SBCC Changes Boost ESL Class Attendance
Transcription
SBCC Changes Boost ESL Class Attendance
VOLUME 40 NUMBER 2 FALL 2008 SBCC Changes Boost ESL Class Attendance, Retention A By Pamela Lavigne and Jack Bailey dult English language learners in Santa Barbara attend more classes and stay with their studies longer thanks to ESL program changes that included instituting managed enrollment and developing a “Student Success” course. By attending to the basics of spurring students to show up for classes, the ESL program has stabilized its funding base as well. ESL adult education is part of continuing education at Santa Barbara City College. But for at least 10 years, ESL classes had lost one in two students each term from the first week of class to the last, 10 to 12 weeks later. Ripples from this low retention rate were felt throughout the program. Students weren’t seeing results from their efforts and didn’t progress. As a result, 87 percent of the ESL classes (39 of 45 classes) were offered at a beginning level. At best, teachers were frustrated from not knowing who would be in class; at worst, they were unsure of their own employment, since classes with low attendance were canceled. For the ESL program overall, low numbers threatened funding. CASAS-paired scores are challenging to collect in low-retention environments. Without a second test all EL civics funding is also lost. To tackle this multifaceted issue, we convened a task force of 10 experienced teachers and student support staff. First, they worked as a reading circle to inform themselves about ESL retention data nationally, then to investigate possibilities for improving retention. Some highlights of their findings: – Santa Barbara’s 50 percent retention rate is not atypical: Adult ELLs on average spend less than 70 hours in an ESL program in a 12-month period [U.S. Dept of Education, (continued on page 4) Getting to Know Ourselves via the Listserv By Lindsay Donigan Community College Level Chair After a busy day attending workshops at the CATESOL 2008 State Conference in Sacramento, a group of colleagues and I were relaxing on the hotel patio. How often do any of us have the luxury of simply hanging out with our fellow instructors spending some down time together? For many of us, attending such events is the only chance we get for that. If we don’t attend conferences, we generally find ourselves working in almost complete isolation. In fact, the opportunity to network with colleagues Lindsay Donigan ranks as one of the most rewarding aspects of attending conferences. As my colleagues and I were talking, we got onto the subject of how we became ESL instructors in the first place. It turned out that all of us had taken circuitous routes. Here, in a nutshell, are our stories. Carol Bander of Saddleback College started her career teaching German, but having always been intrigued by other languages and cultures, she started teaching adult ESL before going on to obtain her TESL Certificate and finding her true niche. Although she still teaches German, she (continued on page 3) Prepare now for the 40th Annual State Conference: See page 8 Teaching Grammar in ESL Composition: See page 16 Bay Area Chapter Prepares for Fall Splash: See page 19 age s s e M nt’s Preside I ’m happy to welcome you back to the fall semester and the start of a new academic year. It’s time to think about conferences – both attending and maybe even presenting. We’re calling the 2008 State Conference in Pasadena “Whole Learner – Whole Teacher.” With this theme, there will be plenty of opportunities to make a presentation about your experiences and ideas and to renew your energy. Plenary speakers have already been selected, and there will be a variety of talks and workshops on becoming a better teacher. This fall there are three regional CATESOL conferences. On October 18, San Diego State University hosts the San Diego Regional with the theme “Literacy for Life.” On October 25, the Los Angeles Regional will be at Biola University. The theme will be “WWW: What Works and Why.” And on November 8, San Jose State University will host the Northern California Regional. “Opening Doors – Empowering Students” is the theme. As you can see, your fellow CATESOLers have been hard at work all summer. I have good news to share with you about changes in California educational law. There are two parts to this change. First, the 67 percent rule has passed and is effective as of January 2009. The rule allows an adjunct faculty member to teach 10 hours a week at a California community college rather than the previous limit of nine hours. That means that an adjunct has a greater probability of being hired for two classes instead of just one at a single college or district. This is especially helpful in disciplines such as ESL or foreign languages where the introductory courses often meet five hours a week. The second part of the change 2 CATESOL News Fall 2008 requires your local percent positions at union or guild to get community colleges. the new limit into There are pros and your contract so cons. One thought that faculty can be is that an 80 percent assigned 10 hours for position is almost the spring semester. full-time and better Check your e-mail at than not having a your college(s) to see contract position. if your union rep has But some fear that already scheduled if colleges have this a meeting about option available, they this change. If not, will only offer 80 Kathy Flynn contact her or him to see percent positions and not what is planned. many full-time jobs. I would like to get Such changes only come about your feedback. because there is an organization What other working conditions (continued on page 3) pushing for them. CATESOL employs Jeff Frost to monitor legislation in CATESOL NEWS Sacramento. Jeff reports back to the (USPS- 010-177 issn 1070-387X) is a CATESOL board on a frequent basis publication of CATESOL, a professional association for those concerned with and advises us on the best course of the teaching of English as a second action. He had been working to effect language or dialect and with bilingual education. the change from 60 percent to 67 All rights revert to the author upon percent for the past two years. publication as long as CATESOL News This spring, I also had the is credited when the work is published in the future, in print, on-line, on CDs or opportunity to meet with Anthony DVDs, or other electronic means. Portantino (D-Pasadena) and his CATESOL NEWS is available through assistant Bill Hackett. Both were very membership only. CATESOL NEWS is published four times annually, in Spring, aware that the change to 67 percent Summer, Fall and Winter, for $6 a year by the California Teachers of English was important to CATESOL. In fact, to Speakers of Other Languages, loAssembly Bill 1912 was sponsored by cated at 21C Orinda Way, #362, Orinda, CA 94563. Portantino. This bill and Assembly Periodicals Postage Paid at Orinda, Bill 591 (Dymally, D-Los Angeles) Calif., and at addtional mailing office. supported the change. It was AB POSTMASTER: Send address changes 591 that was signed into law. It to: CATESOL NEWS, 21C Orinda Way #362, Orinda, CA 94563 often happens that similar pieces of legislation are introduced at the same DEADLINE FOR WINTER ISSUE: November 1, 2008 time. Jeff monitors the bills and also lets CATESOL know the status of Send Copy and Photographs to Timothy Lange each of them, for instance, whether [email protected] 3818 Latrobe Street they have stalled in committee. The 67 Los Angeles, CA 90031 percent rule was one such that took a INQUIRIES ABOUT MEMBERSHIP while to gain momentum. OR PROBLEMS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO LINDA PATTEN Is 67 percent is enough? One CATESOL Membership Services suggestion in the past few years (925) 253-8683 [email protected] has been to create a category of 80 Networking safer bungalow-style classrooms, and Because many ESL instructors her master teacher let her finish her are freeway flyers, and all are busy (continued from page 1) student teaching there. This unplanned with the demands of our jobs, there has dedicated a large part of her life experience changed the course of events are few opportunities to get together, to helping ESL students and her ESL for her, yet there were to be several and we may often feel as though we colleagues, and is a former president of detours before she finally became a are working in a vacuum. We do not CATESOL. community college instructor. need, however, to wait until CATESOL Kathy Smith, also of Saddleback The supernatural was responsible 2009 in Pasadena to meet on some College, “fell in love with the diversity for my becoming an ESL instructor. I other patio and reach out to each other. of people and cultures” she found as an can pinpoint the actual moment to a CATESOL has a listserv dedicated undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. summer’s day in England when I was 17 to our use, and I encourage everyone She got her degree in English, worked years old. I was trying to teach the word to sign up as a member and see what for a time as a stockbroker, and then “ghost” to a foreigner who spoke almost colleagues are discussing there in the decided to get her teaching credential. no English, and after several frantic and coming months. We all had our own She completed her student teaching in embarrassing minutes of gesturing and reasons for becoming ESL instructors, Italy, and that experience convinced making ghost sounds, I succeeded in and the routes our careers have followed her to get her TESL Certificate. After getting my point across. I was hooked! are varied. Let’s share our stories with teaching children and adult students, However, like all the others I have each other via the listserv. Post a brief she evolved into the community college profiled here, I took a circuitous route description of why you decided to instructor she is today. to my current position as a tenure-track become an ESL instructor and how you Colleen Hildebrand of Irvine Valley instructor at Fullerton College. made it a reality. Let’s get to know each College started out as a French teacher he five of us who met on the patio other via the listserv. and found herself piecing together a have combined teaching careers HOW TO JOIN THE LISTSERV: career based on picking up classes here totaling 153 years. We have all taught 1. Go to the CATESOL Web and there as they became available. part-time and at all levels, and we have site: www.catesol.org. (Does this sound familiar?). One day, a been guided and influenced by other 2. Click on MEMBERSHIP. colleague suggested that she teach ESL people in our profession. Clearly, we 3. Select LEVELS. in the Refugee Project at Santa Ana have followed many paths that have 4. Scroll down to the bottom of College, and the rest is history. brought us to a common place. Like all the page. Enter your name and Susan Stern of Irvine Valley College ESL instructors, we are concerned and e-mail address and check the credits an earthquake with causing motivated people who embrace diversity Community College Level. her epiphany. She was working on her and want to bring about real change HOW TO POST A MESSAGE TO secondary teaching credential in English in the world. We have chosen to help THE LISTSERV: and French, and while completing her people who are often struggling through Just e-mail it to: student teaching at a high school in a major transition in their lives. We have [email protected]. Los Angeles, the Sylmar earthquake adopted the maxim “Let change begin org occurred. Most of the students were with me,” and each day that we go to re-housed in another high school, but class, we try to empower our students to Lindsay Donigan is a tenure-track the ESL students remained in the newer, succeed in this country. instructor at Fullerton College. absorb financial cuts, it was the newest teachers (and their students) who paid the price. (continued from page 2) As you spread the good news to your colleagues about do you think need to be changed or improved? Now that the 67 percent rule, be sure to mention membership in the 67 percent rule has passed, what should CATESOL CATESOL. We need to bring new members into the advocate for next? Go to the CATESOL Web site (www. organization and bring back former members. Don’t catesol.org) and log-in to Adjunct Issues. The community forget that there is a student membership rate, and there colleges have been busy with this particular legislation. Are are also awards to help members attend the annual state there other working conditions that affect the UCs or CSUs conference. Look for information about various awards in that CATESOL should be working on? What about K-12? this newsletter and in upcoming issues. The number of pink slips and/or “March 15 notices” that In Unity, were issued this year in elementary, junior, and high schools Kathy Flynn was disturbingly high. As school districts struggled to ...listserv T ...flynn CATESOL News Fall 2008 3 Innovations ...retention (continued from page 1) attendance increased 14 percent. In the same period retention increased by 18 percent (49 percent vs. 67 percent). Retention was defined as students registered in September against the number still attending at the end of the term, nine weeks later. CHANGES WE MADE We launched several changes in our ESL classes during the 2007-2008 terms. These included: Managed registration. Students were admitted only during the first two weeks of classes. Managed enrollment. In