Last week English Language Institute students at the Center of Global Engagement took a creative approach to practicing and using the English language. Instead of textbooks and whiteboards, it was spaghetti, tape, string, and a marshmallow that sparked their learning. They had to use these materials to build the tallest free-standing structure that could support a marshmallow, and they had to do it in only eighteen minutes. This design thinking exercise was popularized in a TEDtalk about the “Marshmallow Challenge,” and has been used to teach everyone from CEOs to kindergarteners the value of teamwork, prototyping, and learning from mistakes. In the case of the ELI students, it also forced them to use English as the common language necessary to complete a task.
Of the four competing student teams, “The Dolphins” were the most successful. They won the competition with a free-standing 21-inch structure that resembled the Eiffel tower. Another team, “The Islanders,” won the prize for “most creative,” as they attempted to suspend their structure from the ceiling with string and tape. Every group came to appreciate the value of learning from mistakes. No structure held its marshmallow the first attempt, so everyone had to adjust and improvise. Of course, trying something out, making a mistake, correcting and trying again is also the fundamental process of learning to speak a new language.
Christian Perticone, the Director of the English Language Institute, noted that task-based learning (TBL) promotes deeper language acquisition and adaptability. “Students have to process the written instructions as a group, organize themselves, and work through task difficulties. In this situation, their ability to speak English is vital to their success.” The instructors were proud to see their students in action, using what they had practiced in class. One instructor, Gail Hernandez, noted that the TBL activity was a welcome addition to the curriculum: “I look forward to seeing the students take on future activities. It is great that we are incorporating a team challenge into every month of the semester.” On March 19th, there will be a campus scavenger hunt, so keep a lookout for our ELI students and help them along on their next TBL challenge.
