For Students or Teachers

Small Group Communication - site under construction

Real communication is not easy, especially in a group setting. However, once we understand different personal and cultural communication styles, we can learn to adapt to the people around us with surprising results. This is a very interactive workshop with helpful exercises and group work. The handout has the communication phrases practiced in the workshop.

Priority Pronunciation Pointers - site under construction

Why are some people so hard to understand? Wouldn't you like to find out so you can help them? In this workshop, you will learn some basic principles about teaching pronunciation and four priority topics. Be prepared to practice with physical movement and sounds. No teaching experience necessary. This workshop can works well with language learners of almost any level.

Leadership Training for International Small Group Bible Discussions

This is a practical workshop for international men and women who are interested in leading a small group Bible study. Find out how to lead small groups, how to build reading and discussion skills, and how to prepare for and teach a Bible study.

For Teachers

Bible Exploration for Thoughtful Language Learners

Many internationals have no knowledge of even the basic narratives and teachings in the Bible. Not only is the Bible unfamiliar to these readers, but sometimes also the careful, personal way in which Christians study it and the ambiance of our small-group Bible discussions. In this workshop, we will briefly discuss the needs and interests of non-Christian internationals as they begin a study of the Bible with us. We will participate in an actual lesson from the Bible Exploration Workbooks, and discuss ways to develop learner-centered lessons.

Creating Materials for Interactive Group Work

One of the challenges of a beginning ESL class is the amount of vocabulary in each subject area or lifeskill needed to engage the students in collaborative activities. Each text or workbook you use adds extra vocabulary, often with unfamiliar structures as well. However, you will increase practice and success if you use only one main text and develop introductory and reinforcement materials to complement that text. These materials can be developed as templates and saved for future use.

***Workshop Charts for Creating Materials and Stories***

Creating Stories for ESL Beginners

An ESL/EFL beginner's limited vocabulary and knowledge of sentence structure does not constrain a good storyteller. Stories with very few words can be relevant and humorous. Review the elements of a good story and some conventions that will help you communicate them in easy English. Customize each other stories by changing people and places, create additional practice materials to go with the stories, and collect your student's stories for future classes.

Implementing Alternative Performance-Based Assessment at a Classroom Level

This workshop is for ESL teachers in public education, but the principles can be used in any class or tutoring situation.

Adult ESL programs with successful EL Civics grants incorporate additional, non-standardized assessments into their everyday classroom routine. How do teachers have time for this? The presenter will demonstrate practical, efficient assessment activities gleaned from her colleagues in California, and information about standardized performance-based assessments (CASAS) and EL Civics grants.