a fundamental and sweeping program change, courses went from open enrollment to managed 2001.] – ELLs need at least 100 hours of instruction to make significant learning gains. [Darkenwald, G. (1986). Adult literacy education: A review of the research and priorities for future inquiry. New York: Literacy Assistance Center, Inc.] [Stitch, T. (1982). Basic skills in defense. Alexandria, Va.; Human Resources Research Organization, Professional Paper, 3-82.] – Students persist in their studies when learning clearly relates to their goals. [Comings, J., Parrella, A., Managed-enrollment classes & Silicone, L. (2000). “Helping adults persist: four supports.” with at least 20 student Focus on Basics, 4A, pp. 1-7.] contracts within the first two [Bassano S and Christison weeks were guaranteed to MA (1995 Community Spirit: A run for the entire term - a Practical Guide to Collaborative Language Learning. Alta Book boon to teacher and student. Center.] Next, the task force framed enrollment for nearly all ESL classes. goals for any proposed changes. Of 45 total classes offered, all but eight Student goals. Make each hour in had managed enrollment. class time as effective and rewarding Students signed contracts as possible. Foster the expectation that committing to one or both of two-day students will achieve high levels in the class sections, the Monday-Wednesday ESL program. section, or the Tuesday-Thursday. Teacher goals. Increase job security (Friday classes, when offered, are and job satisfaction. optional.) More students than expected Program goals. Increase matriculation – 60 percent – committed to attending of adult education students to the four classes a week. credit campus or other educational In addition, managed-enrollment options. Produce the same or more classes with at least 20 student contracts full-time equivalents from year to year. within the first two weeks were Align levels and student promotion guaranteed to run for the entire term practices throughout the program. – a boon to teacher and student alike. From these focusing goals the The contract required 80 percent group developed eight proposals for attendance in each section. When change. Bottom line: although no students fell between 70 percent and tests of statistical significance were 79 percent attendance (three or four conducted, the combined changes had missed days), instructors offered special an impact that could be immediately work assignments to make up the counted: absences. When students missed more From fall 2006 to fall 2007, FTE than 30 percent of a class, they were 4 CATESOL News Fall 2008 removed and redirected to an openentry class. Nine-week term. Changing to nine weeks for ESL classes made ESL classes out of phase with SBCC term dates; however, this change brought ESL classes in line with K-12 schools in the area, an important consideration for our adult students. New core text. The task force examined numerous options and heard publisher presentations on textbook series. ESL teachers were asked for their recommendations. Step Forward published by Oxford was chosen for its extensive line: text, workbook, reproducibles, teachers manual, exammaker (or homework-maker) CD, and professional development resource booklet for teaching multilevel classes. Orientation. In collaboration with SBCC Student Services, ESL students received a three-hour individual and group orientation. It was designed to alert all students, new and returning, to the changed system and also to “inoculate” them to stay in class: We found that a third of students are at risk of dropping out during the first few weeks of the term. Standardized level assessment. Again, our Student Services colleagues conducted this initial assessment of prospective ESL students. They used CELSA written instruments during the orientation. Results were mailed to students before the start of term. Multilevel classes limited to three levels. Course titles were changed to state level limits. We experimented with two teaching systems: teaching each level separately, and using a single curriculum following Step Forward’s multilevel resource suggestions. Student success class. To address individual aspects of learner persistence, we developed an extracurricular course called “Student (continued on page 5) ...retention (continued from page 4) Success.” ESL teachers taught five-hour pilot versions in 2007-08. The course was open to any ESL student, multilevel, and offered in Spanish-bilingual and English-only versions. Course participants received a distinctive binder and a certificate of completion. The student success course addresses motivations for learning English, with role models and success stories of those who have, and potential barriers regular class attendance. Highly interactive, this course includes practice in goal setting, study skills, learning strategies, and time management. It encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning. In addition, it explains our educational approach (communicative and student-centered) and testing practices, and it presents other community resources for learning English as well as further educational opportunities once students master the language. RESULTS WE GOT Our switch to managed enrollment, along with the new student success class, improved attendance by 14 percent and improved retention by 18 percent in ESL classes in Santa Barbara. These changes came about through a considered process. The task force first began meeting in fall 2006. Communicating program changes began four months before the fall term of 2007. Extensive radio and TV ads were run, and flyers about the required new orientation were liberally distributed. It should be noted that many open-entry ESL options remain. About 5 percent of ESL classes are open entry – at least one at each teaching site. In addition, there are distancelearning options via video and DVD, open-access computer labs with ESL software, a tutorial center, and literacy training through the Santa Barbara library. All these option are free. To gauge response to our changes, an extensive student survey was administered, and written reaction was sought from teachers during mandatory in-service meetings. These polls, along with anecdotal evidence, show high satisfaction among students, and generally satisfied reactions from teachers. Funding sources for the changes came from Workforce Investment Act 231 (federal grant funding for ESL and basic skills programs), Basic Skills Initiative (California state grant), and matriculation funding from the SBCC chancellor’s office. With it, we have been able to pay for curriculum development of the student success course, instructor training, outreach to new students, and support staff. Tackling the historical yet not unusual situation of low retention in ESL classes, Santa Barbara tried something Innovations radically different. Overall, we are encouraged by our firstyear efforts and are continuing them, with some tweaking, in 2008-09. We plan more teacher training and resource development on promising retention practices such as needs assessment, goal setting, and progress tracking. Jack Bailey, coordinator of CATESOL’s Los Padres Chapter, is director of ESL programs in the continuing education division of Santa Barbara City College. He presented these findings at CATESOL in Sacramento in April 2008. A panel discussion with ESL instructors Karen Gruffer, Carolina Alves-Ferreira, Linda Beers, and Liz Stull, followed. Pamela Lavigne teaches ESL in Santa Barbara. Write for the CATESOL News CATESOL members are encouraged to submit articles (and ideas for articles) to the CATESOL News. Articles of 600-800 words are preferred. Have something in mind? Contact the editor, Timothy Lange, at [email protected] or 323-224-0329. Winter Issue Deadline: November 1, 2008. CATESOL News Fall 2008 5 The Treasurer’s Corner Our Bank Demands E Pluribus Unum By Don Sillings CATESOL Treasurer F inally having a moment to reflect on my being the CATESOL Board Treasurer, I’ve decided to share some of my experiences with you. I brought with me to the treasurer’s position almost 20 years of experience in accounting and bookkeeping, and I have tried to apply what I’ve learned over that time to CATESOL in an effort to ensure its financial stability, safety, and sure legal position in today’s world. This has become even more important since the establishment of our sister organization, the CATESOL Education Foundation, because even though we are legally separate entities, the IRS will watch our organization more closely because of Don Sillings the foundation’s 501(c)(3) non-profit status. My time so far as treasurer has been an interesting, and time-consuming ride. Little had I truly understood my predecessor’s warnings that dealing with the bank was a never-ending, teeth-gritting roller coaster ride of unclear and changing policies and procedures. Any one of the local treasurers that has tried to be added (or removed) from a checking account since May can attest to my on-the-job training in dealing with the bank. Although I inherited wonderfully kept and well-organized records and notes about how to handle things, our switching from business 6 CATESOL News Fall 2008 checking accounts to free accounts designed for non-profit organizations caused bank-related twists and turns in addition to the ones I had been warned about. Meeting with bankers, and with our contracted tax accountant/auditor, brought to light more twists and turns. Here’s what I found that I felt was most in need of being straightened out. We are considered one organization even though there are there are local groups such as the chapters, regional conferences, and state conferences that do business under our CATESOL name. This means that the CATESOL Board is ultimately responsible for the actions of each and every one of these geographically determined groups, and that the board treasurer is responsible for reporting all revenues and expenses, maintaining all financial records, and adhering to federal and state financial laws. Unfortunately, this is awkward in our current system of letting local people, who are most familiar with local needs and desires, be responsible for local events. In the end, we’re faced with needing more board oversight of local funds and the preparation of more accurate tax reports, which will require increased, and more regular information-sharing from the chapters and conferences. Most non-profit organizations have either a centralized accounting office to which each branch (read chapter or conference) must submit bills to be paid, check requests, etc., or they have completely independent affiliates, much like the relationship between TESOL and CATESOL or GATESOL, for example, which have no shared financial responsibility. Our organization, in an effort to recognize and encourage local involvement in our organization, has created semi(continued on page 7) Interest Groups Blogging Can Enhance Classroom Learning By Diane Wallis Blogs, short for Web logs, are online journals that are increasingly being used for a wide variety of purposes. Blogging has become one of the most popular ways to publish and share online information quickly and easily. In addition, blogs can also provide numerous ways for teachers and students to create and obtain information in an educational context. Assuming your students have access to computers at school (or at home or some other location if they want to work outside of class or take online classes), having a blog can be a great way to organize and supplement ...treasurer Don Sillings teaches ESL and family literacy at Santa Ana College and ESL at (continued on page 11) CATESOL Regional Conference Los Angeles (continued from page 6) independent chapters with no central accounting office, but with a centralized financial responsibility. It is truly a mix of two systems and not a very “safe” way to operate. After conferring with the Executive Committee, I presented a proposal to the board for some exciting policy changes at the September board meeting. The changes were an attempt to maintain local autonomy of the chapters and regional and state conferences while at the same time protecting CATESOL and, by association, the CATESOL Education Foundation. After discussing each point of the proposal and making additions, deletions, and revisions, the board approved a more solidified relationship between itself, and its treasurer, and the chapters and conferences, each with its own treasurer. I think board members did a wonderful job of recognizing the hard work that the chapters and conferences put forth in helping CATESOL reach its goals and purposes, and have created a policy that balances local autonomy with the need for more centralized accounting. I look forward to sharing this new policy with you in my next column, “What?!? We don’t have to give it back?” class materials and publish student work. Creating a blog is very simple. Two well-known blogging sites that allow you to set up blogs for free are: www.blogspot. com and www.edublogs.org. I learned how to set up my first blog at edublogs by taking a free one-hour online class (“Blogging in the Classroom”) taught by Barry Bakin of the Division of Adult and Career Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District and offered through the Web site of Outreach and Technical Assistance Network at http://www.otan.dni.us/. In WWW: What Works and Why October 25, 2008 Biola University La Mirada, CA Plenary Speaker Dr. Dana Ferris Featured Speaker (K-12) Dr. Ivannia Soto-Hinman Featured Speaker (adult ESL) Susan Gaer • • • • • • Find out “what’s new” from the publishers at the exhibits Visit the Poster Sessions Hear what established leaders in the field have to say Find jobs on the job board (potential employers can contact Priscilla Taylor at [email protected] to post employment opportunities) “Rap” with your colleagues at special Level events Convenient Location o Near the 57, 605, and 5 freeways o Plenty of Free Parking This conference is being planned in cooperation with the MA TESOL programs at Biola University. For more information please visit our website: www.lacatesol2008.org Golden West College in Huntington Beach. CATESOL News Fall 2008 7 2009 State Conference model of the expanded center, which is scheduled for completion just before the conference April 16-19. CATESOL will have full use of the Conference Building for registration, PreConference Institutes, the Electronic Village, and concurrent sessions as well as the 25,000-square-foot East Pavilion for publisher exhibits, poster sessions, and the job fair. We then went on a walking tour of the two co-headquarter hotels, the Pasadena Hilton and the Pasadena Sheraton. The hotels will be the sites of gala events such as the Thursday By Cheryl Alcorn night plenary and reception and the CATESOL 2009 Publicity Coordinator Friday President’s Luncheon as well as he Conference Planning Committee concurrent sessions. Blocks of rooms for the CATESOL 2009 State at special conference rates have been Conference met at the Pasadena reserved for conference goers. Convention Center on May 31 to tour At the Sheraton, in addition to the venues and discuss preliminary viewing the meeting rooms, all of planning for the annual conference. We which have permanent screens for were given a tour and shown a scale presentations, the members were treated to a look at the newly refurbished guest rooms. Each standard room has a small refrigerator, hair dryer, ironing board and iron, wireless Internet access for a fee, and, Welcome to our new look! perhaps the crowning point for some, inroom Starbucks coffee. Guests may be able to upgrade for a reasonable fee to a larger “feature room” formerly School for International Training with vaulted ceilings, sunken entryway, • Low-Residency MA in Teaching (ESOL) and patio. Guests Earn a degree without leaving your job! have complimentary access to the Business • Master’s degrees in 7 dynamic fields Center, and parking for • Online teacher training workshops guests is available for a fee with unlimited in and out privileges. www.sit.edu The Hilton guest rooms are currently under renovation, but promise to be equally comfortable in plenty T SIT Graduate Institute 8 CATESOL News Fall 2008 Plenary Speakers Set for CATESOL 2009 Photo by Victoria Byczkiewicz Cutler Conference Planning Committee Holds Site Meeting in Pasadena 2009 State Conference PPasadena City Hall of time for the conference. Both hotels have outdoor swimming pools. Back at the Convention Center, the committee was treated to a midmorning snack as Conference Chair Barbara Luther, site Co-chairs Pat Boquiren and Merari Weber, and Program Co-chair Nina Ito introduced themselves to the group and outlined their current plans, soliciting input from the committee. Plenary and featured speakers will address aspects of the “Whole Learner, Whole Teacher” theme. In addition, a wide array of Pre-Conference Institutes and Sunday Workshops are being planned, as well as concurrent sessions including workshops, papers, and demonstrations. Nina reported that proposal submissions will be accepted on-line only and that the deadline is November 17, 2008. Prospective presenters can access the proposal submission site through the conference Web site. The committee will continue to develop the program at meetings throughout the fall. See the related articles in this issue or visit the evolving CATESOL Conference Web site at www.castesol2009.org for further details. Cheryl Alcorn is an adjunct ESL instructor at Pasadena City College. By Cheryl Alcorn quartet. spirit and ready for the multitude of CATESOL 2009 Publicity When the activities that will begin the following Coordinator opening festivities morning. ur opening have concluded, you Dr. Catherine Collier will be the plenary session may begin enjoying plenary speaker directly following on Thursday, April 16, the nightlife of the President’s Luncheon on Friday, 2009, should get the Pasadena by April 17, in the International 40th Annual CATESOL meeting friends for Ballroom of the Hilton Pasadena. State Conference off to dinner at one of the Collier is director of Crosscultural a rousing start, setting many restaurants Developmental Education Services in the tone for this year’s conveniently located Ferndale, Washington. The numerous “Whole Learner, Whole within a short specialty areas directly on point for Teacher” theme. The walking distance of the conference theme of “Whole speaker will be Dr. the Hilton Hotel at Learner, Whole Teacher” in which James Manseau Sauceda, the Paseo Colorado. Collier is involved include multicultural founding director of the Or wander just a assessment and placement of students Dr. Manseau Sauceda Multicultural Center and bit farther to enjoy with learning and behavioral problems, Professor in Communication Studies at the variety of eating establishments in cognitive learning styles and strategies, California State University, Long Beach. Pasadena’s Old Town. Regardless of (continued from page 10) Sauceda has published works the choices you make, you will be in the in prestigious texts and is currently th completing a major work, Communicating Across the Cultural Divide: Understanding and Experiencing a Multicultural America. He has conducted numerous professional workshops and has been a keynote or plenary speaker at a CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS CALL FOR PROPOSALS multitude of professional gatherings, including TESOL. He pursues his own Volunteers needed for every Now accepting proposals via creative writing projects and has had facet of the conference the conference Web site: his poetry published and translated into for as little as two hours www.catesol2009.org Spanish. He tells us, “If we dare to truly Volunteer online via the listen without judgment, with hearts Papers conference Web site: open, with the trust of a child, defenses DemonstrationsWorkshops www.catesol2009.org down – then the voices we’ll hear will Poster Sessions sound familiar and even reassuring.” For more information, Sauceda earned a bachelor’s degree Contact Volunteers Deadline: in speech communication and his Coordinator November 17, 2008 master’s from CSULB. He received Pearl Alvarez at his doctorate in communication arts [email protected] Contact and sciences from the University of catesol2009program@yahoo. Southern California. He has taught com with any questions about ethnic studies at USC and the California Catesol 2009 the process. School of Professional Psychology, as Pasadena well as at CSULB. His speech in the International Ballroom at the Hilton Hotel will be followed by a reception with entertainment by the “Joy of Jazz” O CATESOL 40 Annual Conference Pasadena, April 16-19, 2009 CATESOL News Fall 2008 9 2009 State Conference ...plenary sessions (continued from page 9) curriculum development for bilingual exceptional students, and separating difference and disability. Since receiving her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, Collier has immersed herself in teaching, curriculum development, and academic administration. She has consulted with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and with multiple educational organizations in the United States and Canada. While working with Native American, bilingual, and ESL education programs, Collier earned a bachelor’s in elementary education and a master’s of education in curriculum development and cross-cultural education at Utah State University. She Dr. Catherine Collier took her doctorate at the University of Colorado, specializing in cross-cultural/special education. Collier serves on the faculties at Portland State University and Lewis and Clark College in Portland, as well as Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. Seating for the plenary will be provided for those not ticketed for the President’s Luncheon. Following the plenary, Collier will participate in an afternoon panel discussion of related topics with other experts in these areas. As previously announced, Saturday’s featured plenary speaker is Dr. H. Douglas Brown, professor emeritus at San Francisco State University, where he served as the director of the American Language Institute for 22 years. He has Dr. H. Douglas Brown published numerous books and articles and given presentations and workshops in his specialty areas of teacher training, teaching methodology, second language acquisition, psycholinguistics, classroom language assessment, and strategies-based instruction. Brown was TESOL president in 1980-81, and is a recipient of TESOL’s James E. Alatis Award for Distinguished Service. Current graduate students and teachers alike have been inspired by Brown as they prepared for their careers in the field. Join us to hear the words directly from the author of such guiding works as: Principles of Language Learning and Teaching (5th Ed., 2007), Teaching by Principles (3rd Ed., 2007), and Language Assessment: Principles and Classroom Practices (2004). Cheryl Alcorn is an adjunct ESL instructor at Pasadena City College. Jazz Quartet + 1 to Entertain First Nighters By Carol Bander Special Event Coordinator he urban sophistication of Pasadena just calls for some cool music. Join the Joy of Jazz quartet as it plays easy-listening music spanning early through modern jazz, the Swing Era, tunes from the Great American Songbook, and contemporary pop. The band members have honed their skills over more than 40 years of performing and teaching music. Ted Carmely leads the group on sax, clarinet, and flute. Herb Mickman, on piano, is a respected studio musician in the Los Angeles area. Jim Bates T (continued on page 11) 10 CATESOL News Fall 2008 ...blogging (continued from page 7) a matter of minutes, you can type text, insert hyperlinks, and upload/attach documents, photos, videos, sound files (mp3s), etc. I would like to share a few of the ways I integrate blogs into my ESL classes and also offer a few examples of other blogs of my colleagues. I started using blogs in my ESL classes last year and have found many ways to apply them to the curriculum that I teach. My first blog (http:// dianewallis.edublogs.org) was created for a Level 1 Beginning adult ESL class that I taught last year at City College of San Francisco. For example, while working on the grammatical structure “there is/there are” in relation Blogging is not only an to furniture and housing, I took a effective tool for supporting digital photo of and expanding curriculum. It my living room, also allows instructors and uploaded it to the students the opportunity to blog and wrote a short description put innovative and creative of the furniture in ideas into practice. the room. In this way, the blog allowed me to be creative curriculum. It also allows instructors and provide some engaging material for and students the opportunity to put students very quickly and easily. innovative and creative ideas into Other examples of materials I practice. Some of my students have created were a holiday family photo created their own blogs and I hope to with text describing my favorite and cold appetizers and soft drinks as you socialize with your fellow (continued from page 10) CATESOL and board members. plays double bass and is in demand Alcoholic beverages will be available with big bands and small groups. Burr for purchase at a no-host bar as well. Middleton is a fine drummer who also The setting, the companionship, the specializes in vocals by Gershwin, Cole hors d’oeuvres, and the music will start Porter, and other great composers. off the evening. Afterward, there will They will be joined by CATESOL’s still be time to enjoy one of Pasadena’s own sax player Rob Jenkens. fine restaurants as you complete your The group will perform in the first day at the conference. grand Pasadena Hilton Ballroom, A former CATESOL president Thursday, April 16, 2009, immediately (1999-2000), Carol Bander is a professor following and adjacent to the opening of ESL and German at Saddleback College plenary session. Enjoy a variety of hot in Mission Viejo, California. ...jazz Joy of Jazz holiday, photos of food prepared for a Thanksgiving meal with written captions, and later, as I experimented with recording and uploading audio files (mp3s) to my blog, I included an entry with a photo of some students from the class describing the clothing they were wearing that day. All these materials were created very quickly and allowed me to personalize and expand the curriculum. Two other blogs I created for my Intermediate ESL classes can be found at: (http://dwallis.edublogs.org/) and (http://dkwallis.edublogs.org/). In creating these blogs, among many other benefits, I found that I could upload class handouts so that everyone had access to them. Blogging is not only an effective tool for supporting and expanding class Interest Groups Diane Wallis focus more on student-generated blogs in the future. Here are two examples of student blogs from last semester: (http://cullavy.edublogs.org/) and (http://markito1.edublogs.org/). I’d like to share two more ESL blogs that were created by Kristi Reyes of MiraCosta College in San Diego and Larry Ferlazzo of Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento. Kristi used a blog to publish some of her students’ work from her “ESL Digital Storytelling” class this summer. Here is the link for Kristi’s class blog: (http:// mccdigitalstory.blogspot.com/). Larry set up a blog as part of an “International Sister Classes Project.” This project has fostered collaboration among intermediate English classes from 11 different countries so far. (http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/). This blog has some amazing examples of student work, including some that use an online presentation Web site called Voice Thread. It allows students to upload photos, insert text, record themselves talking about the pictures, and then have others log on and insert text and/or record themselves in response to the presentation. Don’t miss the presentations titled “Greetings from Romania” and “San Francisco.” The Sacramento Bee published a feature on Larry’s use of blogs with ESL students that can be found at: http:// www.sacbee.com/220/story/846880. html. (continued to page 12) CATESOL News Fall 2008 11 Interest Groups CATESOL Technology Workshops Drew Large Crowds By Tatiana Roganova Technology Enhanced Language Learning Coordinator ’m happy to be giving you such a positive report on our work at the CATESOL State Conference in Sacramento. We had a record number of technology workshop participants, and I thank all the fabulous presenters, all the TELL-IG members for the ideas for workshops, and everybody who attended and enjoyed the sessions. The numbers of attendees of the Electronic Village workshops remained impressive at CATESOL 2008: • Interactive Whiteboard Activities for Every Level presented by Blair Roy: 33 • Timesaving Tips in Word presented by Donna Price and Cindy Wislofsky: 50 • Creating Sound Files in Audacity by Marsha Chan: 57 I Participants gave the technology workshops and Distance Learning Fair ratings of 4.22 and 4.33 respectively on a scale of 1-5. Here are some comments from the participants of the technology workshops: “Shirley Sung’s career Web sites presentation was useful and excellent” ...blogging (continued from page 11) Some other good examples include Sally Gait’s blog, (http:// sallygatisblog.blogspot.com/), which she used for her “English through Songs” class at CCSF last semester. Sally’s blog features videos of songs, lyrics and great ESL grammar and comprehension exercises. Another CCSF colleague, Veneto Cook, used a blog with her VESL class featuring videotaped interviews of people discussing their occupations and comprehension questions for students after they listen. Here is the link: (http://english4work.blogspot.com). Veneto also created a blog for one of her ESL classes at CCSF that features songs, interviews, websites relevant to topics the class was working on, links 12 CATESOL News Fall 2008 “Power Up Your Classroom With Digital Stories – excellent workshop” “SmartBoard – I appreciated being able to touch the board” “Peggy Marcy’s Advanced PowerPoint was great!” “United Streaming, great! Penny Pearson was awesome!” Suggestions for improvement mostly centered on two issues: interactivity and lack of time for participants for hands-on practice. Some attendees felt rushed in their efforts to try new technology on their own. Many asked for more interactive presentations next year. Peggy Marcy did a great job of contacting vendors and securing sponsors at the gold level, $400 each, which helped to offset the cost of the technology and made it possible to have a record number of three labs. The volunteers demonstrated their dedication to technology. Every presenter had a volunteer to assist participants during the workshop, tally the number of participants and report to the coordinator. TELL-IG continued to recruit new members and promote the use of educational technology. We had our annual business meeting at which we shared impressions of the conference, elected new officers and exchanged ideas for technology workshops and events next year. Thanks to Peggy Marcy and her great connection with sponsors, we had a plethora of prizes to give out at the meeting. There were no to online dictionaries, and examples of student work. That blog can be found at: (http://sanfranesl.blogspot. com). Veneto finds her classes are enriched in both content and the sense of community among students as they read and comment on ideas and information featured on the blog. R ick Kappa, also at CCSF, will use a blog to keep in touch with students while he is away on sabbatical in Argentina. Rick says that he wants to use the blog to “focus on his experiences as a language learner and cultural traveler – difficulties learning a language, cultural and linguistic faux pas, cultural adjustments, etc.” You can visit Rick’s blog at: http://www. rickinargentina2.blogspot.com/. Finally, I’d like to mention several blogs that are being used to share (continued on page 13) information with teachers using technology in the classroom. Larry Terrazzo, Nick Peachey, and Barry Baking are creating three very fine examples of teacher technology blogs. Larry’s blog can be found at: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs. org/2007/12/01/elleslefl-carnival/, Ink’s blog can be found at: http:// nikpeachey.blogspot.com/, and Barry’s blog is at: http://tech4esl. blogspot.com/. Blogging has added a new dimension to my classes and enabled me to offer many more resources to my students. I look forward to creating new blogs in the future and learning from others who are also exploring this technology. Diane Wallis teaches ESL at City College of San Francisco. Interest Groups Writing Curriculum for Riding the O cean By Ingrid Greenberg CATESOL TEW IG Coordinator hat do wedding chapels, a captain’s bridge, and tourists all have in common? They were part of Nina Ito’s and Christopher Mefford’s research to write ESL curriculum for Princess Cruises. As consultants from the American Language Institute at California State University, Long Beach, Ito and Mefford won a competitive bid to develop curriculum. They first observed and/or interviewed crew members, officers, and guests of Princess Cruises on an Alaskan Cruise in July 2007. They took their Ingrid Greenberg observation notes and used Princess Cruise training manuals to write curriculum which includes: A three-level curriculum, which addresses the skill areas of pronunciation, vocabulary, communication strategies, safety, and speaking (speech acts and discussion topics) • a customized placement test and achievement tests • a curriculum guide for teachers, which includes learner objectives • a series of DVD mini-lessons • training materials Their second cruise, in February 2008, took them to the Mexican Riviera. They held a two-and-a-half-day training workshop to orient newly hired Princess Cruises EFL W ...technology (continued from page 12) losers! Next year, we expect even more sponsor participation, so please stop by at our annual meeting. If you are interested in emerging educational technologies and would like to make suggestions regarding the next CATESOL technology events please join our Interest Group and email list at the CATESOL Web site. We will launch a discussion on some burning educational technology issues a few times a year. And if you have a question or a problem with educational technology, the email list is a great place to get answers. I am looking forward to an exciting year of promoting innovative technology to assist learning, engaging members in electronic discussions and preparing for the next CATESOL state conference. Tatiana Roganova is the Community-Based English Tutoring (CBET) coordinator for California’s Hayward Unified School District. teachers to their curriculum. Producing the DVD lessons was exciting and challenging. Ito and Mefford hired a CSULB film student who had access to high quality video equipment. They paid instructors to teach a lesson. Students from the institute pretended to be EFL students. The DVD lessons were based on some of the curriculum lessons. Several options make the DVDs a valuable aide. Teachers can use them at end of the week as a culminating activity or as an assessment tool. Or students who miss class can use them to make up for their absences. And finally, Ito and Mefford hope to make their directorial debut on the Princess Cruises Crew TV channel, which is piped into crew members’ cabins and lounges. The pair found the bidding process very competitive. ALI used the college’s graphics department to create a professional proposal with three-ring binders, colorful logos, and a They drove to the Princess Cruises offices in Santa Clarita, Calif., and wowed the executives. By the end of their presentation, they were told: “Yes. You’re hired.” PowerPoint presentation. They asked to present in person. Wearing the appropriate business attire, they drove to the Princess Cruises corporate offices in Santa Clarita, Calif., and wowed the executives. By the end of their presentation, they were told: “Yes. You’re hired.” Ito and Mefford learned a great deal from their experience. Ito said that they found that writing curriculum for a corporation “…is a lot more work than we thought it would be. Everything takes longer than you think. We can’t believe that we worked on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, and Easter.” Each one-hour lesson took four-six hours of writing and revising, even though Princess Cruises provided the publishing aspects: a graphic arts team, printing, distribution, etc. Nevertheless, they met all deadlines that were mutually set. Ito said, “Next time, we’ll build in more time for writing materials.” Ito and Mefford presented their experience with Princess Cruises in a session at the CATESOL 2008 State Conference. Look for other TEW IG workshops this fall’s regional CATESOL conferences and the CATESOL 2009 State Conference. Ingrid Greenberg is a VESL instructor at the Educational Cultural Complex in Continuing Education, part of the San Diego Community College District. CATESOL News Fall 2008 13 Need cash to go to the 2009 CATESOL Conference? Apply for a Rick Sullivan Stipend! $250 towards CATESOL State Conference Expenses Pasadena: April 16-19, 2009 Who can apply? • Anyone who is a CATESOL member • Preference will be given to CATESOL members who have not attended a state CATESOL conference outside their local area Everyone is encouraged to apply, Especially members WHO HAVE: • Volunteered for the chapter/regional/state CATESOL conferences • Presented at local chapter/regional/state CATESOL conferences • Have financial need (Current and former CATESOL board members, current committee chairs, and previous recipients are ineligible.) PROCEDURE: • Complete the stipend application on the next page • Prepare 8 copies – one will be sent to each of the 8 screening evaluators • Send 1 proof of CATESOL membership (e.g. newsletter mailing label, photocopy of membership card) • Mail – postmarked by February 17, 2009 -- to: Kathleen Flynn P.O. Box 9809 Glendale, CA 91226 • E-mail applications will NOT be accepted • Questions? Contact Kathleen Flynn at [email protected] • Recipients will be notified by March 13, 2009 Application Form 1. Applicants must be CATESOL members. (Current and former CATESOL board members, current committee chairs, and previous recipients are ineligible.) 2. Preference will be given to CATESOL members who have not attended a state CATESOL conference outside their local area. 3. If you use this form, write clearly in block letters. 4. If you want to insert the information using your computer: • Go to the CATESOL Web site and cut and paste this form into a Word document. • Complete form by inserting your information into the new Word document and print. 5. Make 8 copies of application form and 1 copy of proof of CATESOL membership (CATESOL News mailing label or CATESOL membership card). 6. Send the above by regular mail: Kathleen Flynn, P.O. Box 9809, Glendale, CA 91226 7. Applications must be postmarked by February 17, 2009 8. Email applications will NOT be accepted. 9. Questions? Contact Kathleen Flynn at [email protected] Name _____________________________________Phone ___________________ Email ______________ Address ____________________________________________City________________________________ How many miles from Pasadena? ___________ Teaching Affiliation ______________________________Job title __________________________________ Level(s) at which you work? ___ Elementary___ Adult ___ College/University ___ Secondary___ Community College ___ Intensive English Program Student: __ F/T __P/T___ Teaching experience _______________________________________________________________________ If a student, university affiliation and program in which you are enrolled _______________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Contributions to CATESOL: • Chapter: Presentations __________________________________________________________________ Volunteer work (task and how many hours per job/event?) ______________________________________ • Regional: Presentations __________________________________________________________________ Volunteer work (task and how many hours per job/event?) ______________________________________ • State: Presentations ____________________________________________________________________ Volunteer work (task and how many hours per job/event?) ______________________________________ Any other sources of financial aid to attend CATESOL 2009 State Conference (source and amount)? _______ Have you ever attended a state CATESOL conference outside your local area? ___ Yes ___ No Write a paragraph in which you explain how attending the CATESOL 2009 Pasadena Conference will enhance your professional development and enable you to better serve our ESL population. 