Latin School of Chicago

"Both of these independent learning programs provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning in innovative, nontraditional and very personalized ways," says Graf. Ultimately, the goal of both is to give students yet another tool to develop good research habits. Innovative Learning To Katherine Pollock '12 an independent study offered a way to do work that she didn't expect would be possible at the high school level. Throughout the year, Katherine has been meeting with faculty member Aisha Arif to study Arabic – a language that is generally not offered until college. Katherine's interest in the Arabic world was first sparked when she took the Middle East class with David Fript during her sophomore year. Over the last two summers, she has participated in the Seeds of Peace camp, which brings together young people from conflict regions including the Middle East, and over Project Week her junior year, Katherine worked for Musicians Without Borders in the West Bank. She hopes to study International Relations or Middle East Studies at Brown University in the fall. "Seeds of Peace, in particular, inspired me to want to communicate in a language other than English with people I was meeting, many of whom came from Egypt and Jordan," says Katherine. "I was planning to study Arabic in college and hopefully study abroad in an Arabic-speaking country. So I was glad to get the opportunity for a head start." Arif and Katherine have been working their way through a textbook from Georgetown University, focusing on the Arabic alphabet and grammar. But the scope of their course has expanded to cover politics, current events, films and the experience of Muslims in America. "The most rewarding part of my experience has been that Ms. Arif and I have similar academic and intellectual interests and that we have been able to focus on these in a meaningful way, " says Katherine. "The intellectual freedom that an independent study gives you to explore your personal interests and the space you have to take intellectual risks are very powerful. Especially as a senior, it has been an amazing way to transition to college." "The intellectual freedom that an independent study gives you to explore your personal interests and the space you have to take intellectual risks are very powerful. – Katherine Pollock '12 n Latin School of Chicago 25

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