A Non-Speaking Valedictorian Makes Powerful Statements

“She didn’t say a word — and that only made her message resonate more powerfully. Valedictorian Elizabeth Bonker recently delivered the commencement speech at Rollins College in Florida, urging her classmates to serve others and embrace the power of sharing.” B. Chappell, NPR, May 12, 2022

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post with Answer Key

Valedictorian Elizabeth Bonker delivers the commencement speech at Rollins College in Florida

Excerpt: A nonspeaking valedictorian with autism gives her college’s commencement speech, Bill Chappell, NPR, May 12, 2022

“Bonker, who is affected by nonspeaking autism, hasn’t spoken since she was 15 months old. But thanks to an accepting attitude from her peers and teachers and help from technology, she has overcome many challenges and graduated at the top of her class at the Orlando-area school.

Elizabeth Bonker | CREDIT- ROLLINS COLLEGE

‘God gave you a voice. Use it,’ Bonker told her fellow graduates. ‘And no, the irony of a nonspeaking autistic encouraging you to use your voice is not lost on me. Because if you can see the worth in me, then you can see the worth in everyone you meet.’

Bonker used text-to-speech software to deliver the commencement address — an honor for which she was chosen by her fellow valedictorians.. .’I have typed this speech with one finger with a communication partner holding a keyboard,’ she said… ‘That one critical intervention unlocked my mind from its silent cage, enabling me to communicate and to be educated like my hero Helen Keller.’

In her speech, Bonker also evoked another hero: Fred Rogers, the Florida college’s most famous alumnus…After graduating, Bonker plans to use what she has learned to help people who face situations like hers.”

CREDIT- ELIZABETH BONKER:COMMUNICATION 4 ALL:TWITTER

To Watch the Valedictorian Speech Presented  by Ms. Elizabeth Bonker visit:

Be the Light: Elizabeth Bonker’s 2022 Valedictorian Speech at Rollins College Commencement

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post

NOTE: Lessons can also be used with native English speakers.

Level: Intermediate – Advanced

Language Skills: Reading, writing, and speaking. Vocabulary and grammar activities are included.

Time: Approximately 60 minutes.


Materials: Student handout (from this lesson) and access to news article.


Objective: Students will read and discuss the article with a focus on improving reading comprehension and improving oral skills. At the end of the lesson students will express their personal views on the topic through group work and writing.

I. Pre-Reading Activities

 Predictions: Using a Pre-reading Organizer

Directions: Examine the title of the post and of the actual article. Next examine  any photos. Write a paragraph describing what you think this article will discuss. A pre-reading organizer may be used.

II. While Reading Activities

Word Inference

Directions: Try to infer the meanings of the words in bold taken from the article. You use a dictionary, thesaurus, and Word Chart for assistance.

  1. A nonspeaking valedictorian with autism gives her college’s commencement speech.
  2. She didn’t say a word — and that only made her message resonate more powerfully.
  3. Elizabeth Bonker was the valedictorian at her graduation.
  4. She delivered the commencement speech at Rollins College in Florida.
  5. But thanks to an accepting attitude from her peers and teachers she has overcome many challenges.
  6. Elizabeth stated that “the irony of a nonspeaking autistic encouraging you to use your voice is not lost on me.”
  7. Elizabeth named Helen Keller as her hero.
  8. In her speech, Bonker also evoked another hero: Fred Rogers.
  9. Fred Rogers is the Florida college’s most famous alumnus.
  10. “We are all called to serve, as an everyday act of humility.”

 

Grammar Focus: Structure and Usage

Directions: The following groups of sentences are from the article. One of the sentences in each group contains a grammatical  error.  Identify the sentence (1, 2, or 3 ) from each group that contains the grammatical error.

I

  1. Bonker, who is affected by nonspeaking autism, haven’t  spoken since she was 15 months old.
  2. Bonker used text-to-speech software to deliver the commencement address.
  3. She was chosen by her fellow valedictorians to deliver her speech.

II

  1. She didn’t say a word — and that only made her message resonate more powerfully.
  2. She have overcome many challenges and graduated at the top of her class.
  3. In her speech, Bonker also evoked another hero: Fred Rogers.

III

  1. Last year, the school unveiled a statue of the man widely known as Mister Rogers.
  2. Bonker recently launched a nonprofit organization.
  3. She’ll also work to educate the public about the millions of people affected bye nonspeaking autism.

Reading ComprehensionFill-ins

Directions: Place students in groups and after they have read the entire article, have them complete the following sentencestaken from the article. They can use the words and terms from the list provided, or provide their own terms. They are to find the meanings of any new vocabulary.

She’ll also ___to ___the ___about the millions of people ___by nonspeaking___. As she has___ in the past,it is not a cognitive or intellectual___.

An estimated 25–30% of___with ___disorder are ___or minimally speaking, according to recent___. 

WORD LIST: studies, nonspeaking, children, autism spectrum, disorder, stressed, autism, affected, work, educate, public,

Discussion Questions for Comprehension /Writing

Directions: Have  students discuss the following questions/statements. Afterwards,  students share their thoughts as a class. To reinforce the ideas, students can write an essay on one of the topics mentioned.

  1. Have you ever been valedictorian for your graduating class? If yes, describe your experience.
  2. From which college did Elizabeth graduate?
  3. How long has it been since Elizabeth  has spoken?
  4. How has Elizabeth been able to speak at her graduation?
  5. What type of software did Elizabeth use to deliver her speech?
  6. During her speech, which people did Ms. Bonker name as her heroes?
  7. What did the school do to honor Mr. Fred Rogers?
  8. What was found in Mr. Roger’s wallet after he died?
  9. What did Ms. Bonker ask each of her classmates to do during her speech?
  10. What are Elizabeth’s plans after graduating?
  11. List three new ideas  that you’ve learned about the topic from the reading,  two things that you did not understand in the reading, and one thing you  would like to know that the article did not mention.  Share your responses with your class.

ANSWER KEY

Category: Autism, Education, Social Issues