14 CATESOL News Fall 2008 CATESOL News Fall 2008 15 College/University Level Teaching Grammar in Context in the Composition Classroom By John Liang College and University Level Chair or many writing teachers, the extensive grammar errors in ESL students’ writing seem to be an ever-haunting nightmare. A colleague of mine was once so frustrated about this that he would fail an essay if he found five verb-related errors. Expressing frustration by giving failing marks, of course, produces no learning. While we all acknowledge that grammar is an important building block of writing skills, we often are not sure how to implement grammar instruction. We might try error analysis, but fear that the use of grammar terms might further confuse our students. We might engage students in drills, but then be worried that controlled practices fall short of communication. We might even want our students to imitate model essays, but then that imitation could stifle their imaginations. While some of us are not sure how to deal with grammar in the writing class, others are not certain when to provide grammar instruction. Should we wait until the editing stage so we can provide corrective feedback? Or should we teach grammar prior to assigning the writing task so we can prevent errors? The truth is that grammar instruction is more than F San Diego October Regional Focuses on ‘Literacy for Life’ “Literacy for Life” is the theme of the upcoming San Diego Regional Conference on October 18, 2008 at San Diego State University. The conference will be co-hosted by the College of Extended Studies/American Language Institute. Karen Cadiero-Kaplan, a CATESOL past president, will chair the conference. Included as the keynote will be a panel of three experts in the field defining literacy challenges in school, in the workplace, and in college and university settings. For more information contact Betty Samraj at [email protected] or call 619-594-5882. - Gretchen Bitterlin 16 CATESOL News Fall 2008 just providing corrective feedback or teaching the socalled preventive techniques. Grammar teaching should not be reactive and impromptu but proactive and systematic. So, to teach or not to teach is NOT the question. What to teach, how to teach, and when to teach is. In the following, I would like discuss a few principles that I have developed for my college composition John Liang classes. First, grammar instruction in the composition classroom should be systematically selective. This means that not all of the grammar structures should be taught but rather the common major language difficulties that inhibit the comprehensibility of their writing. For instance, the following major structures may deserve more attention than others in a college writing classroom: run-on sentences (i.e., It doesn’t just happen, this talent must be developed.), fragments (i.e., The problem being that he had no money.), verb tenses (i.e. He couldn’t found the key.), tense shifts (i.e. This month I decided to buy a radio receiver with the money I have earned mowing lawns.), dangling modifiers (i.e. Scrubbing the floor, my thoughts turned to Sue.), relative clauses (i.e. Jack was robbed in a restaurant that he worked.), infinitives (i.e. He decided to bought the television.), gerunds (i.e. He started work for Professor Smith last month.), and subject-verb agreement (i.e. Each of these rules are important.). If the structures above are truly “troublesome” for our students, they then should be the focus of grammar instruction. In the traditional grammar class, the teacher often lectures on grammar rules with minimal examples at the sentence level. While lecturing on abstract rules may alert students to the structure, it often fails to connect rules with actual language use in context. Therefore, the teacher should make every attempt to contextualize grammar learning in the writing classroom. Model analysis is an effective technique that directs students’ conscious attention to language structuring in a meaningful discourse. For instance, in teaching how to maintain consistent tense shifts, the teacher can first show students paragraphs that have the topic sentence expressed in the simple present and the specifics expressed in the simple past. Then, the teacher can have students analyze how the use of the simple present well expresses a general statement and how the simple past presents examples from the past to support the topic sentence. This type of model analysis helps students see how (continued on page 17) Recognition T The Spirit of Teaching Award o support and reward English learners exemplary teachers, Pearson • Successful mentoring of Longman has instituted the teachers in the field of annual “Spirit of Teaching.” It ELD/ESL will be presented at CATESOL’s • Currently a CATESOL State Conference in Pasadena member next April. Along with the Submission Requirements award comes a $500 personal • A résumé highlighting check and a $500 voucher for teaching excellence and ELD materials from the Pearson mentoring Longman catalog. • A 500-word essay by Eligibility the candidate explaining • At least 10 years of how s/he exemplifies the successful instruction of “Spirit of Teaching” ...grammar (continued from page 16) form can be appropriately selected to serve meaning and purpose. A side from textual analysis for awareness raising, controlled exercises are also effective techniques that can be used to reinforce student learning. Take gapfilled tasks, for instance. In asking students to supply the correct verb tense forms to complete a paragraph, the teacher can also require them to provide an explanation. Hence, a potentially mechanically controlled exercise can turn into meaningful practice that connects form with meaning and use. Parallel writing is yet another effective technique. After students have analyzed the organization and linguistic features of a paragraph, the teacher can ask them to produce a similar paragraph. The students may be specifically asked to produce the topic sentence in the simple present as a general statement and supply examples in both the simple present and the simple past as supportive specifics for the topic sentence. Although imitative in nature, this exercise can increase students’ intuitive understanding of the connection between form and function for a communicative purpose. Collaborative writing with guided peer feedback also provides an optimal condition for grammar learning. Send these to Dan Fichtner as Microsoft Word or “rtf” documents: [email protected] Be sure to include candidate’s name and contact information on each document (name, phone and address). Deadline: February 1, 2009. The winner will be announced well in advance of the state conference to enable him or her to attend the award ceremony. Don’t be shy, APPLY. The teacher can ask a couple of students to write a paragraph on the blackboard following a collective brainstorming of ideas. After critiquing the effectiveness of the ideas, the students can then be asked to critique the use of a specific language structure in the writing samples, i.e. subject-verb agreement or tense shifts. The open discussion and negotiation accompanied with immediate teacher feedback can further enhance student learning. Aside from proactive teaching as discussed above, the teacher also needs to help foster students’ selfregulatory learning. In addition to providing corrective feedback, the teacher can perhaps require student writers to keep an error log, noting the patterns of their errors and generalizing the rules. In so doing, students can develop a more personal understanding of the errors and can come to a better grasp of the structures and their use. Learning to write involves an ability to exercise appropriate grammar choices for meaningful communication. Therefore, grammar teaching in the composition classroom should not be limited to maintaining simplistic accuracy, but should be contextualized, selective, oriented toward awareness raising, and intended to foster self-regulatory learning. Dr. John Liang is an associate professor of TESOL and the chair of the Department of Applied Linguistics and TESOL at Biola University, La Mirada. CATESOL News Fall 2008 17 IEP Level In the Chapters Bay Area Holds First Officers Meeting, Makes Plans for December Conference By Judith O’Louglin for grades 6-12 at Cornerstone Academy – International Expectation: the time, speak and practice all the time, and push myself all the time to understand and learn more. Good students realize that it takes time to learn a language. By Priscilla Taylor Do your parents tell you that you IEP Level Chair have six months to study English ome years ago I wrote the and then you must enter a college or following article for our student university degree program? You can newsletter. With the steady influx help them to understand that it takes of international students seeking time to learn a language. Does your graduate degrees, it may be time job expect you to return speaking to take another look at their perfect English? If you work expectations as they begin their hard and do a lot of speaking and studies in the United States. reading, you will speak well after a To my students … year of study. If your time is limited, How much of your language can set your expectations lower and you I learn in six months? Can I learn will have more success. enough to enter and study in a Do you want to stay in this university in your country? Probably country to live and work? Practice not, unless I have excellent study speaking with Americans and try out skills, an excellent background in what you learn. Start conversations languages, and excellent teachers. and ask questions, but don’t expect Even then, I will have to study all everyone to understand you. Some Americans won’t be able to help you, but will want you to speak better. Here are some things Do you feel listened to? Are your rights that you can do to help protected? Is your job secure? yourself: When you learn a If your answer is “no” to any of the above, you new word or structure, and your colleagues need to be effectively use it right away in organized for collective bargaining and to speaking and in writing. speak with one voice with your administration. Learn to take chances. Speak when you might Contact the California Federation of Teachers be afraid to, and guess to see how our expertise can help. The CFT is when you aren’t sure. forming new locals in K-12 districts and Recognize that some community colleges. How can we work together? people learn languages Call (510) 523-5238 for information. faster than other people. It doesn’t CFT Adult Education Commission mean that they are California Federation of Teachers smarter. Maybe they AFT, AFL-CIO have studied more, and maybe they spend It Takes Time S Got a Voice? 18 CATESOL News Fall 2008 Priscilla Taylor more time studying and practicing than you do. Recognize that you need more or less English depending on your goals. Living in this country does not require the same level of English as studying in a university. Studying for a test such as TOEFL is not the same as learning to write and speak well. Don’t give up your language classes in order to cram for a test. A university student needs academic vocabulary, accurate structure, fast reading ability, and good listening and writing skills. These skills take time to acquire. Most professors are not prepared to help you with your English studies and ability, so you must learn English before you get into their classroom. Having expectations that are too high can cause a big disappointment if you can’t reach them easily. Some students will try harder, but some will get angry, or blame everyone else, or even give up. What about you? Are you realistic? Consider what you can do to deal with your unrealistic expectations. Most importantly, recognize that it takes time to learn a new language. Give yourself time. GOOD LUCK! Priscilla Taylor teaches in the Language Academy at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. Bay Area Chapter Coordinator Starting off its second year as a CATESOL chapter, the Bay Area Chapter officers met on June 14, 2008, to plan for the upcoming fall activities and events. The chapter serves Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. We began planning for our fall event, “Food For Thought: A Multicultural Experience,” to be held at Alliant International University on December 6, 2008, from 12:303:30 p.m. The event will feature food, publisher exhibits and short educational workshops. There will be a small admission charge. If you are interested in presenting there, please submit the following information electronically to me, Judith O’Loughlin at [email protected]. Include the title, an abstract of 30-50 words describing your presentation, including amount of time requested, audio-visual needs, and full contact information for yourself and anyone on your presentation team. A committee of chapter officers will review and approve those proposals we think will fit into the event. Many of our chapter officers will be on hand at the Northern Regional Conference