Lesson Title: A picture is worth a thousand words.
Date of Class: 2/21/17
Day of Class: Tuesday
Time of Class: 2 -3:30pm
MC: Maureen R
DJ: Megan C
Assistants: Judy
Module: Know Your Rights
How Many Learners: 12
Materials Status (loyalty cards, alphabet sheets, etc): n/a

Self Evaluation

Preparation: Forgot to Show Up (1) vs. Every Hair In Place (10) = 5
Technique: Completely Incompetent (1) vs. Flawless Delivery (10) = 5
Engagement: Snoring Loudly (1) vs. Absolutely Riveted (10) = 6
Connection: Open Hostility (1) vs. Kumbayah (10) = 7
Poise: Charlie Brown (1) vs. Prince (10) = 6
Reflection: “It was ok.” (1) vs. Life-changing Epiphany (10) = 7

Total Score: 36

What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): This was a large class with a significant range in learner level. While there were some challenges managing this with just assistant, we used several techniques to help keep the whole class moving at the same pace (writing down the dictation for one learner to then re-write; giving a lot of 1:1 attention to another learner who was struggling; moving people around to partner low and high levels). It was a little dictation heavy, but the class was really connected and the energy was high. Learners of different languages were coaching each other and taking ownership over the class (calling ready at appropriate times to help get the group’s attention, sharing notepads with each other without us asking). It was awesome.

Lesson Title: Agency Role and Refugee Status
Date of Class: 12/7
Day of Class: Wednesday
Time of Class: 3-5pm
MC: Megan C
DJ: Caroline
Assistants: Toc, Katie, Abby, Brent, Maryanne, Linda, Ellen
Module: Agency Role and Refugee Status
How Many Learners: 26
Materials Status (loyalty cards, alphabet sheets, etc): n/a

Self Evaluation

Preparation: Forgot to Show Up (1) vs. Every Hair In Place (10) = 5
Technique: Completely Incompetent (1) vs. Flawless Delivery (10) = 7
Engagement: Snoring Loudly (1) vs. Absolutely Riveted (10) = 7
Connection: Open Hostility (1) vs. Kumbayah (10) = 7
Poise: Charlie Brown (1) vs. Prince (10) = 8
Reflection: “It was ok.” (1) vs. Life-changing Epiphany (10) = 6

Total Score: 40

What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): After warming up with pass the clap and shaking out 8’s (shaking each hand and then each foot while counting to 8, and then to 7, and then to 6, etc.), we did yell and spell with our names, followed by the list of 10. Toc then came into class and led the remainder of it, discussing the agency’s role and setting or resetting expectations regarding Catholic Charities’ staff capacity and responsibilities.

Lesson Title: Employment
Date of Class: 11/16/16
Day of Class: Wednesday
Time of Class: 3-5pm
MC: Megan C
DJ: Megan C
Assistants: Zadok, Caroline, Ellen, Luke, Vanessa, Lizbeth
Module: Employment
How Many Learners: 28
Materials Status (loyalty cards, alphabet sheets, etc): n/a

Self Evaluation

Preparation: Forgot to Show Up (1) vs. Every Hair In Place (10) = 6
Technique: Completely Incompetent (1) vs. Flawless Delivery (10) = 5
Engagement: Snoring Loudly (1) vs. Absolutely Riveted (10) = 7
Connection: Open Hostility (1) vs. Kumbayah (10) = 5
Poise: Charlie Brown (1) vs. Prince (10) = 6
Reflection: “It was ok.” (1) vs. Life-changing Epiphany (10) = 5

Total Score: 34

What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): We used the stations model for this class on employment, and had two guest experts from Easter Seals Latino Connection, Lizbeth and Vanessa. Our guest experts each took a station, one doing applications, another doing resumes. Ellen, Luke and Zadok managed the other stations (employment laws-which was based on the list of 10), interview process (which covered best practices for an interview, and interview questions (which included discussing sample questions and what good responses might include). Megan and Caroline both floated from station to station and managed the time and movement between stations. We had one very large group and a few smaller groups rotating around the room, so we’ll be very mindful of group size and putting smaller language groups together and larger language groups separate in the future. We also discussed using PPT techniques in gaps of time with the smaller groups (e.g., taking time to do choral response).

