Has this ever happened to you? Your students are working in groups, but some are being left out. Native English speakers are working away, using fast-paced, colloquial English, idioms, and shared cultural references. Meanwhile, international students sit passively, trying to listen or having given up, unable to follow the conversation, much less participate.
This is a phenomenon many of us have witnessed in our classrooms. It’s a difficult situation to address, but there are ways that we can break down communication barriers and get all students feeling like they—and their classmates—are valuable participants. When those inevitable challenges arise, students who feel like they are part of a community together will be more likely to take the initiative to deal with them proactively.
Come to a discussion next Tuesday, November 19, from 3-4PM in 1503. Sarah Zale (English) and Bill Harshbarger (ESL) will share some community-building techniques that have worked for them, followed by an open discussion.
We hope to see you there!
Davis Oldham
Day at a Glance 
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