By Ann Fowler, Community Services Coordinator, Lewiston Adult Education
Communication takes many forms and is often more than language or words. Sometimes words just cannot capture the complexity of our ideas or the depth of our feelings. In a more diverse community, even words may not have the same meaning to different people. Increasingly, we communicate with signs, symbols, and rituals.
Lewiston Adult Education strives to provide the community with opportunities to experience various forms of communication, including writing, speaking, foreign language, art, music, and dance.
This year’s highlights include:
• a Sign Language class, in which students learned the basic manual communication used by the deaf community. The instructor, who is himself deaf, shared his insights into the culture of the deaf.
• a Basic Conversational Spanish class and an introduction to Somali language and culture class, which gave participants opportunities to learn the basics of another language that might help them communicate more easily with their neighbors, coworkers, and the people they meet as they travel.
• a Workplace Communication Skills class, in which students learned to tailor their message to get their point across effectively and to avoid common communication problems.
• English For Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, in which students from other countries learned valuable communication skills.
Anthony Seeger once said, “Unlike language, music does not require ‘understanding.’ People may be moved by music of people whose language means nothing to them.” And, according to Martha Graham, “Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” The lively expressions and movements of students who participated in the Mbira Dance and Music class illustrated the communicative power of music and dance. The Shona people of Zimbabwe believe that pounding the ground with joyful dances can awaken the underworld of spirits to come and join in the celebration. The music and dance unite people of many generations. It also teaches young children about customary values of respect, love, and sharing, and reminds adults of their responsibilities and expectations in the community. In other dance classes offered this spring, Introduction to Dance allowed students to better understand body movement and expression, and Dance Time For Couples enriched nonverbal communication among couples.
Let us continue to listen to each other in the many ways we “speak” in order to break down barriers and build bridges.
For more information about these or other Lewiston Adult Education classes, call 795-4141 or visit our website www.lewiston.k12.me.us/~laeweb.
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