ESL Writing students are “talking the talk” and “walking the walk.” What began as a lesson to help students understand the ACS Relay for Life and OVS participation in it, evolved into a collaborative project that culminated in a presentation at announcements on Wednesday.
Students first translated a poem by Spanish poet Antonio Machado into their native tongues. Within each language group students had to agree on which was the best translation then render it into phonetic English. Everyone became a coach as the class negotiated which combination of letters best represented each sound.
The verbal gymnastics of trying to manage syllabic accents, rhythm, and pitch induced alternating bouts of concentration and laughter. Students also designed and created two posters that promote the message of the poem and Relay for Life: work purposefully and compassionately to become the person you believe you are—“walk the walk.”