Pacific Ridge Students Teach English via Skype to Foreign Students

Maddie Sparber of Rancho Santa Fe, CJ Triana of San Marcos, and Katie Dillon, Emily St. Marie, and Annie Huang of Carlsbad are just a few Pacific Ridge School students who spend their Friday nights Skyping with students in China, Taiwan and Korea. These high school students participate in the Service Learning program Lingo Online, which forges personal connections, develops friendships and promotes cultural understanding through teaching English to students across the globe.

Lingo Online was created two years ago, when several Pacific Ridge students were inspired by their English teacher’s stories about his experiences teaching in South Korea. Founding members of the group researched methods of teaching English, made contacts near South Korea, and launched their weekly Skype lessons with high school students in Seoul.  Starting this year, Lingo Online will also teach Korean college students and elementary school children. The group’s reach has been expanded by connections made with students at Pacific Ridge’s sister school in China, Shidong Shanghai High School. In January, a dozen Chinese students from Shidong Shanghai visited San Diego, staying with Pacific Ridge host families. During their time at Pacific Ridge, the Chinese students met Lingo Online members and immediately expressed interest in ongoing English lessons. Lingo Online is also developing contacts in Taiwan, and working with an exchange student from Denmark to expand the program into a Danish high school.

Pacific Ridge students involved with Lingo Online spend their Service Learning class periods at school developing lesson plans and emailing contacts in other countries to continue to expand the reach of the program. Students are also creating educational videos to both simplify and personalize the English lessons. Friday nights are generally spent on the computer: teaching, sharing cultures and making friends. While most of Lingo Online’s work involves online lessons,  Emily, Annie and Maddie are taking their passion for teaching language on the road. As part of Pacific Ridge’s global travel program, the three are designing a trip to South Korea next year to visit their students and take their teaching off Skype and into the classroom.

The Lingo Online program furthers the educational philosophy of Pacific Ridge School which is distinguished by its emphasis on academic excellence, ethical responsibility and global engagement. The school’s Service Learning Program gives students the tools and resources to provide service to communities within San Diego and around the world. The Service Learning Program integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, encourage civic engagement and strengthen communities for the common good. To learn more about Pacific Ridge School visit www.pacificridge.org.

–Pacific Ridge School