to encourage participants to join our chapter and register for our fall event. We will also participate in the lunch and rap sessions from 11:45 -12:45 at the conference. Our chapter officers are an enthusiastic and diverse group. Here are some brief biographies. Judith O’Loughlin, chapter coordinator, is an education consultant to school districts, and state and federal grants projects at the Center for Applied Linguistics, as well as an online graduate professor in the multicultural education department of New Jersey City University. Shirley Sung, treasurer, is an ESL Instructor at City College of San Francisco who has given several workshops at City College and CATESOL conferences. Masako Yamada, secretary and Webmaster (www. bayareacatesol.org), is a graduate student in the MATESOL program of San Francisco State University and has worked as a public high school teacher of English in Kyoto, Japan. Ann Bagatelos, elementary representative, is a national independent education consultant, teacher trainer and a frequent presenter at state and national conferences. Brenda Huey Maenchen, secondary representative, fluent in English, Mandarin, and Portuguese, is an ESL and Chinese language teacher in a self-contained classroom Language Program. Hilary Rayvis-Randall, adult education representative, is a senior national ESL and world languages education consultant and teacher trainer. She frequently presents at state and national conferences and has written an interactive family literacy workbook, Parents as Partners. Anthony Burik, adult education representative, is a program assistant and EL Civics Project leader in the ESL and Citizenship Department at the Lorma Vista Adult Center campus of Mt. Diablo Adult Education in Concord. Vicki Pabley, community college representative, teaches at Las Positas College in Livermore and at Los Medanos College, Brentwood Campus. She is very active in CATESOL, having recently served as program co-chair for the Northern California Regional. Vicki is serving her second year as a Bay Area Chapter officer. Brenda Goldstein, community college representative, is a recent graduate of San Francisco State University’s master’s in TESOL program. She presented “Laughing and Learning: Using Humor to Make ESL Classes More Fun and Effective at the SFSU MATESOL Conference in December 2007. Dr. Debra Reeves-Gutierrez, college/university representative, is an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education at Alliant International University in San Francisco. She teaches courses in multicultural education, methodology, curriculum and instruction for English language learners and diverse student populations in the teacher education program. Along with Judith O’Loughlin and Vicki Pabley, she is a founding member of the Bay Area Chapter. Stephen Dalton, intensive English program representative, teaches at the English Studies Institute housed on the UC Berkeley campus. He has taught for Santa Barbara City College and Project SEED. Tracy Spurlin-Saravanan, representative-at-large, is currently an ESL consultant working mostly with Chinese clients. Tracy has taught English to university students in southern China in the past and currently includes community service as part of her volunteer activities. Looking Back Four Decades CATESOL will be celebrating its 40th birthday in Pasadena this coming April and the CATESOL News is seeking anecdotes, photographs and articles and ideas for articles relating to the organization’s history. We are especially looking for photographs of CATESOL presidents. If you have anything to contribute, please contact Timothy Lange at [email protected] CATESOL News Fall 2008 19 Socio-Political CATESOL Goes to Washington for TESOL Advocacy Day 2008 By Albert S. Lozano Assistant Elementary Level Chair irst, I would like to express my appreciation on being selected as the Assistant Elementary Level Chair for the 2008-2009 year. One of my first assignments in this new position was to take part in TESOL Advocacy Day 2008. On June 18, I joined 13 other TESOL members representing 12 U.S.-based affiliates in Washington, D.C. This event featured a day of issue briefings and workshops, capped by visits to congressional offices on Capitol Hill. The goals of Advocacy Day were not only to lobby on key issues for TESOL, but also to provide an interactive learning experience for affiliate representatives on elements of advocacy. By the end of the day, TESOL members had visited the offices of more than 36 Representatives and Senators. As with last year’s event, TESOL Advocacy Day 2008 was Albert Lozano focused on the efforts to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). To maximize the impact of TESOL Advocacy Day, key members of Congress serving on the education committees in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were identified for meetings. In turn, affiliates representing the constituencies of those members of Congress were selected and invited to send a representative to Advocacy Day. Since Reps. George Miller (D), Lynn Woolsey (D) and Howard McKeon (R) serve on the House Committee on Education and Labor, CATESOL was one of the affiliates selected. To participate, each of us was required to engage in several preparatory activities. For example, we were asked to set up our own individual meetings with key Representatives. To assist with this, TESOL provided directions and guidance, as well as the list of specific names to contact. This process was arduous and at times frustrating. For example, our instructions focused on faxing requests and following up with phone calls to the respective offices. However, it became apparent that email, and not faxes, are what congressional staffers relied on. Moreover, the timing of this year’s event, a week after Sen. Barack Obama’s win as the presumptive nominee, meant that the Hill was still buzzing with excitement, which staffers felt focused attention on issues other than NCLB. Finally, not all of the offices were as willing to F 20 CATESOL News Fall 2008 set up an appointment, or put me in contact with the scheduler. After being referred to a long list of names and numbers, I ultimately was unable to schedule a meeting with representatives from Congressman McKeon’s office. TESOL Advocacy Day commenced with a welcome from TESOL President Shelley Wong. We were also joined by President-Elect Mark Algren and Past-President Sandy Briggs. The morning workshop was led by Advocacy and Professional Relations Manager John Segota, and comprised three briefings. The first featured congressional staff from both the House and the Senate discussing the “view from the Hill” on NCLB reauthorization, and the key issues under debate. The second featured the education staffer from Sen. Obama’s office discussing a bill on middle school reform he has proposed, the “Success in the Middle Act.” The final briefing featured the acting director of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA). We then went into an interactive workshop on how to have an effective meeting with one’s Representative. This workshop was led by Ellen Fern and Krista Heckler of Washington Partners, LLC, TESOL’s legislative consultants. Participants were provided with key information to prepare for their meetings and were given the opportunity to role play. The purpose of the briefings and the workshop was to help the participants practice and prepare for their meetings on Capitol Hill that afternoon. This session proved helpful, but I was unable to adhere to the recommended time of 15 minutes, described below. The meetings that I did schedule were productive, in part because TESOL sent us talking points and background information on NCLB so that we could begin to familiarize ourselves with the issues in advance. We were encouraged to find examples from our own programs to illustrate the topics. For example, one talking point I stressed in both of my meetings was the difference between academic and social language, drawing on my experience as a former bilingual third grade teacher in San Bernardino. I explained in my meetings that in my final year, one of my students, Cesar was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan who would engage with me in friendly banter about the weekend’s football results. His social language skills in English were advanced, so much so that a colleague commented that we sounded like “two English speakers.” On the other hand, a second student in the class, Valeria, was still at the beginning stages of English proficiency and reluctant to speak. However, because of her advanced academic skills in literacy and mathematics, it was Valeria and not Cesar who was Reclassified Full English Proficient (R-FEP) first and has just (continued on page 21) ...advocacy (continued from page 20) completed her freshman year in college. The use of real-life examples helped staffers understand this important distinction. I was not able to meet with the Representatives themselves, but did meet with staff from Rep. Miller’s and Rep. Woolsey’s offices. In Congressman Miller’s office, I met with three: Alejandra Ceja, Adrienne Dunbar and Jill Morningstar. One thing I emphasized with them is that teachers (and potential teachers) are too often judged as “qualified” in a manner that is not in accordance with actually being a good teacher. As an example, I described a situation in which one of my student teachers was not judged by her cooperating teacher on pedagogical or classroom management skills, but instead on her ability to finish the lesson (“pacing”) at a pre-determined time. The fact that my student teacher realized her students did not understand the lesson and effectively modified her instructions so that students understood the content was not as important to her cooperating teacher as a time posted on the white board. At the time, this led to an intense discussion between the CT and me. My department, the Bilingual/Multicultural Education Department (BMED) at California State University, Sacramento, no longer places student teachers in this classroom. In addition, the staffers were surprised to hear that some BMED graduates on the job market were not asked during interviews about their philosophy of education, what they believed were best practices in reading or content instruction, or their willingness to advocate for social justice issues on behalf of English learners. Due to Adequate Yearly Progress results required by NCLB, some schools that serve a large percentage of ELs (and thus targeted by BMED) have been placed under the “program improvement” label. Several BMED graduates informed me that the only question they were asked was whether or not they objected to being watched a lot in their classroom. The expression of disbelief on the faces of the staffers indicated that this was something they had not come across. Our meeting, originally scheduled for 20 minutes, lasted for 45 minutes. My second meeting with Katie Rodriguez from Rep. Woolsey’s office ran for 20 minutes. Our conversation included the above topics in a more abbreviated form. Rodriguez was also very informative as to the time frame in which NCLB reauthorization will realistically occur. According to her, the impending election has postponed discussions on NCLB, which allows organizations such as ours more time to endorse alternative measures (e.g., growth models) to the law’s restrictive policies that judges students, teachers, and schools on a single measure of success. At the end of the day, we freshly minted advocates shared our experiences and what we learned over dinner. Most of my colleagues arranged meetings with every representative on their list, and I do wish I could have met with Representatives from “across the aisle” to learn why some politicians are endorsing legislation that is undermining many good teaching practices. What I came away with, and what I hope other CATESOL Socio-Political members incorporate at future Advocacy Days, is the power of meeting face to face. Congressional staffers can always find statistics and are familiar with state test results and NAEP scores. What we need to continue to do is bring real-life stories and experiences to Congress and give real names and experiences to the “data.” Additional information about TESOL Advocacy Day, including photographs and video of the interactive workshop, is available on the TESOL Web site at http://www. tesol.org. If you are interested in learning more about your congressional representatives, and the legislative issues TESOL is tracking, go the TESOL U.S. Advocacy Action Center at http:// capwiz.com/tesol. Albert Lozano is an assistant professor in the Bilingual/Multicultural Education Department in Sacramento State University’s College of Education. CATESOL News Fall 2008 21 Adult Level Professional Development Opportunities Bountiful in California’s Adult Level ESL adult learner. In addition, these courses initiatives, CALPRO’s Web site provides By Jan Forstrom Adult Level Chair ATESOL’s stated mission is to “promote excellence in education for English language learners and a high quality professional environment for their teachers.” A high quality professional environment in adult level ESL requires ample availability for professional development opportunities for instructors and administrators. In this time of cutbacks and budget crisis, we are fortunate to have low- or no-cost professional development opportunities available through CALPRO, OTAN, and CASAS. My thanks to Catherine Green (CALPRO), Marian