Below are the 47 scheduled presentations for the upcoming Spokane Regional ESL Conference on February 27 at Gonzaga University.

All sessions will be in Jepson Center at Gonzaga University. A detailed schedule of the exact locations and times will be posted 7-10 days before the conference on our home page.

Below you can click on a column title to organize a column from ascending to descending or vice versa. You can use your browser page to search for a particular presenter or title or institution. You can also search by specific criteria by clicking on the arrow in the top left corner. For example, click on this arrow and type "grammar" in the blank field under "Program Summary" to find all presentations that include that particular word the program summary provded by the presenter.

Title Presenters Institution Program Summary Type Length
  A Look at Education in China David Herman Eastern Washington University This presentation seeks to explore, through personal experiences and secondary research, the workings of the traditional classroom in mainland China and Taiwan. The goal is to explore how differences among Eastern and Western educational systems may work to create challenges and frustrations among Chinese students studying in the US and their American instructors. Regular 45 minutes
  A Question and Answer session about the English Language Fellow Program Wendy Asplin English Language Fellow Program This session if for those interested in learning more about the English Language Fellow Program, a 10-month fellowship fully funded by the US Dept. of State. The presentation of general information will be followed by a Q&A session. Regular 45 minutes
  An Approach to Teaching English Auxiliary Verbs Andrew Colver Gonzaga University What do does and did have to do with third person -s and past tense -ed? A rationale for teaching the covert auxiliary, do, from the beginning. Regular 45 minutes
  Applying Extensive Reading to the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language Su-Su Hung, HyunGyung Lee Washington State University Based on positive findings of empirical studies and potentially efficient implementation principles revealed by literature review, a quasi-experiment involving 541 adolescent learners of English as a foreign language in Taiwan was conducted. The statistically significant results confirm that a properly organized extensive reading program can contribute efficiently to enhancing EFL learners' English competence. Regular 45 minutes
  Be Careful What You Wish For: Student Affective Issues and Faculty Collaboration in EAP/University Content-Based Teaching Kate Hellmann, Joanne Sellen, Laurel Gilbert-Wilder University of Idaho: American Language and Culture Program The presenters will discuss content-based teaching in an Intensive EAP Program where EAP students are paired with American students as part of an authentic university classroom experience. They will discuss the challenges of working with university faculty and the realities of language acquisition. Regular 45 minutes
  Beginning the Retirement Conversation Cynthia Hallanger CHallanger Coaching In this interactive session you will learn qualities of positive aging, look at different retirement styles and find out ways to talk to your partner about retirement. Time for discussion and brainstorming among participants will be included. Regular 45 minutes
  Bridging the Gap Between Print and Digital Annette Acosta McGraw-Hill ESL The Interactions e-Course is the Interactions texts (Reading, Listening/Speaking, Writing, and Grammar) with an additional interactive online feature. The online version of the book basically looks like the pages of the book, but the pictures, activities, listening, grammar charts, vocabulary, etc. all come alive through video, animation, and self-correction. Regular 45 minutes
  Co-Operative Learning Finis Turner Whitworth University Solid cooperative learning techniques for ELL students. To increase awareness and ability to be successful. Graduate student poster 45 minutes
  Displacement in College ESL Writers: Exploring Ethnic & Linguistic Identity through Personal Narrative Jessica Dinneen Eastern Washington University Understanding how identity struggles can cripple ESL students in class and away from school, ESL instructors can help them through the difficult and often painful transition of acculturation. In this presentation, I explore the role personal narrative can play in an academic setting and its benefits, as well as how instructors might create spaces within their classrooms and curriculum to facilitate student exploration and experimentation. Regular 45 minutes
  embrace your own damn ambiguity Mary Jeannot gonzaga university A perfect storm has been invented for TESOL professional; rather, we have helped to create the perfect storm! I will discuss why this is so, how it has happened and why ambiguity is a necessary ingredient for managing the storm. Regular 45 minutes
  English Language Development Parent Video Deanna Ristau Central Valley High School Come view a video developed collaboratively with high school video production students intended for ELD parents. The video walks ELD parents through a high school, introduces them to people, places, and information in order to help them understand and navigate the school system. Regular 45 minutes
