Learning by heart: the joys of connecting online
Face-to-face learning is being redefined for the better in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions.
Many students from the WEA Adult Learning Centre are finding the experience of learning online, more personal and more informative. The Tuesday night French class let me sit in on their Zoom meeting to find out what exactly won them over.
Located on Angas Street in the city, the WEA has specialised in face-to-face teaching for 107 years. When news hit that COVID-19 restrictions would mean a temporary closure of the centre, the administration jumped into action to offer a selection of online classes within a week. While restrictions have shifted again, meaning WEA can now offer a limited range of face-to-face classes, the online classes remain a significant portion of their program.
One of the dozens of classes on offer is French, taught by tutor Jean-Marc Spiler. Over the past seven years at the WEA, Jean-Marc has taught hundreds of students but this is his first foray into online classes; one he was initially reluctant about.
“We didn’t really want to go online. I had no idea how to do it, I just made it up as I went. Now, two months virtually down the track it’s a completely different story. I can really sense it’s more than just an interest, people are really getting into it and I think it’s because we’ve tried to utilise the platform to make it different from back in the classroom.”
Jean-Marc, WEA French Tutor
The 15 students in his Tuesday night French class are as thrilled with the benefits of the online class as their tutor. Their learning is supported by a virtual white board, break out rooms, viewing the textbook on screen, and most importantly, a uniquely clear look at your classmates' faces.
Student, Tim Shaw, says that the face-on aspect is especially valuable. “I like the fact that you can look at everyone face to face as opposed to the back of their head in the classroom. Of course, it can be a bit embarrassing when you don’t know the answers.”
The class, described by their tutor as "one of his most vibrant".
As I watch the students go through the answers to their homework together, it’s clear the laughter and joy outweighs any embarrassment. The connection they have with one another is evident even through the screen, and it may be the screen that has helped them get there.
“You get a little vignette of people’s lives because you look into their offices or their rooms or their “chauteau! (yells another student)". It’s been good, I was apprehensive at first but it’s actually really good.”
Tim Shaw, WEA French Student
Though the class is almost entirely in French, Jean-Marc occasionally breaks into English to explain concepts in more detail like why ‘virus’ is ‘le’ masculine but 'COVID-19' is ‘la’ feminine or to enquire about English prepositions – do we ‘fill out’, ‘fill in’ or ‘fill up’ a form? (It’s easy to see why English is one of the most challenging languages to master.)
The shift online certainly has posed some technological challenges but overcoming these can be an achievement tantamount to mastering the ability to order a chocolate croissant entirety in French.
“My oldest online student is 95 and she had a fall last week and broke her arm. She still insisted on joining us but was alone at home and… we couldn’t hear her. The whole class tried to help her! Everyone! And eventually, we fixed it! I wish I’d taken a photo of the smile on her face in the middle of that little Zoom square… Very special moment.”
Jean-Marc, WEA French Tutor
This human connection is exactly the reason Jean-Marc started teaching via Zoom. He was alert to the possibility of restrictions and isolation earlier than most because of his family in France experiencing lock-downs.
“Initially the idea for me was to keep people together, I didn’t know how long this was going to last for, it was a big question mark.”
Safe to say, he and millions of other teachers around the world have been instrumental in keeping communities connected. The benefits beyond this have been an added bonus, and Jean-Marc says there have been plenty of these.
“I now more than ever believe that phonetics – which I also teach in my classes – has incredible potential online! Just to be able to demonstrate on the screen what a sound actually “looks like” is as we say in French “absolument formidable!”
The white board is used to illustrate the trickier phrases and rules
Ann Ewer, a Tuesday night student with a blazing sunset Zoom background, has discovered she’s more likely to attend an online class even with COVID-19 aside.
“Often I would just find an excuse why I can’t go [into class], whereas with it being at home I don’t want to make an excuse, I just love it. I think it’s been absolutely sensational.”
Ann isn’t the only student sold on the idea of a home classroom. WEA Course Coordinator Lisa Binnion says students who are less-mobile have reached out to say it has been much easier for them to participate. The online class format may continue to open new doors for the WEA and its students well into the future.
“I can see that for some courses the online format is very suited and we can reach a whole new range of potential students by continuing these online as well as offering them in the classroom.”
WEA Course Coordinator, Lisa Binnion
Jean-Marc for one, is in support of continuing the format, especially if it involves aperitifs with his students.
“Everyone has a glass of wine every now and then… well, not every now and then – every time.”
You can search for and enrol in WEA programs at their website.
Les Flâneurs Volants
Outside the classroom, you can find Jean-Marc performing at sell-out shows with Les Flâneurs Volants, a musical trio started with former French students!