Lesson Title: Doggie bag
Date of Class: 11/10/16
Day of Class: Thursday
Time of Class: 2-3:30pm
MC: Ashlyn T
DJ: Megan C
Assistants: n/a
Module: Science, Nature, Technology
How Many Learners: 9
Materials Status (loyalty cards, alphabet sheets, etc): all good

Self Evaluation

Preparation: Forgot to Show Up (1) vs. Every Hair In Place (10) = 5
Technique: Completely Incompetent (1) vs. Flawless Delivery (10) = 6
Engagement: Snoring Loudly (1) vs. Absolutely Riveted (10) = 6
Connection: Open Hostility (1) vs. Kumbayah (10) = 5
Poise: Charlie Brown (1) vs. Prince (10) = 6
Reflection: “It was ok.” (1) vs. Life-changing Epiphany (10) = 7

Total Score: 35

What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): This was Ashlyn’s dress rehearsal. Class was focused on food storage options, and she brought different types of tupperware. Activities included a a couple of dialogue round robins (one with tupperware products), dictation progression, word find and a point and shout. Class went smoothly, with a lot of connection and laughter among learners. Ashlyn was prepared and poised. Afterwards we discussed coaching learners more during the dialogue round robins and slowing down a bit for the alphabet listen and point. Overall, it was a great class and dress rehearsal.

Lesson Title: Aluminum cans can be recycled, can’t they?
Date of Class: 11/3/16
Day of Class: Thursday
Time of Class: 2-3:30pm
MC: Mike W
DJ: Megan C
Assistants: Ashlyn T, Kellie R
Module: Science, Nature, Technology – Recycling
How Many Learners: 8
Materials Status (loyalty cards, alphabet sheets, etc): more loyalty cards were made at the end of class

Self Evaluation

Preparation: Forgot to Show Up (1) vs. Every Hair In Place (10) = 6
Technique: Completely Incompetent (1) vs. Flawless Delivery (10) = 6
Engagement: Snoring Loudly (1) vs. Absolutely Riveted (10) = 6
Connection: Open Hostility (1) vs. Kumbayah (10) = 6
Poise: Charlie Brown (1) vs. Prince (10) = 5
Reflection: “It was ok.” (1) vs. Life-changing Epiphany (10) = 7

Total Score: 36

What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): This was Mike’s observation class with Patrik observing. After alphabet listen and point and yell and spell, we did dictation progression with a couple facts about aluminum and recycling. We then watched a video from HowStuffWorks on aluminum production. Then we did dictation progression with some sentences from the video before watching the video again. Next we had a dialogue round robin, doing dictation progression of the dialogue before practicing it via the round robin. Then we had a word search on a text-heavy document about aluminum, followed by a stand up and point, doing North, South, East and West directions before pointing to certain states/countries involved in aluminum production and recycling. We ended with a bit more dictation progression. The class was heavy on dictation progression, but the overall level of the learners was high, so that worked. The class flowed smoothly and the learners seemed very connected and engaged, with a lot of laughter. We noted during reflection that Mike has good comedic timing and it was a great class.

Lesson Title: US Laws
Date of Class: 10/19/16
Day of Class: Wednesday
Time of Class: 3-5pm
MC: Megan
DJ: Zadok
Assistants: Caroline, Luke, Stef
Module: US Laws
How Many Learners: 37
Materials Status (loyalty cards, alphabet sheets, etc): n/a

Self Evaluation

Preparation: Forgot to Show Up (1) vs. Every Hair In Place (10) = 8
Technique: Completely Incompetent (1) vs. Flawless Delivery (10) = 6
Engagement: Snoring Loudly (1) vs. Absolutely Riveted (10) = 7
Connection: Open Hostility (1) vs. Kumbayah (10) = 6
Poise: Charlie Brown (1) vs. Prince (10) = 8
Reflection: “It was ok.” (1) vs. Life-changing Epiphany (10) = 7

Total Score: 42

What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): We played an improv game – the yes circle – at the start to warm up. This involved standing in a circle and one person (person 1) initiating the game by making eye contact with someone else (person 2). Person 2 then had to say “yes”. Person 1 walks toward Person 2 and takes Person 2’s spot in the circle. While this is happening, Person 2 makes eye contact with someone else and the whole thing repeats continuously. It was a bit confusing, but overall people seemed to enjoy it. Next we did List of 10 and Yell and Spell, followed by a modified version of List of 10 with an ACLU handout. We then did another game I made up, crime charades, involving me miming an activity and Zadok asking what I was doing. When the group guessed correctly, he then asked “when is this illegal?” An example – smoking – which is illegal indoors. After break, everyone filled out an emergency contact card from the Red Cross. Then we did 911 practice drills and timed the groups on how quickly everyone at their table could say “Fire, [language]”. We ended by asking every table to come up with one question and we discussed those aloud, and then had the groups discuss one thing they learned, and had the interpreters write these down for us to collect. We liked the format of this class – using tables arranged in a diamond configuration. The crime charades game was engaging, but should be done slower in the future to ensure time for interpretation. We’ve been reading through entire sentences on the list of 10 and having everyone read the sentence back, but we feel we’re losing the group’s engagement this way. We’ll alternate between doing choral response on phrases, or jumping straight to interpretation. We’re likely also not going to use the ACLU handout again because it opens the floor for tricky questions that we’re not able to answer without a guest expert, and because of the possibility for misunderstanding sensitive subject matter (e.g., how to conduct oneself with a police officer without incriminating oneself).

