MinneTESOL APRIL 2007 Updates

Minnesota Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages www.minnetesol.org

MinneTESOL ESSAY CONTEST There are just a few weeks remaining before the MinneTESOL essay contest deadline. Teachers are encouraged to submit learners' essays on one of the following topics: 1. Share your culture by explaining why a belief or tradition is important to you 2. Describe an important event in your life and explain what you learned from it Thirty dollars cash will be awarded to one learner in each of the following groups: -Elementary school -Middle school -High school -Adult basic education -College/Intensive English program Winning entries will also be posted on the MinneTESOL website. Complete submission requirements and the required entry form are on the web at www.minnetesol.org under 'Contest Information.' Entries must be postmarked by May 1, 2007.

Upcoming Interest Section Events! College Interest Section Event The MinneTESOL College Interest Section leaders, David Bremer and Laura Funke, would like to welcome you to the College IS Spring Gathering. It will be held on April 21st on the Minneapolis Community and Technical College campus from 8:30-noon. We are honored to have three veteran educators-Robin Murie, Betsy Parrish, and Adele Hansen-share some fresh perspectives on reading, listening/speaking, and writing. Whether you have been teaching for years or are new to the field, you will surely gain some practical ideas about teaching these essential skills to your students. A minimal fee of $3/MinneTESOL members and $5/non-members will be collected at the door. Though the topics will specifically address college-level instruction, all MinneTESOL members (and non-members) are welcome. For more information or to register, please contact Laura Funke at Lfunke@inverhills.edu or 651-450-8556. * * * Elementary Interest Section Meeting When: Saturday, April 21 from 10:00 a.m. to noon Where: room 04 of the Law/Grad building at Hamline University, St. Paul Who: elementary ELL teachers Why: network with colleagues and learn more about collaboration Elementary interest section members are invited to a panel discussion on collaboration Saturday, April 21 at Hamline University. A panel of teachers from different schools will share how they are currently collaborating with mainstream teachers at their schools. Come hear about some ideas you might try in your school. Bring your own stories and questions about collaboration. A map of Hamline and driving directions are on the web at http://www.hamline.edu/. Parking is available in the lot right across from the Law/Grad building. Parking permits are not required on Saturdays. To help us better plan for this even, please RSVP by April 18 to clairjuly@yahoo.com. Hope to see you there.

SAVE THESE DATES!! Upcoming Conferences Friday evening, November 2 and Saturday, November 3, 2007 University of St Thomas, Minneapolis, MN MinneTESOL will hold its annual fall conference on Friday and Saturday, November 2-3, 2007. We plan to have two outstanding speakers again this year, and as always will offer a full schedule of presentations from colleagues across the state, lots of exhibitors who will share the latest publications and materials, and an opportunity to network and connect with English language professionals from across the region. But there is a change this year – a change of venue. With sponsorship from the University of St Thomas, the 2007 MinneTESOL conference will be held at the St Thomas campus in Minneapolis. It is a beautiful facility, a great location, and easy to get to. A call for proposals will go out by the end of April. Be sure to check the MinneTESOL website regularly for updated information on the 2007 conference, including maps to our new location. Save the date! Best from your MinneTESOL 2007 Conference co-chairs, Kimberly Johnson kjohnson60@hamline.edu Becky Uran Markman uran0005@umn.edu * * * Hamline University and the Minnesota Department of Ed - ABE will be offering an Adult ESL Conference at Hamline University on Monday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 22. Details and registration info will be sent out in mid-April and will be posted on the MN Department of Ed-ABE calendar of events: http://mnabe.themlc.org/ABEcalendar.html. * * * The Minnesota Department of Education is proud to host its annual ESL, Bilingual, and Migrant Education Conference on May 3-4, 2007, at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minnesota. We invite all who work with English Language Learners in K-12 ESL, bilingual, Migrant Education, mainstream, Special Education, and Adult Basic Education programs to attend. REGISTER NOW – Registration deadline is April 20th. * * * Bridging Contexts, Making Connections: Fifth International Conference on Language Teacher Education May 31–June 2, 2007 Radisson University Hotel Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA Designed for practitioners and researchers involved in the preparation and ongoing professional development of language teachers, this conference will address the education of teachers of all languages, at all instructional and institutional levels, and in all the many national and international contexts in which this takes place including: English as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) instruction; foreign/modern/world language teaching; bilingual education; immersion education; indigenous and minority language education; and the teaching of less commonly taught languages. Conference plenary speakers Equipping Teachers to be Language Explorers Elaine Tarone, University of Minnesota Social Semiotic Approaches to Developing Knowledge about Language Geoffrey Williams, University of British Columbia Language Immersion Teacher Education and Hawaiian Medium Schools: A Story of Innovation and Collaboration William H. "Pila" Wilson, University of Hawai'i Hilo REGISTRATION INFORMATION: http://www.carla.umn.edu/conferences/LTE2007/registration.html CONFERENCE INFORMATION: http://www.carla.umn.edu/conferences/LTE2007/index.html WORKSHOP INFORMATION: http://www.carla.umn.edu/conferences/LTE2007/workshops.html