  ESL Vocational Institute Kathryn Bayley, Djillia Harrat Gonzaga University Gonzaga offers an additional option to their annual TESOL summer language camp. The ESL Vocational Institute will offer serious minded high school juniors and seniors already participating in ESL programs at their home school a chance to learn skills that could provide an edge in an already difficult job market. Graduate student poster 45 minutes
  Excellent English: Balancing Grammar, Standards and Assessment Annette Acosta McGraw-Hill ESL Excellent English is a unique adult education series that adds an additional academic "push" for your students. While covering all of the important competencies, this adult series adds a strong grammar focus and basic academic reading and writing skills to provide options for students who may want to continue on a vocational or academic track. Regular 45 minutes
  Exciting Ways to Teach Spelling Fern Adam Community Colleges of Spokane Put excitement into your spelling program. This workshop is a hands-on demonstration of different activities that motivate students and improve their spelling. Regular 45 minutes
  Grammar Instruction Made Easy with new Grammar Form and Function and e-Workbooks Annette Acosta McGraw-Hill ESL Engaging new Grammar Form and Function, 2nd edition, with the new e-Workbook makes grammar more fun to teach and more fun to learn! Regular 45 minutes
  In service of language: Using service learning to improve language outcomes Elizabeth Siler Washington State University This presentation details the successes as well as the pitfalls of two different semester-length service-learning projects in two different university ESL classes. The presentation includes a review of service learning models, what was learned by all parties in the course of these projects, what would be done differently next time, and what would be continued. Regular 45 minutes
  Language Ideologies and Non-native English Speaking Teaching Assistant Hiring Policies in MATESOL Programs Avram Blum University of Washington This paper reviews eleven MATESOL programs' hiring policies for Teaching Assistants who learned English as an additional language. Using data collected from these MATESOL programs' web pages, I compare the ideologies exemplified in these policies with the approach to non-native English speaking language educators promoted in the current literature. Regular 45 minutes
  Lesson Planning Made Easy with Ventures Wendy Asplin Cambridge University Press Ventures is designed as a flexible adult ESL program to be used in 1-, 2- or 3-hour classes, with the Student's Book supported with reproducible collaborative activities and the innovative AddVentures: photocopiable multilevel worksheets. Participants will learn how components are used to build a lesson. Regular 45 minutes
  Melody Gardot's "Buckled Up Inside"--ELLs Read & Write about Disabilities, Music Therapy, Special Olympics, and Success LaVona Reeves, PHD, Diana Kneff, EWU MATESL Alumna EWU, MATESL Director We share curriculum designed to teach ELLs the success stories of two Americans with disabilities--(1) Melody Gardot, the 25-year-old singer/songwriter whose "latest album...has dazzled critics in the U.S. and sold more than half a million copies in Europe" and (2) Franklin Roosevelt, the US President who served the nation from a wheelchair (Kneff, 2010). As a group, we will consider why TESOL needs a disabilities statement and draft one together. Regular 45 minutes
  Moodle In the Classroom Frank Newman Spokane Public Schools Moodle in the Classroom will give an overview for K-12 teachers on how to effectively use Moodle, a free course management system, in their classroom. Regular 45 minutes
  Native American Boarding Schools: The Continent\'s First ESL Immersion Program Joan Johnston Nelson Washington State University This presentation will give a brief overview of the history of North America's first English Immersion Program, the education of Native American children through the BIA sponsored boarding school system. The presenter will discuss the cultural impact both past and present that the boarding schools have had on the Native American population in the United States and what this means to educators of English learners and other culturally diverse students today. Regular 45 minutes
  On Track to Discrete Pattern Error Elimination Diana Presley Intensive American Language Center/ WSU The presenter shows a sure-fire way to help students overcome fossilized discrete pattern errors in their writing. Method can be used at any level of English writing production. Regular 45 minutes
  Peculiarities of teaching English as a Second Language to adult speakers of Russian Language Elena Pipenko Eastern Washington University A native Russian herself, Elena Pipenko presents on the difficulties that adult speakers of Russian face on immigrating to the USA and starting to learn English. The presenter will discuss what are the factors that constrain the progress of Russian-speaking immigrant adults to learn English, how can ESL teachers help Russian-speaking adults learn the language and how should their methodology be adapted for this population. Regular 45 minutes
