programs, K-12 curriculum enrichment, translation services, fundraising events, and more.