Thatcher (OTAN) and Patty Long (CASAS) for sharing information about programs and materials their agencies offer that support the mission of CATESOL. C CALPRO Offers Variety of Professional Development Opportunities By Catherine Green Research Analyst, CALPRO he California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO), administered by the American Institutes for Research, offers a wide variety of free professional development products and services for 2008-2009. Educators may choose from a total of 16 online courses facilitated by subject-area experts. These courses bring teachers and administrators the latest research and best practices on topics such as enhancing learner persistence, teaching adults with learning disabilities, managing the ESL multilevel class, organizing and monitoring instruction, using questioning strategies, fiscal management, and understanding the T 22 CATESOL News Fall 2008 offer participants credit options, networking opportunities and great flexibility. Each professional development course is free, lasts about four weeks, and is open to all adult educators currently working in programs funded by the California Department of Education. Enrollment is limited, so register early. Also, this year CALPRO is offering two independent, self-directed online courses for new ESL and ABE teachers, which are available year-round. For all online courses, CALPRO’s online campus Web page (http://www. calpro-online.org/onlineCourses.asp) provides registration and additional information. This year CALPRO will continue two well-established initiatives, the Adult Education Leadership Institute and the Learning Communities for Site-Based Professional Development. Applications, related timelines, and additional details on both initiatives appear on the CALPRO Web site (http://www.calpro-online.org). The Leadership Institute’s two-year goal is to enable adult education administrators to gain effective management and quality leadership skills that will enhance their capacity to operate an adult education program. The Professional Learning Communities initiative provides intensive, multi-session training to enable program administrators and professional development specialists/ lead teachers to learn to establish professional learning communities among staff, assess staff professional development needs, and draft an agency professional development plan on a program area of special interest (e.g., professional development of ESL teachers). Beyond these online courses and a host of research-based material, such as the resources guides for new teachers of ESL and ABE, the health literacy reference guide, and three publications written for the adult education administrator. Visit http://www.calproonline.org/o_guides/default.asp. To learn of new professional development products and services, be sure to bookmark the CALPRO’s News and Events page (http://www. calpro-online.org/News.asp) and check it frequently throughout the year. OTAN Provides Technology-related Workshops By Marian Thacher Director of OTAN he Outreach and Technology Assistance Network (OTAN) provides both online and face-to-face workshops for adult ESL teachers on topics related to using technology. Popular face-to-face workshops include Internet Resources for ESL Teachers, Using Moodle to Create a Course Web Site, Classroom Activities Using Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint for Adult Education. Online workshops this year will be 1.5 hours long, and all you need to participate is a computer, a fast Internet connection, and headphones. Online workshops cover a number of new technology topics such as Google It!, Create Your Own Podcast, Blogging in the Classroom, and many more. Individual teachers can participate, or better yet, get a bunch of teachers together in a lab to participate as a group, and have some practice time afterwards to consolidate a new skill. For a full list of workshops, visit the OTAN Web site, www.otan.us. Look for Training at the bottom of the T (continued on page 23) Nevada ‘Opening Doors for English language learners’ conference quality, but to also increase conference attendance. Always looking for an opportunity to promote our conference, local board members Barbara Curtis (treasurer) and Regina Marshall-Smith (former chapter chair) approached Clark County School District’s (CCSD) English language learner (ELL) department personnel during a departmental meeting to ask for support of By Sylvia Villalva SNVCATESOL. Southern Nevada Representative The department responded in a big way. Dr. Norberta ow does an organization serve a second language Anderson, ELL Director, offered for her department to population that has experienced a 315% increase the pay 2008-2009 CATESOL annual membership fees for past 10 years; from 19,764 ESL students in 1997 to 62,775 in 2007? And, how does a chapter of fewer than 10 working 50 specialists, region specialists and region coordinators. members build organizational capacity in order to contribute She also offered to pay the SNVCATESOL conference registration fees for 50 CCSD teachers. Eligible staff quickly to the success of these students? These have been the responded and all slots were quickly filled within a week. challenges for the Southern Nevada Chapter of CATESOL Another attendance-boosting strategy is to approach (SNVCATESOL). CCSD regional superintendents for conference support. SNVCATESOL has been focused on planning its Last year, Mr. Robert Alfaro, regional superintendent upcoming conference as a means to influence the education sponsored conference fees for two people from each of the of English language learners and their instructors in schools in his district. This increased conference attendance southern Nevada. Conference days are Friday, October 10 by 40 percent over the previous year. from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, October 11, 8 a.m. Building organizational capacity is of paramount to 8 p.m. The conference venue is the west campus of the importance, not only to carry out the responsibilities College of Southern Nevada. “Opening Doors for English Language Learners” is the of a conference, but to ensure the sustainability of SNVCATESOL. theme, and a varied repertoire of presenters will conduct The motto “Bring a Friend” has become the mantra for workshops over the two-day conference. The workshops board members. The result has been several new members relate to key issues relevant to Pre-K, elementary, middle/ who have shown leadership skills by assigning themselves junior high, high school, college, and adult education. duties related to the conference. New members are the life Conference attendees will experience a complimentary, blood of sustainability. The different perspectives, expertise, al fresco dinner, while watching live multicultural resources, and enthusiasm they bring energizes our chapter performances on Friday night. No need to brown-bag it on Saturday. All meals, snacks, and beverages are included in the and helps us open the door for English language learners. For additional information regarding the low, two-day total conference fee of $75. What a bargain! SNVCATESOL conference, please contact Sylvia Villalva at Another great deal is the optional one unit university TESL [email protected] or (702)885-2115. credit course, “Methods and Materials,” from the Southern Sylvia Villalva is writing coordinator and world language teacher University of Utah. The cost is an additional $25. at C.C. Ronnow Elementary in Las Vegas, Nevada. Board members are ever-vigilant to not only improve discover the information they need Teachers – California Edition. This handbook, available free for download specifically for their own agencies from the CASAS Web site (www.casas. – including intake procedures, who (continued from page 22) org/CA Accountability) provides to contact at their agency regarding home page. From there you can read detailed explanations of testing and CASAS testing and when reports will workshop descriptions and register with data collection requirements and clear, be sent. Also included on the Web site a few clicks. For more information, comprehensive examples of CASAS is a training module for agencies to aid contact OTAN at [email protected] or documents, all from a teacher’s point in presenting the handbook, including a 800-894-3113. of view. General information is PowerPoint presentation complete with provided regarding state and federal lecture notes, a needs assessment and CASAS Handbook for requirements, but the focus of the warm-up activity, and a presentation Adult ESL Teachers handbook is what teachers need to By Patty Long know to get complete and accurate data guide. The training module can be used CASAS Program Specialist to present the handbook in one dayfor their students. ASAS has just released the new Each section in the handbook is long workshop or throughout the year CASAS Handbook for Adult ESL followed by questions for teachers to as modules. H ...development C CATESOL News Fall 2008 23 Lesson Plans Launched! Free Online Nutrition Lesson for Adult ESL: Fast Food, Healthy Choices By Nancy Hampson and Laurie Cozzolino A new stand-alone, interactive lesson on nutrition includes critical health information and vocabulary review, and life skills reading and listening practice in a fun yet challenging ESL context. “Lessons for Living Well: Fast Food, Healthy Choices” is the new online lesson from Eating Well, Living Well: Nutrition Education for Adult ESL. Aimed at intermediate ESL learners and above, with basic computer skills, the lesson provides learners with a comprehensible knowledge base about healthy levels of fat and salt intake and the skills needed for them to begin to make healthier choices for themselves and their families. As ESL teachers, we ‘Schmooze, Peruse, and Cruise’: Networking, Benefits, and Publishers’ Fair By Carol Bander Orange County Chapter Publicity Co-chair he Orange County and Los Angeles County fairs have long passed, but CATESOL Orange County and the CSUF TESOL Club are sponsoring their own fair for ESL practitioners of all levels for its Fall Event on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Come “Schmooze, Peruse, and Cruise: Networking, Benefits, and Publishers’ Fair” at California State University Fullerton’s Titan Student Union for an extended morning. In tune with our upcoming state conference theme of the “Whole Learner/Whole Teacher,” OC CATESOL has also invited representatives of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) and the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). This is your chance to find out how to begin financial planning for retirement, learn about recent changes to your plan’s policies, or ask retirement specialists specific questions. Additionally, both Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), a Fortune 100 financial services company for people who work in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields), and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union have committed to attend. We have also invited academic publishers to present workshops on new ESL books and materials. If you’ve ever gone to publishers’ sessions at CATESOL, you know that this is one effective way to learn about the strengths and T 24 CATESOL News Fall 2008 all know that health and nutrition are critical topics for our students. This online lesson provides a compelling addition to your curriculum choices. “Lessons for Living Well: Fast Food, Healthy Choices” can be used in many ways. Teachers can integrate it into a classroom lesson related to health and nutrition, ...nutrition (continued from page 24) assign it as homework (the lesson can be accessed from home computers with Internet access) or as a lab assignment. Go to www. lessonsforlvingwell.org to find (www.networkforahealthycalifornia. net) in 2002 with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program. The project’s staff and advisory team have included many current and active members of CATESOL, including Jayme Adelson-Goldstein, (continued on page 25) methodology of certain texts or series. However, for the first time, our event will offer software demonstrations along with traditional publisher book fair displays. Of course, you can simply “peruse” the exhibits, which will be housed in two rooms. Career building and social networking are also built into the mornings’ activities. Meet with colleagues at your level, discuss issues of mutual concern, or speak with a representative of an educational institution with which your level of education articulates. For example, certain ESL courses at the community college articulate with those at university. This is the “Schmooze” (chat, talk) component, something often missing as we run from session to session and have too little time to socialize. Finally, “Cruise!” These sessions will be repeated, so that if you missed a publisher’s or the STRS, CalPERS, TIAACREF, or SchoolsFirst presentation, it will be done again. You can make as many “port calls” at the different venues as you like. Each session will last 30-40 minutes. A continental breakfast will be provided. Please mark your calendars. Registration and breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m. Parallel sessions will run from 9-noon. For further information, contact chapter coordinator Tom Donahoe at [email protected]. The fee is a modest $15 for members; $25 for non-members, and the $10 difference can be applied to membership. There