EVENTS, SHINDIGS, AND

LEISURE:
THE OTHER “ESL” FOR IEP STUDENTS
Laura E. Ray, Old Dominion University English Language Center
VATESOL Conference
October 2, 2010
“Rekindling Our Joy of Language Teaching”
Intensive English Program Panel
Introduction
 Coordinating successful social events and activities for IEP
students

 Case Study: Old Dominion University English Language Center

Norfolk Botanical Garden – Spring II 2010

ODU ELC Events - Overview
 ~100-150 students in ODU ELC IEP each session

 Six 7-week sessions per year

 Traditionally, 2 events per session

Mid-session Event (usually, Week 4)
Farewell Event (usually, last day of Week 7)

 No set budget for particular events

 On campus events must be provided by University caterer [began FY

2010]

 ELC does not own van or bus for trips – transportation must be rented

 Students do not pay activity fee as part of tuition

The Problem…
 Negative feedback about events on Program
Evaluations
[When asked, “Please comment on the social activities
available to you through the ELC.”]
“Not enough; need more.”
“The social activities are poor, not exciting, not well organized.”
“They are great, but the time is not suitable because some
activities are at the same time when I go to the Islamic Center.”
“Students are disappointed.”
“We need Conversation Partners in [the] summer session.”
“There are no activities with native speakers.”
“Please make more trips.”
“Bad.”
Considerations for Event Planning…
 Date/time?
Should we miss classes? What about evenings, weekends?
Should we schedule around Friday Prayers?
 Location?
On or off campus?
 Budget?
Food?
○ If on ODU campus, we must use Aramark Catering Services
○ If off ODU campus, we can purchase our own food
Transportation Needed?
○ Rent vans?
○ Carpool?
Cost to Student?
○ Do we pay or do students pay their own way?
 Advertising?
 How frequently should we hold events?
Discussion
 Approximately how many students are in your IEP
program?

 Who plans the events? (Are students involved? If so,

in what capacity?)

 How many events and/or special activities does your

program hold each session or semester? (Or, how
often are they held?)

 What kinds of events and activities do you have?

 What are some of the challenges your program has

experienced with event or activity planning?
Approach – Phase 1 – Summer II 2009

 Conducted
Student Event
Survey
23 Respondents
Surveyed at
Farewell Event

Ocean View Fishing Pier – Norfolk, VA – Summer II 2010

Results…
Which activities are interesting to you?
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
m m
s
nts lub rts es
t es es
ie s
ies
ir u u e C ce m S i c h o v vit
a e v g n a l n t i
aqu us r te din Co
o
G
ic a t lu M
Ac
/ m o r
oo sp ea ide s t o
den oor
z R V i tu td
. H S u
. A lt y/ O
S cu
U. a
F
Results (cont’d)…
How many events should we have How much would you be willing to pay
each session? to attend an event?
14 14
12 12
10 10
8 8
6 6

4 4

2 2
0
0
$0 $1-5 $6-10 $11-15 $16-20 $20+
1 to 3 4 to 6 7 to 10

Would you be willing to help plan an

event?
25

20

15

10

0
yes no no response
Approach – Phase 2 –
Spring I 2010
 “Student Events
Committee”
Rationale: If
students are able to
choose and/or help
plan events, they will
be more likely to
attend and will be
more satisfied with
events and activities.
Started well, then
quickly fizzled out…
Approach – Phase 3 - Spring II 2010
 Revived the “Student Event Calendar”

 Multiple ELC-planned events (in addition to regular Mid-

Session and Farewell Events); students were an integral
part of making those events a success….
ex) Habitat for Humanity Build
ex) ODU International Festival
ex) Marhaba: A Taste of the Arabian Peninsula

 These events involved collaboration with other ODU

departments
Center for Service & Civic Engagement
Office of Intercultural Relations
Spring II 2010 Events
Approach – Phase 4 - Summer I Session

 Increase engagement with Americans

and/or learn about American culture
through events
 New Initiatives:
Social Issues Film Series
Coffee and Conversation
Clean the Bay Day
Monarch Mentors
Approach – Phase 5 – Summer I 2010
 Conducted another Student Event
Survey
 Given to all students in reading classes
78 Respondents

