Learning by teaching

Jaime Meyer

Western Michigan University places a high priority on global engagement experiences for students. Jaime Meyer, a marketing student in the Haworth College of Business, wanted to make an impact on global engagement right here in her local community, so she embarked on a service learning experience at Lincoln International Elementary School. In this role, she assists international students in Kalamazoo by helping them improve their English language proficiency.             

“Every Monday I go to Lincoln Elementary and volunteer in the Reading and Writing class. Each week is different, but the focus is for students to leave their normal classes and spend a little extra time working on their various skills in English,” Meyer says. “We do a lot of story writing, journaling, poems or whatever the individual student feels like working on for the day. We usually work one-on-one, so I feel that the students are getting a lot out of the experience.”

This act of service not only helped the elementary students make strides in improving their English, but also was a great learning experience for Meyer. 

“I firmly believe that I learned more from the nine-year-old students than they learned from me,” she says. “I learned how much of a difference I can make with one small action. As this experience comes to an end I find myself understanding the real impact service can have. I truly feel I am making a difference in bridging the language gap in the community I call home.”  

Through service learning programs, countless Business Broncos have made a distinct impact on their community—each one of them gaining perspective and tools that will help them be more engaged business leaders in the future.