will be special student and TESOL club member rates. Registration chair is Catherine Whitsett at [email protected]. Please put “re: CATESOL in the e-mail message subject and leave a message for her at 714 484 7000, ext 48358. The last day for messages is Thursday, November 6, 2008. After that, registration will be on-site. If you want to spring ahead, please hold March 4, 2009 open for CATESOL OC /TESOL Club when they will present their more familiar intensive workshop format. A former CATESOL president (1999-2000), Carol Bander is a professor of ESL and German at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California. out more. Be sure to read “For Teachers” and “Help” for more suggestions and information on system requirements. In addition to the new student online lesson, the “Eating Well, Living Well” project Web site www.sdcoe.net/eatingwell offers teachers many resources for learning more about integrating nutrition education into adult ESL programs, including a selfpaced online Web cast training that provides a comprehensive overview of all the components of the project, and more than 25 classroom-based lessons and materials. “Lessons for Living Well: Fast Food, Healthy Choices” is the final product of “Eating Well, Living Well,” a research-based project awarded to the San Diego Community College District, Continuing Education, Adult English as a Second Language Program by the Network for a Healthy California Gretchen Bitterlin, Ardis Breslauer, Colleen Fitzmaurice, Sylvia Ramirez, Adriana Sanchez-Aldana, K. Lynn Savage, Leslie Shimazaki, Marian Thacher and Susan Yamate. Adult ESL students are extremely interested in health and Lesson Plans nutrition competencies, as indicated on needs assessments conducted for EL Civics and in research conducted for “Eating Well, Living Well.” Using the resources and materials of the project, ESL teachers can help provide students with the language and literacy skills they need to improve health literacy, maintain current healthy practices and take steps towards improving health practices. Although the funding is coming to an end this year, the resources and materials developed by the project over the last six years will remain available to ESL programs throughout the state via the project Web site. We want to thank the hundreds of teachers who have attended training and used our project to promote healthy living with their students. We hope you will continue to use the resources of “Eating Well, Living Well” in the future. Nancy Hampson is the literacy director in the Continuing Education Department of the San Diego Community College District. Laurie Cozzolino is a curriculum developer and teacher of ESL at SDCCD. SJSU to Host Northern California Regional O n November 8, this year’s Northern California Regional CATESOL Conference –“Opening Doors: Empowering Students” – will offer more than 60 individual workshops, an invited colloquium, a plenary session, interest group rap sessions, publishers’ book exhibit, and networking opportunities with colleagues. The keynote speaker, Andrew Lam, is the award-winning author of Perfume Dreams, a syndicated writer, National Public Radio commentator, and co-founder of New America Media, a collection of 2000 ethnic media. The conference, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. is sponsored by the Department of Linguistics & Language Development, the Connie L. Lurie College of Education, the Office of the Dean of Humanities & the Arts, the Office of the Provost, and Studies in American Language. For further information: www.catesol.org or Sharmin.Khan@sjsu. edu (408) 924-1332. CATESOL News Fall 2008 25 Fifth Annual David E. Eskey Memorial Award for Curriculum Innovation To be awarded at the 40th Annual CATESOL State Conference in Pasadena, April 16-19, 2009 Purpose: To honor Professor Eskey’s memory by recognizing accomplishments related to his professional endeavors (literacy, teacher preparation, research or practice). Submissions are encouraged in a variety of formats including books, articles, curriculum guides, etc. Criteria: The committee will select one winner, based on the following criteria: A. Strength and clarity of the project’s purpose, organization and expression B. Relevance and depth of Dr. Eskey’s influence on the project C. Preference for projects from California and Nevada Preparing the Submission: Prepare an MS Word or Adobe Acrobat document including the four pieces of information below. Use the headings below, but eliminate any references to the author. David Eskey 1. A cover sheet with your name, address, affiliation, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address, CATESOL membership number (if applicable), and the title of the work 2. A statement (800-1,000 words) including an explanation of the relevance and depth of Dr. Eskey’s influence on the project 3. The rationale or theoretical basis for the project, the target population and language level, and the outcomes of the project (up to 4,000 words) 4. The materials: a. If the submission is an article: include a copy of the entire article. b. If the submission is an unpublished curriculum project: Include the table of contents, key pages, and other relevant documents that demonstrate the value of the project. (50 pages maximum) c. If the submission is a published book: Include the table of contents, introduction, sample chapters, and any other sections that demonstrate the value of the book. (50 pages maximum) Deadline for Submissions: Applications must be received on or before March 1, 2009 For information and submissions, please contact: Lía D. Kamhi-Stein, Ph.D. Chair, David E. Eskey Award [email protected] ...foundation (continued from page 24) The CATESOL Education Foundation recognizes the following for their generous donations: DIAMOND LEVEL In Memory of Sumako Kimizuka SILVER LEVEL California Teachers Association BRONZE LEVEL Belinda Braunstein Bette Brickman Mark Wade Lieu Nguoi Viet News, Inc. Vietnam California Radio (VNCR) 26 CATESOL News Fall 2008 INDIVIDUAL & CORPORATE DONATIONS Tamara Collins-Parks Tom H. Do Jeff Frost Victoria Workman Wyndham Hotels & Resorts If you are interested in soliciting funds for the CEF, please contact me: Karen Dennis, 430 Blumont Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 or [email protected]. We have a press packet for you. To avoid duplication of efforts, please contact the foundation before beginning. Foundation President Karen Dennis, the ESL Department Chair at Santa Ana College, served as CATESOL president in 2005-2006. CATESOL 2008-2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President KATHLEEN FLYNN (818) 480-8222 [email protected] Past President DAN FICHTNER (310) 316-6092 [email protected] President–Elect BELINDA BRAUNSTEIN (209) 383-7547 [email protected] Secretary PATTY LONG (916) 264-3786 [email protected] Treasurer DON SILLINGS (714) 906-7866 [email protected] Elementary Level Chair TAMARA COLLINS-PARK [email protected] Secondary Level Chair SCOTT FORREST (709) 291-4000 [email protected] Adult Level Chair jan forstrom (619) 829-6466 jforstrom@sdccd,edu Community College Level Chair LINDSAY DONIGAN [email protected] College/University Level Chair JOHN LIANG (562) 903-4844 X5665 [email protected] Intensive English Programs (IEP) Chair PRISCILLA TAYLOR (213) 740-9558 [email protected] Nevada Representative Open Interest Group Facilitator CLARISSA RYAN (510) 490-6984 [email protected] Chapter Council Chair JULIE CASPERSEN SCHULTZ (916) 264-3783 [email protected] P U B L I C A T I O N S The CATESOL Journal Editors Mark Roberge [email protected] Margi Wald [email protected] CATESOL News Editor TIMOTHY LANGE (323) 224-0329 [email protected] General Editorial Information Sarah Nielsen (510) 885-3216 [email protected] Advertising: GLENN GARDNER ggardner @glendale.edu Contact Us/Join Us CATESOL Membership Application Name ____________________________________Date ______ Mailing Address ______________________________________ City ________________________ State ______Zip _______ County _______________________Country _____________ Phone (H) _____________(W) ___________(Cell)________ Fax __________________________ E–mail _____________ Members may chose up to two interest groups. Mark “1” next to your primary choice. If you have a second choice, mark it with a “2. ________ ________ ________ ________ Intercultural Communication Interest Group (ICIG) Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) Teaching English in the Workplace (TEW) Nonnative Language Educators’ Issues (NNLEI) Subscribe to Listserv for the above interest group(s)? Yes Check one: $50/1 yr. $35/student (1 yr.) $35/retired (1 yr.) Full Time Part Time May CATESOL end you an occasional e-mail regarding CATESOL products or services, such as announcing conferences, award opportunities, etc.? Yes No No $85/2 yrs. $35/teacher’s aide (1 yr.) $80/joint (two people living at the same address/ 1 yr.) Include your name in printed or on–line membership directory accessible to CATESOL members only? Yes No Overseas members add $30 per year for postage. Payment by: Check VISA Master Card Discover Credit Card Number: _____________________________________ Expiration Date: __________Signature: ______________________ 2008-09 Chapter Council Bay Area Chapter Coordinator JUDY O’LOUGLIN [email protected] Capital Area Chapter Coordinator BRENDA McTIGHE [email protected] Los Padres Chapter Coordinator JACK BAILEY [email protected] MEMBERSHIP Orange County Chapter Coordinator TOM DONAHOE [email protected] Saroyan Chapter Coordinator TOMMIE MARTINEZ [email protected] Provide your name and mailing address to other educational organizations? Yes No Mail check to: CATESOL 21C Orinda Way #362 Orinda, CA 94563 Northern Nevada Chapter Coordinator MARIETTA MARQUIS [email protected] Steinbeck Chapter Coordinator MOLLY MAY [email protected] Southern Nevada Chapter Coordinator SYLVIA VILLALVA [email protected]. net WAYNEFLETE 21C Orinda Way#362 Orinda, CA 94563 Please check level(s) which you work: Elementary Secondary Adult Community College College/University Intensive English Program Subscribe to Listserv for the above level(s)? Yes No Please check your position(s): Teacher Student (min. 6 units) Aide Administrator/Supervisor Teacher/Trainer Other: (Specify) Yosemite Chapter Coordinator KEITH PETERSEN [email protected] Membership Coordinator Open INTEREST GROUPS Intercultural Communications Coordinator CLARISSA RYAN wintersweet&sbcglobal.net Non-Native Language Educators’ Issues Coordinator CASSIA DE Abreu [email protected] Teaching English in the Workplace Coordinator INGRID GREENBERG [email protected] Technology Enhanced Language Learning Coordinator tatiana roganova [email protected] For information about CATESOL conferences: BARBARA LUTHER [email protected] For information about exhibiting at CATESOL conferences or advertising in official conference publications: Glenn Gardner ggardner @glendale.edu CATESOL News Fall 2008 C O N F E R E N C E S 27 CATESOL Education Foundation Gala Reception Launches CEF in Sacramento By Karen Dennis CEF President special thank you to all who attended the April 10 Kick Off Reception for the CATESOL Education Foundation at the 2008 CATESOL State Conference in Sacramento. The new brochure highlighting the work of the foundation was put in the colorful conference bags. Dan Fichtner, the outgoing president of CATESOL, and I, recognized those who have A Rob Jenkins contributed to the foundation. Rob Jenkins entertained everyone with his smooth flowing saxaphone. Artists Linda Swanson and Susan Stern showcased their paintings and crafts, and James Wilson played Celtic music from his new CD for us. Mia Reed sent her photographs via Carol Bander to share. It was truly a special occasion. The CATESOL Education Foundation voted to give $4000 to help fund the 2008 CATESOL State Conference Sunday Workshops. Next year the foundation will showcase the intensive English programs by sponsoring someone with registration, transportation, and hotel (up to $500) for the next state conference in Pasadena. (continued on page 26) UPCOMING EVENTS October 9-11: Steinbeck Chapter Symposium October 11: Los Padres Chapter Conference October 18: San Diego Regional Conference: “Literacy for Life” at San Diego State University October 18: Yosemite Chapter Conference October 25: Capital Area Chapter Workshop October 25: Los Angeles Regional Conference: “What Works and Why,” with Dr. Dana Ferris and Dr. Ivannia Soto-Hinman at Biola University in La Mirada November 1: Orange County Chapter Workshop: “Schmooze, Peruse, and Cruise: Networking, Benefits, and Publishers’ Fair” at California State University, Fullerton November 8: Northern Regional Conference: “Opening Doors: Empowering Students” with Andrew Lam, the award-winning author ofPerfume Dreams, at San Jose State University November 15: Saroyan Chapter Conference December 6: Bay Area Chapter Mini-Conference February 7: Yosemite Chapter Conference April 16-19: 2009 State Conference: “Whole Learner, Whole Teacher” at the Pasadena Convention Center CATESOL 21C ORINDA WAY #362 • ORINDA, CA 94563 FORWARDING POSTAGE GUARANTEED Moving? Please Print Your New Address Below: Address City Country Phone number change? Please print your new number below: CLIP THIS FORM AND ADDRESS LABEL, SEND TO: CATESOL 21C ORINDA WAY #362, ORINDA, CA 94563 PLEASE ALLOW SIX WEEKS ADVANCE NOTICE PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Glendale, CA PERMIT NO. 73
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