News from TESOL Voices from the TESOL Conference in Seattle The annual TESOL conference took place in Seattle this year, and MinneTESOL was well represented among the participants. Many of us really enjoyed the workshop selections, the facilities, and the city. As current MinneTESOL president, Andrea Poulos went to two affiliate gatherings. The first was a leadership training meeting which included an excellent presentation by former TESOL president Denise Murray, along with time for networking with other affiliate leaders about issues such as structure and membership. The second was the affiliate assembly meeting which was also attended by Patsy Vinogradov. This gathering is basically the affiliate business meeting where the various committees give their annual reports. Interestingly, we found out in this meeting that there were 150 countries represented among conference attendees this year, and there are 99 affiliates with Hong Kong being the most recent addition. We also learned a bit more about the official TESOL position papers (there are over 40 now, and you can check them out at www.tesol.org,) and about the new TESOL Leadership Development Certificate which can help those trained as teachers feel equipped when they find themselves in leadership in English language programs. We were also encouraged to remember that there are a variety of awards offered each year by TESOL, some of which they receive very few or no applications for -- check them out and apply! Later that day, MinneTESOLers got together for an informal affiliate gathering of their own for happy hour. * * * Ellen Lewin reports after TESOL Seattle My favorite tee-shirt in Seattle: Seattle Rain Festival, January 1 – December 31. It did seem to be true, but who cared with all the exciting sessions available during TESOL's 41st conference March 21-24 in Seattle. I attended some 20 sessions and presented two posters, one on learning disabilities and the other on stress-busters for tired teachers. Both went well. It was great to reconnect with friendly faces and shake hands with the woman who inspired me to apply for and get two posters accepted for this year's event. The convention center was crowded with long lines at some events, and people also scurried from that site to two hotels where more sessions were held. Seattle itself beckoned us to the coffee shops, fish markets, and many tourist attractions. While I was happy to see the sun when the plane broke through the clouds to return to Minnesota, I am also fortunate to have made the trip. I gathered a lot of new ideas and information to share with people back at my institution. You might not see me in New York, but maybe Denver or Boston after next year… * * * TESOL Position Statements At its meeting in March, the TESOL Board approved two new position statements: -Position Statement on the Status and Rights of Teachers -Position Statement on the Identification of English Language Learners with Special Educational Needs These are available for download from the TESOL web site at http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/seccss.asp?CID=32&DID=37

Please Read These Important Announcements MinneTESOL Member Grant Applications Now Being Accepted! MinneTESOL is proud to accept applications for mini-grants through May 31, 2007. Projects will be funded for a variety of contexts: early childhood, ABE, K-12, post-secondary, etc. Although MinneTESOL will not exclude the possibility of funding projects more than once (or the extension of a previous project) we will try to fund new projects and recipients whenever possible. Grant awards will not exceed $200. For more information will be on our website soon at www.minnetesol.org. * * * A Unique Opportunity to Effect Global Issues New Global Citizens works to engage American high school students in helping to solve the worlds biggest challenges. As a non-profit, NGC helps young people establish Global Action Clubs in high schools that mobilize their local community around a grassroots project in the developing world. Club members choose projects with New Global Citizens' partners around the world ranging from HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa to clean water access in Central America to literacy in Asia. Global Action Clubs support grassroots partners in three important ways-by generating funds, by acting as advocates, and by educating their local community in the United States about the issues facing their partners. Students' work helps address urgent global problems today, and trains young Americans to fit into solutions for a lifetime. If you are interested in bringing New Global Citizens to your school contact: ypw@newglobalcitizens.org or visit our website: www.newglobalcitizens.org <http://www.newglobalcitizens.org/> Caitlin Drewes Special Projects Director YPW: New Global Citizens 2601 Mission St. Suite 502 San Francisco, Ca 94110 p: 415-550-6991 f: 415-550-6391 * * * JOBS Director, Minnesota English Language Program College of Continuing Education UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA The College of Continuing Education (CCE) at the University of Minnesota is searching for a Director of the Minnesota English Language Program. Approximate start date is July 1, 2007. This is a 100% time, 12-month, annually renewable appointment that reports to Michelle Koker, Associate Director of Academic Programs within the Degree and Credit Programs (DCP) unit of CCE. DCP broadens student access to the University and offers programs that typically cut across disciplinary and college boundaries. The Minnesota English Language Program is an important part of a University strategic initiative to expand international programming and outreach. Submit application electronically using the University of Minnesota's Online Employment Center web site at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/employment/index.html. This position is posted as requisition #146873. Applicants must submit the following online: a letter of application (addressed to Search Committee Chair, Professor Anne Lazaraton, 331C Nolte Center, University of Minnesota), Curriculum Vitae, and contact information for at least three references familiar with your work. Review of applications will begin during March. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

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