  Putting the Pieces Together: An ESL Library Research Guide Susan N. Thompson Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute This guide is a step-by-step approach for ESL students to begin researching in an English-language library, using tools that can help them achieve success in their research. Starting with encyclopedias and ending with internet research, students will achieve success in the research process, while building confidence in their language abilities. Regular 45 minutes
  Small Business Opportunities for Refugees in Spokane Kathryn Bayley Gonzaga University This presentation focuses on small business opportunities that new refugees to the Spokane area can take advantage of. Working in conjunction with local agencies such as World Relief, SNAP and the DHHS, refugees can learn to support themselves and their families through small business training and financing. Regular 45 minutes
  Teaching Heritage Language Hero, Chihiune Sugihara: New Perspectives on the Holocaust Miki Asai Eastern Washington University In reading a biography of a heritage language hero like Sugihara, who saved roughly 6,000 Jews during WWII, ESL teachers and students learn the history and cultures of the group members. Guidelines for using heritage language materials (in translation) in both homogeneous and heterogeneous classrooms will be provided, and approaches will be recommended. Regular 45 minutes
  Teaching Vocabulary through Reading in the New Password Series Talya Clay Pearson Longman Learn how to teach high-frequency vocabulary in a controlled, yet soothing way. Come check out the New Password series by Pearson Longman. Regular 45 minutes
  TESOL in Japan Naoko Kojima Gonzaga University Taste of TESOL in Japan.
How to communicate with Japanese students and teach them effectively.		 Graduate student poster 45 minutes
  TESOL in Peru: Hecho a Mano Marilyn Jackson Runyan, Diana Candia Gonzaga University ELC The presenters will give an overview of their recent TESOL course in Peru, showing how three course threads, Spanish lessons, a TESOL certificate course and English classes for Quechua artisans were woven together into one intricate, multi-layered course design. They will share travel stories and spectacular photos. Regular 45 minutes
  The Benefits of Informal Resident Assistant Facilitated Tutorials for College-Level ESL Students Marie Whalen, Erin Frazier Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute Informal Resident Assistant led tutorials for ESL students provide valuable practice in the target language, further students' understanding of American culture, and foster positive relationships among students while creating opportunities for the RAs to develop intercultural and leadership skills. The Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute tutorial model will be explained and demonstrated through the use of handouts and participation in mini tutorial lessons. Regular 45 minutes
  The Facebook Project: Using social networking in an ESL classroom David Martin Intensive American Language Center - WSU In this presentation, we will discuss how to use social networking sites, such as Facebook, to help reduce the workload in an on-site ESL classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to contribute ideas and possibilities into a shared social networking knowledge base. Regular 45 minutes
  The immigrants’ issue of social identity and heritage language transfer to their children Paula Márquez Lavine Eastern Washington University, Department of English As a recent immigrant from Argentina and ESL teacher, I understand that we immigrant parents are trying to figure out how best to guide our children to English acquisition while fostering the learning and/or maintenance of the heritage language/s and values. I will explain how ESL teachers can address the issues and provide valuable information to ease the acculturation anxiety in adult learners. Regular 45 minutes
  The Japanese English Education System: Recent Changes and Future Directions Jenifer Hermes, Yukiko Hosoki Eastern Washington University/ Kyushu International University A brief introduction to the history of the English education system in Japan, including an outline recent changes, current trends, and future possibilities, particularly focusing on the English in the Elementary Schools program, the Japan Exchange Teaching Program, and Japanese/ English bilingual education. Regular 45 minutes
  Using children's Caldecott books to teach new vocabulary to second language beginner learners Al Tiyb Al Khaiyali Washington State University Most ESL learners are wrestling with building new vocabulary; the main purpose of this presentation is to suggest an authentic aesthetic strategy of teaching new vocabulary using one type of children's literature namely "Caldecott books". Regular 45 minutes
  Using homework for practice Alyssa Demir Whitworth University Homework: an effective way to extend learning beyond the classroom. Graduate student poster 45 minutes
