Columbus Centennial’s 15th Annual Multi-Cultural Fair is Jan. 29
American society has long been referred to as a “melting pot” for the way many different cultures, over many generations, have come together to form the country’s “flavor.”
However, as with many good recipes it is all those unique ingredients that make the whole special, and it is those “ingredients” that will be on full display during Centennial High School’s 15th Annual Multi-Cultural Fair.
The fair — to be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at the high school, 1441 Bethel Road — will feature lots of free food, music, dance, crafts, a fashion show and information from 40 different cultures.
Elementary schools offer bilingual classes
When Jessi Wong attended elementary school, it was against the rules to speak Spanish.
Now, she is the coordinator of bilingual, ESL and migrant education for New Braunfels ISD.
Wong has seen the old attitudes about using Spanish in classrooms change as the demand and need for bilingual education rises.
Both New Braunfels and Comal independent school districts offer bilingual education at the elementary school level, and are working to implement, transition or expand their dual-language programs that both districts say will benefit students and parents greatly.
Read Full Article…
The Herald-Zeitung.
Language barrier falls
At Braeburn Junior School, principal Monica Francis can’t believe the difference a year makes.
About two thirds of her Etobicoke students speak a language other than English at home — with parents insisting it’s closer to 80% — and despite new immigrants continually arriving into the largely Somali community, their school had not a single ESL teacher to assist them.
The alarming gap we found last February at Braeburn was hardly unique: Almost half of all Ontario elementary schools with ESL students lacked an English-as-a-Second Language teacher. The Toronto District School Board was one of the worst offenders, by consistently diverting half of its provincial ESL grant to pay for school pools, heating costs and other budget shortfalls.
Yet thousands of kids were landing on Toronto’s doorstep unable to speak a word of English and too many were set adrift with no school program to help them.
But that has finally changed.
Read Full Article..
Language barrier falls | News | Toronto Sun.
WIDA Shows Promise
January 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under ESL Resources
WIDA Shows Promise
By: Elizabeth Dowling, M.S. Ed.
Here are some notes from my initial training:
World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA/ “weeduh”) is a non-profit consortium of nineteen states working together to meet the needs of English language learners and educators. WIDA is funded through at U.S. Department of Education grant and was originally developed in 2003 through the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin.
Through extensive research and educator input, WIDA has designed instructional standards for ELLs in pre-Kindergarten- Grade 12 that address both social and academic language. WIDA seeks to standardize the identification, instruction, and assessment process.
Educators in states that join the WIDA consortium have access to standards, training resources, and assessment tools that will meet the 2001 NCLB requirements. Most importantly, as of 2009, over 725,000 English learners benefit from the research and products WIDA provides.
WIDA Standards Organization
Formative Framework
Summative Framework for Assessment
The 5 English Language Proficiency Standards (to follow)
The 4 English Domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, And Writing.
The 5 Grade Level Clusters: PreK-K, 1-2, 3-5,6-8, 9-12
The 5 Language Proficiency Levels: 1=Entering to 5=Bridging
Model Performance Indicators: Indicators of the basic expression level for students.
The five WIDA ELP Standards are as follows:
Standard 1: English language learners communicate for SOCIAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL purposes within the school setting.
Standard 2: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of LANGUAGE ARTS.
Standard 3: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of MATHEMATICS.
Standard 4: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of SCIENCE.
Standard 5: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of SOCIAL STUDIES.
As a teacher in Virginia I am excited to be part of the implementation of WIDA in our schools. The training is extensive and the 2007 Resource Guide(Margo Gottlieb, Ph.D., M. Elizabeth Cranley, Ph.D., Andrea R. Oliver) is invaluable. The “CAN DO” descriptors have already proven helpful for mainstream teachers and families. Some items are already translated into Spanish. I plan to write more as I continue my endeavor to learn about WIDA and its implemenation. In the meantime, visit the website so you can grasp the magnitude of this project!
UCC still enrolling students in ESL classes
ELIZABETH–There is still time to enroll for spring semester English as a Second Language studies at Union County College’s Institute for Intensive English (IIE), located on 12 West Jersey Street in Elizabeth. The semester begins on Jan. 22.
