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Registration is Open
Please go to www.minnetesol.org and
click on Fall Conference for more information about our upcoming fall
conference, and to register! You can renew your membership as you register,
too.
Don't wait, register now and take advantage of the early bird discount!
Pre-Conference Workshops at MinneTESOL
Please
consider attending a pre-conference workshop on Friday afternoon, November
6th. These are a wonderful way to explore a topic in depth with an expert!
Choose from the following 4 topics, and register online as you register for
the conference: www.minnetesol.org,
click on Fall Conference, then Pre-conference Workshops.
1. Building a Support-Network for English Learners and Their Families
This interactive, hands-on workshop will include research-based information
and ideas on ways to build support for English language learners (K-12 to
college and adult ESL) through a network of support from school, community,
and families. It is designed to be especially helpful for teachers,
administrators, and community members working with newcomer students and
families. Time will be given for participants to share ideas and begin
mapping out a support grid to best fit your students' needs.
Facilitator: Sarah Tahtinen-Pacheco
Sarah Tahtinen-Pacheco, PhD. is an associate professor of Modern World
Languages and TESOL/TEFL program director at Bethel University in St. Paul,
MN. She also currently serves teaching mentor for the university. She has
over 20 years of teaching experience in several settings including: ESL,
Bilingual, Adult/Family ESL, EFL, program administration, and teacher
education.
2. Preparing Teachers to Explore Learner Language
Learner language is a constant source of intriguing puzzles and problems for
language teachers as learners use their new language in unexpected or
creative ways. This workshop will help teachers analyze what learner language
might reveal about the learner's knowledge and how to adjust their teaching
to best help the learner. In this workshop, the participants will view sample
exercises from a new workbook with videos of English as a Second Language
learners, practice analyzing the language used by these learners, and will
develop skills to help address their queries about their own language
classrooms.
Facilitators: Elaine E. Tarone and Bonnie Swierzbin
Elaine E. Tarone is the Director of the Center for Advanced Research on
Language Acquisition (CARLA), and Distinguished Teaching Professor in English
as a Second Language at the University of Minnesota, where she has provided
preparatory coursework for MA ESL students since 1979.
Bonnie Swierzbin teaches in the TESOL-accredited ESL Licensure program and
supervises Master's students' research at Hamline University. Her research
interests include the integration of grammar and academic content in
teaching. Drs. Tarone and Swierzbin are the authors of Exploring Learner
Language (2009, Oxford University Press).
3. Listen Up, Speak Out!! Promoting Academic Listening, Speaking and
Pronunciation Skills
How can you challenge and engage high-intermediate to advanced level ESL
learners in your classes? One way is through high-interest, content-based
units for teaching listening, speaking and pronunciation. This session demonstrates
content based lessons that integrate these skill areas, with a focus on
promoting higher order thinking skills, advanced note-taking strategies, and
awareness of speaking and pronunciation skills needed to communicate
effectively at advanced levels of ESL, particularly in academic settings. Be
ready to try out activities, reflect on how to use and adapt them in your
programs, and to
explore integrating content you may not have considered using before.
Facilitator: Betsy Parrish
Betsy Parrish is Professor and Coordinator of the Adult ESL and TEFL
Certificate Programs in the School of Education at Hamline University. She is
the author of Teaching Adult ESL (McGraw Hill 2004) and Four Point: Advanced
Listening and Speaking (University of Michigan Press 2009). In her over 25
years in the field she has worked as an ESL/EFL teacher, teacher educator,
and consultant in the US, France, South Asia and Russia.
4. Principles and Practices of Effective Online Teaching
Teaching and learning in an online environment is an exciting and challenging
experience for teachers and students alike. Online learning promises much to
the learner - we've all heard the "study in your pajamas!" pitch -
but can all too easily fail to live up to those promises when we turn too far
away from the linchpin of any good course: a skilled and knowledgeable
teacher. The teacher's role is as central in the online learning environment
as it is in the classroom, perhaps even more so. For while the challenges
posed by technology-mediated language learning are new, the learners' core
needs remain the same: high quality instruction, an engaged and active
community of learners, and a feeling of connection with the teacher. In this
session we will explore these and other
principles that guide us as online teachers and try out practical ideas for
meeting our online learners' needs.
Facilitator: Susan Wetenkamp-Brandt
Susan Wetenkamp-Brandt is an online learning specialist and Educational
Technology Trainer at the Minnesota Literacy Council. She has taught English,
computer, and basic literacy skills to immigrant and refugee adults, and has
developed and facilitated online courses for adult learners, teachers, and
volunteers.
Transitions Conference in October
Upcoming Transitions Conference
Building Pathways: ABE Transitions to College, Training, and Work October
22-23 Best Western Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, MN
Keynote speakers:
Israel Mendoza - Director, Adult Basic Education Office, Washington State
Board for Community and Technical Colleges
I-BEST career pathway model: http://www.btc.ctc.edu/BasicAcademic/IBEST.asp
Mark Johnson - Education Director for Adult High School and Developmental
Programs in the Wisconsin Technical College System Wisconsin RISE career
pathway model: http://www.risepartnership.org/
Conference website: http://www.hamline.edu/education/academics/centers/sltl/atlas/events/transitions09/event_transitions2009.html
New
Bylaws to be Voted On
Attention
MinneTESOL Members!
