How the U.S. government was born and the great men who made it happen.
Socio-cultural history through ten of the greatest motion pictures, representing each decade.
A socio-cultural history of U.S. immigration, personal accounts through the ages.
“The arts serve as ways through which we react to, record and share our impressions of the world.” – Camille Linen
The Art of EnglishThe Art of English strategy is based on inter-disciplinary learning. It uniquely integrates standard ELA reading, writing, speaking and listening exercises with dynamic and enriching content. The content in each teaching unit is based on selected topics from American history, culture, music, art, theatre, cinema and poetry. I hope the approach and activities in this web site inspire you to see yourself as an artist and your teaching as an art.
Content Based StrategyWhen presented with high interest content on American life and culture, students are immediately engaged. Comparisons and contrasts are drawn, words flow, ideas are shared. The classroom becomes a community of learners. Community prompts greater participation, a greater level of engagement and, ultimately, the kind of confidence adult learners seek.
Unique Teaching UnitsEach unit covers a specific historical period in American history and averages 36-48 pages, appropriate for 10-week ESL courses. They include exercises in reading, essay/paragraph writing, grammar, comprehension, pronunciation, word/ sentence structure, improvisation, “talking circle” discussion, singing in English, interpreting artwork, historic first hand accounts and end with a literacy project, test and vocabulary list.
Camille’s career in education has extended from the classroom to the board room and back again. She believes strongly in Howard Gardner’s philosophy that “Artistic learning should be carried out over a significant period of time and allow ample opportunity for feedback, discussion and reflection.
Enjoy a story written by Camille Linen and her husband Lou Del Bianco that was recently told on the popular show Cake Boss, “In the Shadow of the Mountain”. It’s about Lou’s grandfather, Luigi Del Bianco, an Italian artist-immigrant who was chief carver on Mt.Rushmore.
“Through arts we learn vocabulary, grammar, speaking and so on. As we enjoy the arts, we learn a lot. She doesn’t force us to learn with boring textbooks.
As a result our vocabulary and speaking have improved. When the lessons are attractive they impress the students and then students learn a lot and don’t forget them.”
“The interaction with American culture through arts gives us comprehension of its history. We have a glimpse of what Americans think, how they got where they are now. All this helps us to make our lives a little better here amid people of different cultures.”
“Even if you were born in this country you need to acquire the knowledge of English. We all need to learn English. How did we do it? In the simplest way that you can imagine, using stories from our countries, art, music and painting. The students do not need to be talented to learn English. If we can do it you can do it too.”
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