Georgian students hone skills reading books to children

June 22, 2018

The college’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program provides domestic and international students with the skills they need for success in higher education, work and life in Canada.

Level 6 students have the opportunity to practise their speaking and pronunciation skills by reading storybooks to students at Emma King Public School in Barrie.

Over a two-week period, the students prepare for the event, mastering how to engage an audience through storytelling.

“For both EAP and Emma King students, it’s an opportunity to learn about another culture while boosting their reading, speaking and empathy skills,” says Georgian faculty member Tamara Fisher-Cullen. “Many of our international students have commented on how it’s been a highlight of their studies at Georgian so far.”

EAP students have read to Grade 3 students, and senior and junior kindergarten students at Emma King. The initiative started out as one class project and has since expanded.

Georgian students have also shared stories in their native tongue so the young learners can hear and experience other languages.

Fisher-Cullen expects to roll out the initiative at other local public schools in the future.