Lesson Title: Budget & Finance, Employment, Transportation, Healthy Homes, Community Services
Date of Class: 10/7/16
Day of Class: Friday
Time of Class: 10am-1pm
MC: Megan
DJ: Megan
Assistants: Lora, Judy, Ann
Module: Budget & Finance, Employment, Transportation, Healthy Homes, Community Services
How Many Learners: 14
Materials Status (loyalty cards, alphabet sheets, etc): n/a

Self Evaluation

Preparation: Forgot to Show Up (1) vs. Every Hair In Place (10) = 5
Technique: Completely Incompetent (1) vs. Flawless Delivery (10) = 5
Engagement: Snoring Loudly (1) vs. Absolutely Riveted (10) = 5
Connection: Open Hostility (1) vs. Kumbayah (10) = 7
Poise: Charlie Brown (1) vs. Prince (10) = 8
Reflection: “It was ok.” (1) vs. Life-changing Epiphany (10) = 4

Total Score: 29

What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): This class was held in a Catholic Charities house in Beaverton for a group of Arabic speakers exclusively. It was a make up class of sorts to accommodate people who had difficulty coming to Portland twice/week for five weeks. We covered five modules in 3 hours, and did not have any experts or guest speakers, or a powerpoint. A number of modifications were made from the standard curriculum format. We began with a quick improv game called Pass the Clap-which involves “passing” a clap around the circle by a series of one person turning to the next and clapping at the same time. This got people laughing. We then did Yell and Spell (which we did at other points in class for each new person who came in late). For all five sets of material, we began with the list of 10 and followed with me asking a couple questions to a show of hands to gauge the group’s level of knowledge and experience on that subject. I relied a lot on conversational Q&A, but added a couple sets of “This is a ___” activities – one for budget using coins, and another for Healthy Homes using green cleaning products. We also went over how to write a check, with everyone practicing writing one out on copies of blank checks. We practiced counting change with a hypothetical scenario of buying pasta. For employment, I asked for ideas on how to present oneself to an interviewer, and modeled each suggestion to the group’s entertainment (smile, stand up straight, make eye contact, etc). We discussed using Google Maps for transportation, and I had them all put out their phones and pair up to look up public transit directions to Catholic Charities in Portland. After reviewing the cost to ride the bus, we called back to the budget section when I gave someone a stack of fake money and asked for bus fare. We were running short on time for the last module, Community Service, and only briefly discussed using the library.

Lesson Title: Healthy Homes
Date of Class: 9/28
Day of Class: Wednesday
Time of Class: 3-5pm
MC: Megan
DJ: Megan
Assistants: Zadok, Caroline, Perry, Margarita
Module: Healthy Homes
How Many Learners: 19
Materials Status (loyalty cards, alphabet sheets, etc): n/a

Self Evaluation

Preparation: Forgot to Show Up (1) vs. Every Hair In Place (10) = 7
Technique: Completely Incompetent (1) vs. Flawless Delivery (10) = 7
Engagement: Snoring Loudly (1) vs. Absolutely Riveted (10) = 7
Connection: Open Hostility (1) vs. Kumbayah (10) = 5
Poise: Charlie Brown (1) vs. Prince (10) = 8
Reflection: “It was ok.” (1) vs. Life-changing Epiphany (10) = 6

Total Score: 40

What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): We passed out laminated informational cards related to the class content for people to review in their groups with interpreters for the first 15 minutes. We then did the list of 10 much faster than usual – because I forgot to leave time for interpretation. After doing yell and spell with our names, an interpreter reminded me about time needed to interpret the list of 10, so we took 5 minutes for that. After that, I turned the floor over to Perry and Margarita, our guest speakers from Multnomah County Health Department. Perry presented a powerpoint followed by a bucket of green cleaning supplies. Every family received a bucket and was asked to pull the supplies out one-by-one as Perry explained them. His pacing was great, and he was very engaging. During reflection (for which Perry wasn’t present) we also noted that his language use was a little stilted at times, with sentence construction over-simplified – something we may want to tactfully mention to him prior to his next presentation. We also discussed how de-emphasizing the list of 10 gave us more time for yell and spell, which we all liked. We’ll try to balance between the two next time. Timing is a continual challenge in this class, and our break was late. I’ll be working on improving that next time.