Monday, February 25, 2008
What do you need for your ESL professional development?
Through many of the organizations we are affiliated with, we are trying to find out what you need as an ESL teacher to make you a better teacher. What kind of "professional development" would help. One of the ways in which we are trying to reach our fellow ESL teachers and administrators is through a survey. If you would like to fill one out to help us help you, please contact me, Martin Senger at MSenger@GECAC.org
News from the NWPA ESL Network
Attention anyone with an ESL interest in NW PA! Teacers, tutors or administrators! Have we got the group for you! The original ESL Network in the Commonwealth, over three years and still kicking!
Our group was started because we ESL teachers needed to find sympathetic ears for our classroom tears and fears, and also voices of experience. Voila!
We welcome anyone to our monthly meetings, usually the 3rd Friday of the month, 2:00-4:00. Our next meeting will be March 14th.
If you are PDE / ABLE-funded, please pre-register on e-Campus. If you have no idea what I just said, just show up! Contact us here to find out more info.
Our group was started because we ESL teachers needed to find sympathetic ears for our classroom tears and fears, and also voices of experience. Voila!
We welcome anyone to our monthly meetings, usually the 3rd Friday of the month, 2:00-4:00. Our next meeting will be March 14th.
If you are PDE / ABLE-funded, please pre-register on e-Campus. If you have no idea what I just said, just show up! Contact us here to find out more info.
What do we tell our students seeking citizenship?
First and foremost, a warning: UNLESS YOU ARE A CERTIFIED IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT BY THE USCIS, DO NOT TELL ANYONE ANYTHING!
That warning out of the way, we are often the first line of defense for our students against the rumors that FLY through immigrant communities. We can be a legitimate source of accurate information for our students, if only to refer them to someone qualified to answer their questions, something often sorely needed.
That warning out of the way, we are often the first line of defense for our students against the rumors that FLY through immigrant communities. We can be a legitimate source of accurate information for our students, if only to refer them to someone qualified to answer their questions, something often sorely needed.
PDE who? NRS what?
We are in the process of compiling an A to Z list of the initials and acronyms that we need to know as ESL teachers. Know one? Post it! Don't know one? Post it!
Who are we?
Here is where you can add your name and experiences to this blog by telling everyone about yourself personally and professionally!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Assessing speech
Pax all! I am trying to find/create a fairly comprehensive assessment for spoken English only, something that can go from Beginning Literacy to Advanced/ABE. Any suggestions?
Ciao!
Martin
Ciao!
Martin
How does the brain learn languages?
Pax all! One of my passions right now is trying to understand how our physical brain learns a language (L1 or L2), and how, as teachers, can we meet the brain "half-way" as it were. If you have any thoughts on this, I'd appreciate it!
Ciao!
Martin
Ciao!
Martin
Thursday, February 7, 2008
MWC '08: Cheers & Jeers
This is the spot for you to tell us on the board of PAACE what you liked and didn't like at the PAACE Midwinter Conference, in Hershey, February 6-8.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Introducing the PA Adult ESL Blog
Pax et bonum! (Peace & goodness)
Welcome to the unofficial newsletter written for, and by adult ESL teachers in Pennsylvania. Here you can add your voice, knowledge and experience to our profession, or ask any question about ESL, plumbing our collective wisdom.
My name is Martin E. Senger, and I have been an ESL/EFL teacher for over a decade. I have a degree in Russian Language. I started teaching EFL to refugees in the former Yugoslavia as a humanitarian aid. Upon my return to the US, I became the Adult ESL Teacher for the largest non-profit in the state, the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC), pronounced "jee-kak" in Erie, Pa.
Since then, I have participated in devloping the recently released Adult ESL Content Standards for the PA Department of Education (PDE). I am also one of the founding members of the NWPA Adult ESL Network, sponsored by the NW Professional Development Center (PDC). I have also been on the board of Three Rivers TESOL (Pittsburgh), an organization dealing primarily with the academic aspect of ESL.
In the past year, I was appointed to be co-chair of the ESL Division for PAACE, the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education, along with Cathie (Cat) Whitmire and Susan Adams. Together we are attempting to put a state-wide face on ESL teachers in Pennsylvania.
In addition to my full-time job of ESL teaching, I am also a private tutor for professional ESL students. I am also facilitating on-line courses for K-12 certified teachers to get their ESL certificate.
I hope that this blog will provide you with many opportunities to increase your own knowledge of teaching ESL, while enriching ours.
Thanx!
Welcome to the unofficial newsletter written for, and by adult ESL teachers in Pennsylvania. Here you can add your voice, knowledge and experience to our profession, or ask any question about ESL, plumbing our collective wisdom.
My name is Martin E. Senger, and I have been an ESL/EFL teacher for over a decade. I have a degree in Russian Language. I started teaching EFL to refugees in the former Yugoslavia as a humanitarian aid. Upon my return to the US, I became the Adult ESL Teacher for the largest non-profit in the state, the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC), pronounced "jee-kak" in Erie, Pa.
Since then, I have participated in devloping the recently released Adult ESL Content Standards for the PA Department of Education (PDE). I am also one of the founding members of the NWPA Adult ESL Network, sponsored by the NW Professional Development Center (PDC). I have also been on the board of Three Rivers TESOL (Pittsburgh), an organization dealing primarily with the academic aspect of ESL.
In the past year, I was appointed to be co-chair of the ESL Division for PAACE, the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education, along with Cathie (Cat) Whitmire and Susan Adams. Together we are attempting to put a state-wide face on ESL teachers in Pennsylvania.
In addition to my full-time job of ESL teaching, I am also a private tutor for professional ESL students. I am also facilitating on-line courses for K-12 certified teachers to get their ESL certificate.
I hope that this blog will provide you with many opportunities to increase your own knowledge of teaching ESL, while enriching ours.
Thanx!
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