Justin Dunn: Creating an engaging classroom for local English-language learners

Each class focused on one or two themes, combining vocabulary building and journal writing with reading comprehension and conversational English. Lessons explored libraries, food and shopping, emotions, jobs, art and museums, advertising and - at the students' request - outer space. Through lively discussions and educational games, Dunn sought to create a welcoming environment where students could practice English, share their perspectives and learn from one another.

"Most of my lessons focus on real-life skills," Dunn said. "When we talked about food and shopping, students practiced speaking with a cashier during a trip to a nearby Maruichi market. We also started a résumé-building project, where they learned the vocabulary to describe their skills, activities, education and work experience. For teens who may soon be looking for jobs, becoming comfortable with that language can be really helpful."

At the end of each session, Dunn used a brief "exit ticket" - often a single question or activity - to gauge how well students had grasped the day's lesson. The signs of progress could be small, he said, but those moments were often the most meaningful.

"The little milestones are really fun to track," Dunn said. "It's rewarding to hear someone use a vocabulary word or phrase we introduced that day, or simply become more comfortable speaking. In those moments, it really feels like we're making a difference."

From language learner to language teacher

The summer experience placed Dunn on a new side of a learning process he knows well. After graduating from high school, he took a gap year and lived abroad before enrolling at Brown. He stayed with host families - first in Paris, where he built on four years of high school French, and then in Madrid, where he learned Spanish through daily life in the city.

Originally from Fayetteville, New York, Dunn was drawn to Brown's Open Curriculum and the flexibility it offered him to explore his interests. During his first year, he took eight courses across eight departments, he said.

"Until I declare a concentration, I can take courses in just about any field," Dunn said. "I've definitely taken advantage of Brown's Open Curriculum."

Although he remains undecided about his concentration, Dunn is considering linguistics and neuroscience - particularly the study of how people process language and use it to communicate. At the library, he explored those questions in practice while leading his own classroom and developing a curriculum with support from experienced English-language instructors.

"Having the opportunity to plan my own curriculum and activities has been really valuable," Dunn said. "At the same time, I had experienced ESL teachers directing me to resources, offering recommendations and helping me test my lessons. That support has been incredibly helpful."

For Dunn, however, the summer became about more than teaching English. Working alongside students, educators and library staff allowed him to build relationships beyond Brown's campus and deepen his understanding of Providence as a community.

In the fall, he hopes to join Brown English for Speakers of Other Languages, a student-led group that partners with community organizations to offer English and literacy classes to adult immigrants in Providence. The organization would add to a full slate of extracurricular interests that includes singing with the Brown a cappella group The Bear Necessities, dancing with What's on Tap, Brown's tap dance troupe, and playing intramural soccer and ultimate frisbee.

"One of my biggest takeaways this summer has been realizing just how diverse Providence and Rhode Island are," Dunn said. "I observed adult English classes and met students from Haiti, Guatemala, Egypt, Syria, the Dominican Republic, Portugal and Cape Verde. Many of my co-workers are immigrants, and some first came to the library through its English-language programs before later working there. This experience has made me want to stay connected to Providence. I don't know what I'll do after Brown, but I could see myself staying here."