1st Annual ELC Kickball Game – Summer II 2010 Lambert’s Point Driving Range – Fall I 2010
(Farewell Event) (Mid-Session Event)
 Spring I 2010 Event Attendance
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Spring II 2010 Event Attendance

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
y l
tio
n
Da
ild ba va ee Tr
ip le
N/
A
s a e B u
r ha
s t i itt s Sa
r ty a e m n k
nve am ni M
alF om rde Boo
G a C a
Co io
n um t io
n
nt
s lG se
d
nd s r H na e c a U
a s o er v ni
e Se tf nt tE ta
C
f fe i d- i t a I en o EL
o b U B
C M
Ha D ud
O St
 Summer I 2010 Event Attendance
40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
n s ip y
ni
c ip ne
tio rie Tr Da c Tr No
s a S e o y Pi ns
er lm Zo Ba rs de
nv Fi e to ar
Co s n
th en G
d ue ea
M
sc
h
an Is
s l rc
h
e
al
C a Bu
offe ci on
C So M

•In the Summer II 2010 Session, we had two major events:

Fishing Trip, Beach Trip
•The fishing trip was very successful and was a great way to highlight local culture
and get outside!
 Why didn't you attend events?
35

30

25

20

15

10

0
e d g nt s d ts er
t im i de st
in
we pu ea en th
nt ov re s m st ev O
e pr t e nd ca k
in
to
ev od in i e to or
d fo or fr g w go
Ba un
y in e to
No f
of
m om ho
m
ed
ot c tir
n ne ot di
d
o
nt No , n d/ To
ve ss i e
E la ud
o
c St
I fn
 How do you hear about ELC events?
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
rs te r
ay es vi da
l lw c he at In n
ha a sm le
e Te as oo
k Ca
th cl b C
in ds
/ ce EL
s n Fa
gn ie
Si Fr

Members of ELC Facebook Group Have a Twitter account?

60 80

48 70
50
60
40 50
34
30 40
30
20
20
10 10
0
0
Yes No
Yes No
 Which events would you attend if offered?
50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
ip y t t
Tr Tr
ip ow Da gh io
n rip or
s ity ch e rip en
e
ni
ty
ho
w
Sh e Ni at
h
T nt t i v un am
g
T m am t u S
m m r e rs c e c L lG r na lG r t
ariu s eu rto am ovi ve ea h
M
o rA ent bal s bu ur bal ppo l en
u u G n B rc d o a
Aq nc
e
eo
M co do u as
e m T
lle
y O T
M
o id ree
ee/ o na ut / St B i l li a c er o t eer
LC
C V F ff M O lt y W c V n E
Co a cu So LC o lu
F C E V
EL
 How many events should the ELC have
each session?
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5 Would you be willing to help
0
one to three four to six seven to ten plan an ELC event?
70
60
50
40
How much would you be willing to pay 30
to attend an event? 20
10
25
0
20 yes no

15

10

0
$0 $1-$5 $6-$10 $11-$15 $20+
 Social activities are important. I would attend ELC events on evenings
80
or weekends.
70 60
60
50
50
40 40
30 30
20
10 20
0 10
Agree Disagree
0
Agree Disagree

It's okay to miss class once or I don't need the ELC to organize
twice per session for events. events. I just have fun with my friends
50 on my own time.
40 80

30 60

20 40

10 20

0
0
Agree Disagree
Agree Disagree
Conclusions
 ODU ELC has gradually seen fewer negative comments and more
positive comments on Program Evaluations over the past year
Spring II 2010 was the session with the highest expressed level of student
satisfaction with regard to events

 Students want IEPs to plan events/activities - we shouldn’t always

leave it up to the students to find ways to have fun by themselves

 Collaborate with other departments to leverage resources (this also

increases on-campus exposure for your IEP)

 Take advantage of local culture and attractions in your area

 Students would like to see 4-6 activities per 7-week session

 Don’t be afraid to charge students between $6-$10 for an event (if

it’s an interesting/fun event they are okay with that!)
What’s Next?
 May revive the Student Events Committee,
but perhaps in another form

 Conduct another survey – ask more open-

ended questions; ask if they have
transportation…

 Events/activities at the ODU ELC still need

more refining, but we are getting better
Questions? Comments?
 Please contact me at lray@odu.edu if
you would like a sample Student Events
Survey and/or a copy of this
presentation.

Thank you!