  Weaving Poetry into your ESL Lessons Turi Hoversten Intensive American Language Center This presentation explores reasons why poetry should be studied by ESL students as well as specific cognitive, memory and social strategies to use in order to successfully incorporate poetry into the ESL classroom. Abbreviated lesson plans will provide examples which illustrate how each strategy can be put into practice to meet desired learning outcomes. Regular 45 minutes
  Workshop Design: Spelling is More than Magic Holly Shelton, Norah Fahim University of Washington This is a practical session about strategies to help ESL students with spelling problems and how to fit spelling work into the larger curriculum. Such plans can be applied to K-12, higher education, or other contexts, and a packet of materials will be included. Regular 45 minutes
  World Englishes Erin Welch, Megan McCann, Scott Swisher Gonzaga University This poster focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of teaching "World English" texts. These issues center not only on English Language Learners, but also on teachers. Graduate student poster 45 minutes
  You can find that in the library? Susan N. Thompson Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute ESL students are often faced with using an English-language library for research. This program helps ESL students navigate an English-language library system and make them feel more comfortable in both private and public libraries. Regular 45 minutes
  Citizenship, Civics, and English, How Can We Better Serve Immigrants and Refugees Ed Sale U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) USCIS is a new agency providing benefits and services to immigrants and refugees. The workshop will cover ESL, citizenship, civics, and will explore ways USCIS can partner with Spokane ESL instructors to support their efforts. Regular 90 minutes
  Cues, Questions and Advanced Organizers Jared Amerine Whitworth University ELL students can benefit from cues and questions to activate background knowledge. The level of English proficiency can greatly improve with the use of these activities. Graduate student poster 90 minutes
  ELL Students Can Effectively Summarize and Take Notes Rachelle West Whitworth University English Language Learners can benefit from applying cognitive, higher-level thinking strategies to English text, even when they have not yet mastered English. ELL students can, in fact, become proficient in both summarizing and note-taking through utilizing both linguistic and nonlinguistic representations of the information.
 Graduate student poster 90 minutes
  Engaging English Language Learners and Striving Readers with 21st Century Skills through Global Issues Dave Wilton, Sheeba Jacob Facing the Future Engage intermediate English language learners and striving readers to prepare them for the literacy demands of the 21st century. Participate in this hands-on session (and receive a free teacher's guide) about using global issues content and themes to support development of the sophisticated vocabulary and reading skills needed to comprehend complex texts and write in multiple genres. Regular 90 minutes
  English for a New World Brady LaMotte Heinle - Cengage Learning Heinle and National Geographic have partnered together to create a series with motivating real-world content supported by stunning visuals to help develop learners' understanding of the wider world in which they live. Video from National Geographic Digital Media motivates students and aids in visual learning.
Regular 90 minutes
  Identifying Similarities and Differences Traci Stussi Whitworth University It is essential that all students are able to compare and contrast amongst events, characters, and ideas - so that the deeper understanding we all strive for can be reached. Here you will find a variety of useful classroom tips that will assist your ESL learners through this process. Graduate student poster 90 minutes
  Marshallese 101: What educators need to know about the Marshall Islands and how to work effectively with Marshallese students Inna Hanson, Leke Ankien, Dana Ankien, Phil Koestner Spokane Public Schools Marshallese is the third most spoken primary language in Spokane Public Schools. Although The Marshall Islands is a protectorate of the U.S. and Marshall Islanders are considered "legal non-immigrant, non-citizens" in the US, many Americans and natives of Spokane know very little about the Marshall Islands and Spokane's growing Marshallese community.
By attending this training you will gain a cultural, geo-political and historical context for the Marshall Islands,learn about resources for working with Marshallese students,and equip yourself to work directly with Marshallese school staff, students and parents in a meaningful and impactful manner.		 Regular 90 minutes
  Nonlinguistic Representations Al Schmidt Jr. Whitworth University Communicating is conveying meaning, which can be done in many more ways than just using words, as language is not only words. Such is the perspective that would especially benefit many teachers of classrooms with English Language Learners (ELLs). Graduate student poster 90 minutes
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