Vocabulary

crisis (noun and adjective) = emergency

sacrifice (noun, verb and adjective) = give up something important

less-fortunate (adjective) = a person or persons who have less opportunity or fewer resources (resources = things we need to get something done: health, knowledge, skills, heat, money, etc.)

fellow human beings = other human beings (fellow means others like us -- for example, fellow students are other students like you)

consumers = people who buy things; a "consumer society" means a society where buying things and owning things is important or too important

association = a group, often a non-profit group, with a specific purpose

"an eye-opening experience" = a surprising and educational experience that may change your life; an experience that changes your view of the world

Definitions of volunteering given by interviewees

"giving to the community"

"giving time"

"working and serving"

service = giving time and energy

"giving time to help others who need helping"

Reasons for volunteering given by interviewees

"preparation for jobs"

"taught to serve others"

"to help the less fortunate"

"sacrificing time to help others"

"in this country, resources should be shared"

"good for young people"

"money isn't everything" = many more things in life are more valuable than money, for example, experiences

Service Learning ("service" = helping others without pay) = Volunteering as part of a class or as part of formal study/as part of your education

"Service learning" has four parts

• 1. Classroom study
• 2. Meaningful service connected to learning
• 3. Reflection and evaluation ( = thinking about the experience afterwards and then discussing whether the experience was good or bad and discussing what parts were most meaningful and helpful to you and to the people you served)
• 4. Celebration and recognition ( = being thankful for the opportunity to serve and giving credit to other people who served with you; credit can be a little note, a small gift, words like "thank you", etc.)

Examples -- IF all four parts are present:

• A high school math class studies math and then goes to an elementary school to tutor children in math.
• A middle school (junior high school) learns Oregon history and then volunteers to make a small display about a part of Oregon history for the local history museum
• A Willamette Spanish class helps interpret at a health clinic for immigrants from Mexico.
• A Willamette biology class helps identify bird populations in Salem so bird species that in danger of extinction can be identified.
• A "Volunteerism" class at TIUA teaches Japanese games and reads Japanese stories at the World Beat Festival in Salem.

Homework for Thursday for Professor Post's class:

• Read the article: "Volunteer opportunities have potential for enriching lives" .
  • Part one: answer the four questions.
  • Part two: Go to the website mentioned in the article. With your group, answer questions 1 - 6: two questions per student.
    • On your own paper, write the answers to your two questions. Put your answers together; each group will have three pages. Type or write clearly.