Egal Shidad: English Language Lessons

The goal of the English Language Learning (ELL) component of the Egal Shidad Project is to develop adult Somalis’ English language abilities through activities where learners listen, speak, read and/or write in English about the health information covered in the Project's videos.  Somali community members identified the health topics that the Egal Shidad Project videos and radio shows cover. They also played key roles at every level of their production.  The Egal Shidad Mental Health Program and corresponding materials for use in adult English instruction were produced in year one of the project.  The Egal Shidad Program on Sexually Transmitted Diseases is the result of the Project’s efforts in year two. 

 

Discussion Resources for use with the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Video

The Egal Shidad Project Team understands the challenge that using a video about sexually transmitted infections presents for teachers.   If you are a teacher who finds yourself eager to share the important information in this video with your students, a couple strategies for doing so are outlined in our Discussion Resources.

 

ELL Materials for use with the Egal Shidad Mental Health Video

Instructors are encouraged to pick and choose specific mental health-related lessons based upon their students’ abilities and their comfort with the subject matter.  Ideally, instructors will work with the mental health-related materials as part of several class meetings to allow time to both view the entire Egal Shidad Mental Health Video (in one sitting or in segments) and to engage students in selected, language acquistion activities.  

Instructor teaching

Talking about sensitive topics while teaching English.

Discussing health topics in adult English classes can be challenging because instructors can find themselves viewed as both an English teacher and as an expert on the health topic being covered.  Instructors can use the Egal Shidad Project videos and other media as "content experts" in their classrooms, thereby allowing them to defer to the information in the video if a content-related question arises.  
Before starting on any of the Egal Shidad English Lessons or Discussion Resources, instructors and their students should watch the corresponding video in its entirety.
 
How is it going?
Some instructors may use these activities and broadcast resources as a starting point from which you build other lesson activities. If that is the case, please take the time to share those innovations.  Contact our ELL partner, Susan Bockrath, comment on our materials by using the comment link at the bottom of this page, or submit your own blog to New Routes. (You must be registered and logged in to submit a blog.)

 

Tags: ELL, ESL, health literacy, LEP, mental health
Topics: English Language Learning-ELL, Health Care, Health Care Access, Immigrants, Language, Mental health, Outreach, Public Health