Impact of Community Service Learning Methodology on Underprivileged chilean Undergraduate English Foreign Language Teacher Training Program Students

Abstract

Although research has been conducted on the effects of Community Service learning in nursing, medical and engineering students, there is very little information about the effects that this methodology has on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher training students. The present study, which was conducted over four years, attempted to identify the impact that this methodology had on underprivileged Chilean EFL teacher training undergraduate students. The participants were 90 sophomore and junior EFL teacher training students and 200 community members. The needs of the community as well as the English level were identified with a needs analysis and placement test. Undergraduates were asked to answer four questions in the form of reflection logs to identify the effects that this methodology had on them while a satisfaction survey was used to identify the impact the methodology had on the community members. The analysis of the answers in the logs revealed that undergraduate students became aware of the relevance of identifying the community´s needs, having clear objectives, preparing material and activities before designing a course and teaching a class. This methodology showed to have a positive effect on the teacher training students when referring to their professionalization and application of theory and concepts to reality. For the community, the results were positive but further research is needed to identify the full impact in the community members.