The Institute for Intensive English is a full-time program of concentrated instruction in English for persons whose native language is not English. As a result of studying in the program, students enhance their English language abilities in order to further their academic, career, and/or personal goals in the United States.
Each student interested in taking courses through the Institute must partake in placement testing. After placement testing, students enter one of six levels of instruction commensurate with their abilities. The curriculum covers structure, listening, conversation, and study skills, as well as reading and academic writing.
Students interested in enrolling in ESL courses at UCC should visit the Elizabeth or Plainfield campus at 232 E. Front Street for an entrance interview and testing.
Interviews with students interested in enrolling in ESL courses can visit the Elizabeth campus for an entrance interview and testing. Interviews will be conducted at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14 and at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
For more information on the courses offered or placement testing dates, call (908) 965-6031 or visit www.ucc.edu/go/esl.
UCC still enrolling students in ESL classes.
Library painting project on hold to allow ESL class
The Westchester Square Library’s long-planned painting job inside the building will have to wait so ESL programming is not interrupted. Photo by Victor Chu
The Westchester Square Library was scheduled to get a new paint job near the start of the new year, but the inability to find a suitable replacement space for English as a Second Language programs that take place there for immigrants have likely pushed the job back to the summer.
Head branch librarian Aurea Garcia said she had looked for other places to accommodate the growing numbers of participants in the library’s ESL programs, but felt that a change of venue in the middle of the class schedules would be too disruptive to the immigrants and that they would likely lose many of the students in the move.
Read Full Article…
Library painting project on hold to allow ESL class > YourNabe.com > Bronx.
Korea sends students to Cebu for ESL
THE Philippines’ good climate and its proximity and positive relations with South Korea has prompted the government of Geochang City to send 25 students here for a one-month grant under an English as Second Language (ESL) program.
“Going overseas, away from their parents, is the best way for them to learn English,” said Il Yang Suh, consultant for the Board of Education of Geochang City.
The ESL program is under the auspices of the Department of Languages and Literature of the University of San Carlos.
Read Full Article…
Sun.Star Cebu - Korea sends students to Cebu for ESL.
Northwest Arkansas’ Program to offer ESL, GED learning from a distance
Two programs offered at Northwest Arkansas Community College’s Adult Education Center will soon be available through distance learning because of a statewide pilot program.
The Adult Education Program is one of 12 across Arkansas selected to participate in a distance-learning pilot project, director Ben Aldama said recently.
“Adults will have the opportunity to participate in GED and ESL learning without attending a regularly scheduled class,” he said.
The programs will be offered through what is called a hybrid system - it is offered mostly online, but there is a required face-to-face component, said Connie Cox, GED instructor. The students of either program will be required to come to the center to take tests, and they will be required to keep at least weekly contact with the instructor.
Reaf Full Article…
NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas’ News Source.
DISD In Need Of 200 Teachers In Special Subjects
A group of parents wants private school students to give the Dallas public school system a chance.
About 1,400 students fill the halls and classrooms of Dallas’ Woodrow Wilson High School. On the streets surrounding the sEven though the district laid of 375 teachers earlier this school year, the Dallas Independent School District says it really needs to hire two hundred more teachers.
According to officials, the district needs teachers in certain subject areas and no one certified to teach them was laid off this year. Those subjects are in math, science and bilingual education.
Superintendent Michael Hinijosa says the district needs to get a jump start for next year.
Read Full Article…
cbs11tv.com - DISD In Need Of 200 Teachers In Special Subjects.
Immigrant students suffer
I am an ESL teacher at Renton Technical College. I realize we are currently in a state of crisis because of the grim economic situation, but I hope that there are no further cuts to the already deeply cut basic-studies departments of local colleges. It is in these departments that the local immigrant population is working hard to better their skills in order to become productive, active members of our community.
In the last 20 years, I have taught in various college classrooms. The ESL students at Renton Technical College are the most earnest, enthusiastic students I have ever worked with. If you wonder how important these courses are to them, please consider the fact that they are taking the three-hour classes for no credit, at the beginning or end of a long workday, without recognition.
Read Full Article…
Northwest Voices | State education cuts | Seattle Times Newspaper Blog.