Introducing…the Secondary Interest Section
Hi! I'm Debbie Hadas, and I'm secondary interest group co-chair. I
first joined MinneTESOL in 1982, so I guess that makes me something of
an old-timer! I've had ESL jobs at all sorts of schools in the metro
area, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, and have been
teaching at Apple Valley High School since 1987. I received my ESL
training at the School for International Training in Brattleboro,
Vermont.

Marilyn and I are working with David Bremer and Laura Funke, the
college interest group co-chairs to set up a workshop on college
readiness. We hope that each secondary teacher who attends will leave
with a contact at a nearby college, and the beginning of a closer
working relationship. More details soon!

We'd also like to organize a workshop that's just for us secondary
teachers - and will of interest to middle school teachers as well as
the high school ones. We haven't started yet, so drop me a line, and
tell me what you'd be interested in. And if you have suggested
speakers, or want to help, all the better!

My big goal for this year is to get us talking! Have a great teaching
idea? A question? A thought? Send me an e-mail and I'll get it out to
the group. And if there's any interest we can set up a list-serve. That
might be fun, so let me know.
Debbie

Hello. I am Marilyn Gjerde, the other Secondary Interest Group
co-chair. I am new to Minnesota. Though from here, I have been living
abroad for l5 years. I was in Japan for 11 years and the United Arab
Emirates for four years. In both places, I taught English as a
Foreign Language in universities. While in Japan, I earned a Masters
of Education in TESOL, from Temple University Japan.

Since coming to Minnesota in September 2004, I have been working full
time at Volunteers of America High School. VOA High School is an
alternative Minneapolis public school, which has a program for adults.
Most of the students are East African, Somali and Ethiopian. A few are
from South America. To graduate, students must pass the MBST exams and
do an Equipped for the Future (EFF) portfolio. The portfolio is
comprised of sixteen standards, in which learners demonstrate in
writing their mastery of the standards. An example of a standard is
Convey Ideas in Writing. For this standard, students write a five
paragraph essay, as they would for the MBST writing exam. Currently, a
group of students are embarking on an EFF project with a goal of
writing a booklet, which is hoped to be useful for high school students
and teachers informing them of what needs to be done at the high school
level to prepare students for college. I will be advising this
project, and am very open to suggestions and information you may wish
to contribute. You may reach me at marilyngjerde@yahoo.com

My part-time job is with a Hubbs Center satellite school, teaching
Hmong students in a Basic Work English Program.. We are in the
classroom 20 hours a week. I love my jobs. Students are very motivated
and interested in learning. I receive great joy, doing what I do. I
feel very fortunate to be continuing my international experience in
America.

I'm looking forward to hearing of your needs and what you would like
the Secondary Interest Section to do to help you grow professionally.

Introducing…the Teacher Educators Interest Section

Greetings! I am Tina Edstam, co-chair of the Teacher Educators Interest Section. I decided to form this new interest section two years ago when I realized that I, along with many of my university colleagues, needed a place to 'hang our academic hats' when interest sections were meeting. Identifying an initial twenty interested participants, I launched this interest section and am delighted to see more than double that number today. Moving from chair to co-chairing this coming year with Dr. Nancy Drescher, I look forward to carrying out the goals of this new interest section so that its mission remains as relevant as possible to our new members.
Professionally, I am currently coordinating a Title III teacher development grant (TEAM UP) for K-6 ESL and classroom teachers through the University of Minnesota. This project focuses on the value of teacher collaboration, the power of professional conversation, and the need for site-based approaches to school change. With an ESL teaching background, a Ph.D, in Second Languages & Cultures from the U of M, and a position that enables me to work directly with ESL and mainstream teachers, principals, and other key staff, I truly enjoy the opportunity to engage in the issues that address the academic success of our second language learners.

Hello! My name is Nancy Drescher, and I will begin a year of co-chairing the Teacher Educators Interest Section with Tina Edstam. I am currently in my third year of teaching in the MA-TESL and the ESL licensure programs at Minnesota State University, Mankato. I have been working in the profession as an ESL/EFL teacher and teacher-trainer for the past 16 years in one capacity or another, and am very excited about the opportunity to work with this interest section. I spent most of my professional life working in Colorado and The Kingdom of Tonga until beginning to work on my Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics at Northern Arizona University. I have enjoyed my time working with students and professionals in Minnesota thus far and look forward to forging new relationships within the area communities.

ESL teachers needed for committees

Several opportunities for ESL professionals to participate in developing statewide tests for ELLs are scheduled for this spring and summer. Upcoming committees include item review for TEAEM (a sheltered English math test), bias review, TEAE rangefinding, and TEAE test specifications redevelopment (for the new version of the test). K-12 teachers interested in participating are encouraged to sign up in the state's assessment advisory panel database. Go to www.state.mn.us and select the following: Accountability Programs / Assessment and Testing / Professional Development / Advisory Panels.
Questions may be directed to Anita Dualeh: anita.dualeh@state.mn.us or 651-582-8648.

Attention Middle School ELL Teachers!

Are you a middle school ELL teacher and a member of MinneTESOL? MinneTESOL is trying to find out how many of you there are! Please contact Andrea Poulos, 1st Vice President of MinneTESOL, at apoulos@lincolnadulted.org to let her know who you are and where you teach. She will then lead you in a discussion about which interest section works best for you as a group (elementary? secondary? separate middle school group?) Thank you.

