UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I | MAUI LANGUAGE INSTITUTE

Rainbow Studies Classes and Workshops

Classes

The ESL Conversation Classes at MLI focus on having students use English for spoken discourse. Overall, the goal of the ESL Conversation Classes is to help students to become more fluent, comfortable, and confident when using English for spoken communicative tasks. Speaking is addressed in a multitude of tasks, ranging from short conversations to elaborate presentations. Listening is assessed in various ways, ranging from short-response question/answer tasks to complex listening exercises.

MLI Beginner ESL Conversation Classes
The Beginner ESL Conversation Classes at MLI focus on short-response question/answer tasks designed to provide learners with a foundation for real, purposeful communication. Appropriate question forming and response to questions are some of the main focuses of the beginning level ESL Conversation Classes. An introduction to storytelling and short narratives are also included at the beginning level. Confidence building, language use, and meaningful communication are the emphasis of the beginning ESL Conversation Classes.

MLI Intermediate ESL Conversation Classes
The Intermediate ESL Conversation Classes at MLI focus on short group discussions, small presentations, and storytelling. Short group discussion topics vary and students are expected to be able to demonstrate an ability to elaborate on ideas, speculate about unfamiliar topics, and support their opinions with factual information. Small presentations are conducted in either small group settings or in front of the class. Storytelling involves either stories from the students? own experiences or stories introduced to the student by the instructor. Speaking and listening will be assessed by the instructor through both observation and various methods of testing. Fluency building is an important part of the intermediate level ESL Conversation Classes.

MLI Advanced ESL Conversation Classes
The Advanced ESL Conversation Classes at MLI focus on short group discussions, elaborate presentations, and extended storytelling. Short group discussion topics vary and students are expected to be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills based on a foundation of factual and/or speculative information. Presentations are conducted in small group settings or in front of the class. Storytelling involves extended durations of time where students are expected to be able to capture and retain the listening focus of an audience. Speaking and listening are assessed by the instructor through both observation and various methods of testing. All areas of effective communication are evaluated at the advanced level. Both fluency and accuracy are assessed at the advanced level.

Workshops

Underwater Hawai‘i
The Underwater Hawai‘i workshop introduces students to the diverse, underwater world of Hawai‘i. Through a short lecture, a video clip, reading activities, and speaking activities, students explore the unique marine creatures they will encounter at the Maui Ocean Center. This interactive ESL workshop allows students to use English in a meaningful and purposeful way to better understand one of the most important ecosystems in Hawai‘i. Small-group discussions and tasks designed to elicit reading and speaking skills are utilized in the workshop.
"Living Classroom" Excursion/Activity: Maui Ocean Center

Hawaiian Culture (Part 1 & Part 2)
The Hawaiian Culture workshops introduce students to traditional Hawaiian culture. Through short reading and listening activities, students learn about traditional Hawaiian society, traditional Hawaiian religion, as well as other related topics of Ancient Hawai‘i. These ESL workshops allow students to become "experts" in certain areas of Hawaiian culture and then enable them to share the information in a variety of speaking and listening tasks. Jigsaw tasks are used to facilitate communicative language use in these workshops. Part 1 of the workshops has a focus on the topics of hula, Hawaiian mythology, and Hawaiian language in order to prepare students for their hula workshop. Part 2 of the workshops has a focus on the topic of traditional Hawaiian crafts in order to prepare students for their lei making workshop.
"Living Classroom" Excursion/Activity (Part 1): Hula Activity
"Living Classroom" Excursion/Activity (Part 2): Lei Making Activity

Japanese in Hawai‘i
The Japanese in Hawai‘i workshop introduces students to the experiences of the first Japanese to immigrate to Hawai‘i. Through a short lecture, pictures, reading activities, and speaking activities, students learn the about the struggles of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawai‘i. The sugar industry, World War II, and modern Hawaiian history are touched on in this workshop to illustrate the important role that local Japanese-Americans have played and continue to play in the state of Hawai‘i. Conversation activities are coupled with reading and writing activities in the workshop, allowing students to use English to explore the topic. This workshop prepares students to watch "Picture Bride," a movie that illustrates the struggles and lives of the Japanese sugar plantation workers during early 20th century Hawai‘i.
"Living Classroom" Excursion/Activity: "Picture Bride" (Movie)

Tropical Plants & Flowers
The Tropical Plants & Flowers workshop introduces students to the many tropical plants, fruits and flowers in Hawai‘i. Through a short PowerPoint presentation, reading activities, and speaking activities, students explore the flora of Hawai‘i. Uses of the plants are discussed in the workshop as well as origins of the plants of Hawai‘i. Group discussions and speaking activities are utilized in the class to allow for meaningful use of English to elaborate on the varying plants and to give students ample opportunity to participate in the workshop. This workshop prepares students for the many plants they will encounter at the Maui Tropical Plantation.
"Living Classroom" Excursion/Activity: Maui Tropical Plantation

Humpback Whales
The Humpback Whales workshop introduces students to humpback whales of Hawai‘i. Through a short PowerPoint presentation, video clips, reading activities, and speaking activities, students learn about the lives and activities of humpback whales. Students answer questions about humpback whales as part of a listening activity and record in a journal their experience on the whale-watching trip. Group discussions and speaking activities are used in the class to provide students with opportunities to use English to talk about their expectations of and experiences with the humpback whales. This workshop is designed for both before and after the whalewatching excursion in order to provide students with the most holistic experience possible.
"Living Classroom" Excursion/Activity: Whale-Watching

Volcanoes
The Volcanoes workshop introduces students to the geology of the Hawaiian Islands. More specifically, students learn about how Hawaiian volcanoes are different than the vast majority of the world?s volcanoes. Through a short lecture, reading activities, listening activities, and speaking activities, students learn to see the entire Hawaiian archipelago as the tops of the world?s tallest volcanoes. Haleakala volcano and the West Maui Mountains are focal points of the workshop in order to prepare students for the excursion to Haleakala National Park. The unique flora and fauna the students will encounter in the National Park are touched on in order to enhance their excursion experience. Lastly, Hawaiian storytelling is discussed to emphasis the importance cultural significance of Haleakala volcano to native Hawaiians.
"Living Classroom" Excursion/Activity: Haleakala National Park