Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Internships & Community Engagement continues the Titans of Community Engagement video series, which highlights high-impact service-learning activities across campus.
The eighth video highlights service-learning courses within the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program. Through a longstanding partnership with North Orange Continuing Education, part of the North Orange County Community College District, Cal State Fullerton students support free English courses for adult learners working toward personal, academic and professional goals.
The collaboration is facilitated through Project SHINE, a service-learning and volunteer program run by the CSUF Center for Internships & Community Engagement that has been connecting students with community-based service opportunities for more than 20 years. CSUF students are placed in English as a Second Language classrooms as SHINE participants.
The partnership provides benefits on both sides. “Our students are able to go into the community and help people who are learning English while practicing those skills that they need to become good English language teachers,” said Daniel Rueckert, TESOL program coordinator and associate professor of modern languages and literatures.
In classrooms that often serve 20 to 30 learners with a single instructor, SHINE participants help provide additional support, working with individuals and small groups to keep adult learners engaged and on track.
“They answer questions and they also look at student work to make sure that students are following along and understanding,” said Cassandra Cruz, ESL instructor.
SHINE participants’ involvement improves adult learners’ ability to acquire English language skills that are often critical for navigating education, advancing careers and their civic participation.
Nathan Carr, chair and professor of modern languages and literatures, noted that participation in Project SHINE is often a “formative experience for a lot of the students,” and presents a valuable networking opportunity for CSUF students to begin their ESL careers.
This unique partnership reflects a shared commitment to learning that extends from one classroom to another. Among those whose time as a SHINE participant has directly resulted in employment is CSUF alum Jose Urrutia, who now teaches with the North Orange County Community College District.
“It has allowed me to grow as an instructor, to grow as an advocate, to grow as a community leader,” said Urrutia ’25 (M.S. teaching English to speakers of other languages).
For questions about the CSUF TESOL program, contact Daniel Rueckert at [email protected]. For questions about Project SHINE, contact Katie Herbst at [email protected].