Goodman Research Group

As an ESL teacher of children in kindergarten through 3rd grade, you are eligible to participate in a paid research opportunity offered by Goodman Research Group (GRG), a private consulting firm in Cambridge, MA specializing in the evaluation of educational programs. As a participant in this study, you would be asked to view a DVD of Becoming Bilingual, a television series developed by WETA TV for the program Reading Rockets. You will then be asked to fill out a survey about the TV show. You will be paid $50 for your participation which should take a total of 45 minutes of your time.

Required Experience
You must currently be working as an ESL teacher in order to qualify for this opportunity.

Contact
Katie Franich
Goodman Research Group
955 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
Phone: (617) 491-7033
Email: franich@grginc.com

Photos in this Newsletter
Photographs in this newsletter were taken at the February 24, 2006, Adult Interest Section workshop on Phonics in Adult Low-Literacy ESL.

Professional Development
Hamline Class focuses on CALL

Integrating Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) into the ESL/EFL Curriculum : Online course offered through Hamline Universities Continuing Graduate Studies Program. 6/5/06- 7/17/06, 2 credit summer course. Develop an understanding of how to effectively integrate Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) such as the Internet, computer software, and e-mail into the communicative ESL classroom. Spend each week reading and analyzing current research and best practices in the field, and viewing sample practical applications of a particular form of educational technology. Share your ideas and reflections with colleagues. Create lesson plans and projects integrating
educational technology into your own classroom curriculum. Target audience: ESL/EFL educators, higher ed, K-12, adult.

For more information, contact Nima Salehi:
Email: nsalehi@themlc.org
Phone: 651-645-2277 ext. 224

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UND Coursework

The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks now offers the
following online graduate program:
Teaching English Language Learners (begins May 15, 2006)
www.conted.und.edu/ddp/ell -online graduate course work leading to
English as a Second Language (ESL) or Bilingual Education Endorsement in Minnesota. This successful graduate program is now offered ONLINE so educators can study at anytime, anywhere! Those who have completed UND's program have demonstrated a very high passing rate for the Praxis II ESL
Speciality Exam in Minnesota. Please share this opportunity with all classroom, Title I, special education, and adult education teachers interested in:
-expanding their career and becoming an ELL teacher -applying credits
earned toward a Master's degree in Education from the University of
North Dakota -learning to better serve English Language Learners
Online course work will cover:
-Foundations of Bilingual Education
-Second Language Acquisition
-ELL Methods
-Linguistics
-Assessment of ELLs
-ELL Practicum
-Multi-cultural Education
Program begins Summer 2006 and concludes Summer 2007. Admission
deadline is April 1, 2006.

For more information, please visit www.conted.und.edu/dpp/ell or contact:
Distance Degree Programs
Division of Continuing Education
University of North Dakota
PO Box 9021
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9021
Toll Free: 877-450-1842
E-mail: distancedegreeprograms@mail.und.nodak.edu

JOBS/Volunteer Opportunities
COORDINATOR POSITION IN AUSTIN
Austin, MN - ELL Coordinator Position for the 06-07 school year:
Description at the following website:
https://www.astihosted.com/aups/JAM/Applicant/App_Default.asp?view=
1&CategoryID=DBU31141212111113&jobtype=A&name=Administrative+
Positions+%28Directors%2C+Principals+%26amp%3B+Coordinators%29

Austin is a district of about 4200 students with an LEP population of about 13% with 11 full time ELL teachers in the district. We have a Kindergarten Center that is an all day/every day format, 4 elementary schools, one 6-8 middle school, and one 9-12 high school. Our primary LEP population is Latino; however we have a growing Sudanese population and there are over 20 languages represented in our student population. We are searching for someone who no only understands the research, but who can provide leadership for our teachers on how to implement those 'Best Practices' in our classrooms. If you know of potential candidate and would be willing to pass this along, I would sincerely appreciate your assistance.
Katie Berglund
Banfield Elementary Principal
507.433.0903
kberglund@austin.k12.mn.us

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Does Your Heart Draw You Away?


Employ your training and skills to help us build bridges of understanding and peace worldwide!

With a modest investment of your time through Global Volunteers, you can offer language instruction to students of all ages in Brazil, China, Ecuador, Ghana, Greece, India, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Romania, or soon—Sri Lanka.

Volunteer teams work for one, two or three weeks in urban and rural classrooms of various sizes. Exceptional partner organizations, hosts, and country managers ensure that your expertise will help secure the futures of needy children and young adults.

Join one of the nation's foremost mico-human and economic development organizations as a volunteer English teacher. All program-related costs, including travel, are tax-deductible. 800-487-1074. www.globalvolunteers.org. Please mention MinneTESOL.

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SPANISH EDUCATION FOR WOMEN

Do you work with immigrants? Do you want to expand your Spanish?
Are you willing to experience grassroots Mexico?


Then join us in Guadalajara, Mexico this summer. Spanish Education for Women offers intensive, innovative classes designed to strengthen your Spanish skills. Talented instructors hold university degrees. Social and cultural seminars are especially useful for teachers who work with immigrants or their children. Tour Mexican schools; cook Mexican recipes; interview Mexican social workers.
Participants lodge with Mexican families in a colorful, working?class neighborhood. Three one?week sessions are scheduled for July 2006.


Visit our website for more information:
http://www.spanisheducationforwomen.org