鈥淵ou鈥檙e really punching the onset of that syllable each time,鈥� says lecturer , pointing over Ahn鈥檚 shoulder to a graphic representation of Ahn鈥檚 voice patterns on the screen. 鈥淪ee, each peak is a syllable.鈥�

As Ahn, a student from South Korea, returns to the script, Smoot elaborates: 鈥淚 can tell so much about how these students speak by the wave patterns. It鈥檚 a very effective pedagogical technique if you have the resources and flexibility to do it. My idea is to get them to pay attention to the way they speak鈥攏ot only hear themselves, but see it, too.鈥�

The radio show is part of Smoot鈥檚 work with 91短视频鈥檚 (IEP), an immersive experience that helps students build their language skills. Students in the June class came from Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Congo, China, Kurdistan, Iraq and South Korea鈥攁 mix of international students and legal US residents.

91短视频 60 to 80 students work on pronunciation, comprehension, and reading and writing skills through semester-long classes, small-group sessions, tutoring and computer lab work. This spring, Smoot hit on a new way to do that learning in a real-life setting that also enhances community connections: a radio program broadcast on in Staunton, Virginia.

鈥溾�� airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays this summer on the community station, featuring student-chosen music from Asia, Africa and South America interspersed with the students from the various countries talking about the stories and culture that shape the music.

鈥淚 did community radio in Portland, and it鈥檚 something I really believe in,鈥� Smoot says. 鈥淲hen they started the Staunton station, I said, 鈥榃hat can I do to help out?鈥� They suggested making some produced content instead of just live stuff. I thought of a show about music to involve immigrants, but in an interesting way. You learn so much about people from their songs and what they have to say about those songs. It was a way to get many things done at the same time.鈥�

Back in the radio business

For that to happen, Smoot needed a space where production could happen. He found a ready-made one on 91短视频鈥檚 campus, in the studio used by WEMC until it merged in 2007 with WMRA, a station owned by James Madison University.

Smoot received permission to use the old studio, which already had soundproofed spaces, control rooms and other necessary elements. The 91短视频 physical plant and information technology teams fixed it up and equipped it with computers and microphones.

鈥淲e got so lucky by getting this place,鈥� says Smoot. 鈥淚 was very surprised when everyone down the line said, 鈥榊es.鈥� It鈥檚 really, really cool.鈥�

And now students are benefiting as a result. The first four shows were produced during the spring semester as an extracurricular project. The summer group has woven the production into the class itself, doing the editing and production work alongside the language training. The first show was broadcast on June 1, and a total of 14 are planned at this point.

Radio production improves accents

, director of the IEP program, has been pleased with the creative effort.

鈥淥ne of the things IEP has been concerned about is accent. Sometimes our students know English quite well and can read and write but have trouble communicating,鈥� Roth says. 鈥淛ames was thinking about that and learned about the radio station on the hill and the equipment there. He asked me if he could pursue that, and I said, 鈥楢bsolutely!鈥� It鈥檚 just worked out really well.鈥�

The students have enjoyed it, too. Ahn says he has had fun selecting Korean songs and weaving them into a show.

鈥淭he first time using the program was very hard for me, but now it鈥檚 easy,鈥� Ahn says. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy that I can do a broadcast program and record my voice.鈥�

Enock Mukanda Samalenge, a student from Congo, says it takes imagination to put a good show together, trying to represent the myriad of cultures found in his country.

鈥淵ou have the ability to choose what kind of show you want to do,鈥� Samalenge says. 鈥淪o if you want to do something about love, you choose some specific songs and use the editing program to mix it with your words. And sometimes you listen to what you say, and it helps you understand more what errors you do when you speak and to improve the language.鈥�

More shows possible

WQSV is a low-power station with a broadcast radius of only about 10 miles, but the shows are also streamed live at . IEP staff are also hopeful that eventually Harrisonburg鈥檚 WMRA might rebroadcast the shows on that station.

Smoot would like to see the broadcasts will endure beyond the summer, but he says that will likely require others to help with the time-intensive work. Shorter classes during the academic year and the rotation of IEP鈥檚 offerings could also pose challenges. Without a doubt, though, it has been a positive experience so far.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of work, but I get really charged up about it,鈥� Smoot says. 鈥淚鈥檓 like a kid in a candy store. It鈥檚 the most interesting thing I鈥檝e done in my three years at 91短视频.鈥