Welcome to the home of Haroon Al-Qahtani’s Spring 2007 ESL 90, 100, and 101 classes at the Community College of Allegheny County. Here you will find a showcase of work completed by my students, along with a description of each project. You may wish to implement similar activities in your own classroom.
ESL 90: Communication in English
For their final project, students in ESL 90 were asked to divide into groups and create two separate short videos. Students were permitted to create any work they desired, however they were required to submit written copies of what they individually contributed to the script. They were also required to participate meaningfully in the actual recording, demonstrating their ability to speak clearly and effectively. Students were evaluated in two areas: their overall group participation and their ability to be understood. To determine students' group grade, evaluation forms were distributed and then collected; on the forms, each member was asked to identify group responsibilities and whether or not they were fulfilled by themselves and other group members. A second grade was given individually to each student based on the clarity and quality of their performance in the final recording.
After filming was completed, students worked with the instructor to edit their video, providing creative input along the way. Below you can watch both videos.
Group One: Daily News Report
Group Two: Talk Show
ESL 100: ESL Composition
After writing a number of short essays throughout the semester, students in ESL 100 were required to synthesize their newly acquired writing skills with a technological tool. To accomplish this, the class was divided into three different groups, which are outlined below.
Group One: Web Site
To begin this project, students were asked to consider which topic they would most enjoy writing about. Once the group decided upon a topic, they were asked to consider how to implement their idea in a web site design. Next, students were asked to write content individually and then collaboratively check each others' work for spelling, grammar, and style mistakes. Before beginning the project, a group leader was selected who had previous experience in web site design, or who was at least comfortable with learning. Later, this individual would assist the others in designing the finished site. Because of its ease of use, Google Page Creator was suggested by the instructor to complete the project, though students were allowed to use any tool they desired.
Click here to view group one's web site.
Group Two: Newspaper
Members of this group were asked to pretend that they are editors and writers for a newspaper. Each member of the group was required to submit at least one article. Together, members were asked to check each others' writing for grammar, spelling, and style mistakes. A group leader was appointed who had experience as a journalist in her native language. Using a peer's laptop, members worked in class to design the finished project. The instructor suggested that the group use Microsoft Publisher, Word, or Apple's Pages to complete the newspaper, however the group was more comfortable with PowerPoint.
Click here to download a PDF of group two's newspaper.
Group Three: Video
To illustrate that writing is an important base for all creative activities, students in group three were asked to write a short movie script and film it. Each student was required to write at least one segment, which he/she would later submit in hard copy form as part of their evaluation. The instructor provided the group with a camera and assisted with the technical aspects of editing.
Watch group three's finished project below
Evaluation
On the final day of the semester each group presented their finished project to the class, and gave a short talk about the creative process they employed. After that, group evaluation forms were distributed to the class, which were later used by the instructor to determine final grades for both the group and individual student.
Paper Showcase (ESL 100 & 101)
Below are some of my favorite papers from ESL 100 and 101.
The Two Americas: A Refugee Journey From One America to the Other (PDF) by Mohamed Darbane
The Rwandan Genocide (PDF) by Nadia Umutoni
From the Cave Onto the Street (PDF) by Daniel Feuchtner