Within the next few days, a new, updated version of the MinneTESOL Bylaws
will be posted on the website. Major updates include changing the title and
duties of two of the Board members. The treasurer position will now become
the Board-Member-at-Large, and the Membership position will now be the Public
Relations Director, focused on representing the organization and membership
recruitment. We welcome your feedback on this document.
According to our Bylaws, these changes must be made public at least 30 days
before our annual meeting. The annual meeting takes place at the Fall
Conference November 6 and 7. The membership will vote on the new Bylaws at
this time.
Questions? Comments?
patsy@minnetesol.org
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The Latehomecomer
Friday night speaker: Kao Kalia Yang
Come Friday evening to hear from the author of
The Latehomecomer:
A Hmong Family Memoir
GUSTAVUS MYERS OUSTANDING BOOK AWARD WINNER
MIDWEST BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
MIDWEST CONNECTIONS PICK
"This is the best account of the Hmong experience I've ever read—
powerful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable."—ANNE FADIMAN
Saturday Keynote Speakers:
Martha
Bigelow
Kit Hansen
Elaine Tarone
Title: How Research on Oral Language Can Inform Literacy Instruction in a
Second Language
Prior literacy can play a powerful role in acquiring literacy in a new
language, but how does prior literacy affect oral language development in a
new language? In this two-part presentation, the presenters will briefly
describe three second language acquisition (SLA) studies they carried out in
Minneapolis with Somali adolescents and young adults who had low levels of
alphabetic print literacy. Then the presenters will describe research in
cognitive science carried out with monolingual illiterate adults and Chinese
speakers, which shows that it is alphabetic literacy that causes phonological
awareness, and not vice versa. The presenters will explore some of the direct
implications of this work for the way emergent literacy skills should be
developed.
Silent Auction
The Silent Auction will again be held on Saturday as part of the Fall
Conference. The proceeds from last year's auction enabled us to award several
grants to ESL teachers for the benefit of many students. Please consider a
donation to the auction of any multicultural item, books, ethnic clothing,
gift certificates, or teaching materials -- anything you think an ESL teacher
may like to purchase. If you have items to contribute please contact Cecilia
Oberg at cecilia.oberg@spps.org
or just bring them with you to the conference on Saturday.
Be sure to stop by the auction at the conference, and bring your checkbooks!
Care to Volunteer?
Conference Volunteers Needed!
The MinneTESOL conference is fast approaching. We need many helping hands to
make it a success. Consider volunteering on Friday or Saturday, Nov. 6th or
7th. Volunteer opportunities include assembling folders and registration on
Friday and registration and clean-up after the conference on Saturday.
Please contact Pat Schafer Patricia.Schafer@minneapolis.edu
or Rosie Sharkey rmsharkey@yahoo.com
Volunteer committee co-chairs
More Affiliate Conferences!
Dakota TESOL Conference: October 1st and 2nd
The Closer Connections Conference 2009
This year the Closer Connections Conference will provide excellent
opportunities for professional development and networking with something for
everyone who works in education or human services. October 1st and 2nd we
expect a gathering of various professionals from North and South Dakota,
including teachers, administrators, and social service practitioners who work
with English Language Learners, American Indians, foreign language learners,
and students of adult basic education.
For more registration information or if there are any questions
please contact:
Laura Smith-Hill at 605-731-2041 or laura.smithhill@lsssd.org
and / or
Lara Ann Frey at 605-731-2040 or lara.frey@lsssd.org
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Moorhead Conference in November
The TEAM Work Symposium: Teaching ELLS with Academics in Mind will be held on
the campus of MSU Moorhead on November 18 and 19, 2009. The theme this year
is Pulling together for ELLs: Content and Language Instruction." Kate
Kinsella, San Francisco State University secondary education is the featured
speaker on November 18. She will present on explicit language development.
Jolene Richardson
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Phone: 218-477-2394
Website: http://www.mnstate.edu/continue/
richarjo@mnstate.edu
More Opportunities!
Federal
TEACH Grant
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education
(TEACH) Grant Program provides up to $4,000 per year in grants to graduate
and undergraduate students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject
areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income
families. Students enrolled in TEACH Grant-approved programs may receive up
to $16,000 for undergraduate study and up to $8,000 for graduate study.
Please note: If you fail to meet the 4-year teaching obligation within
8 years of completing or ceasing your degree program, your grant will convert
to an unsubsidized Stafford loan. This loan will have to be repaid with
interest accrued from the date the grant funds were first disbursed.
Visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp
for more information about the TEACH Grant Program.
View and print Hamline University's TEACH Grant application at www.hamline.edu/faforms.
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IREX Travel Grant
The next round of IREX grants will be awarded for travel in either spring or
summer of 2011 and we have doubled the number of available awards to 80. We
have also added math and science teachers to the program.
For more information, please see our program flyer at http://eepurl.com/clfC.
The program flyer website makes it easy for you to share the flyer via e-mail
or through social networking tools. I have also attached a PDF version of the
flyer for distribution. Applications are available at the TEA website, http://www.irex.org/programs/tea/tea_us.asp.
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Are you a member of International TESOL?
TESOL recently launched its Member Stimulus Plan, a series of discounts and
incentives to support your ongoing and active participation in TESOL. There
has been a great response from members so far. If you haven't yet taken time
to review the plan's many ways to save you money in these tough economic
times, please take a moment now to do so.
www.tesol.org
www.tesol.org
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