Presentation Abstracts and Biographies

Denise Abate

Jan Attomo

Bringing professional development to adjunct instructors

Friday, November 2 10:15-11:00 Room 314

Paper - 45 minutes AE, PA

How do you develop and implement a professional development program that supports adjunct instructors, breeds collegiality and works within the time and work constraints of a large adjunct population?   The presenter will describe two program models that have been successful with 19 adjunct instructors in three locations.

Denise Abate, ESL division director at Colorado Mountain College’s Vail/Eagle Campus, has an MA in ESL from the School for International Training in Vermont. Jan Attomo has an MA in education with an emphasis in social, multicultural and bilingual foundations of education and has been ESL lead faculty since 1997.

Nancy Alexander

Eye-openers for mainstream teachers of English language learners

Friday, November 2 10:15-11:00 Room 318

Demonstration - 45 minutes EE, SE, GA

This demonstration will provide quick tips and practical activities that will help mainstream teachers of English language learners to develop an awareness of second language acquisition and the needs of ELLs in the classroom.  Resource and follow-up recommendations will be included as well.

Nancy Alexander is an ESL facilitator for Mesa County School District in Grand Junction, supporting both ELLs and their teachers.

Pietro Alongi

Oliva Fernandez

Opening the door to academic writing

Saturday, November 3 10:15-11:00 LaGuardia

Publisher Session--Pearson Longman

Are you looking for inspiration in teaching writing to your low level students? The presenter reviews key writing skills and demonstrates best practices in teaching writing via the clear step-by-step approach of Longman's Academic Writing series. Now in four levels, this series guides students to success in their writing.

Pietro Alongi

Oliva Fernandez

Building reading and vocabulary skills

Friday, November 2 10:15-11:00 LaGuardia

Publisher Session—Pearson Longman

To become more proficient and confident readers, students need motivating readings, focused skills work, and abundant practice. The presenter discusses the reading process and demonstrates ways to help students develop skills for success with For Your Information, a reading series built around universally appealing themes. Samples will be provided.

Mary Louise Baez

Ventures: Building community in the adult education classroom

Friday, November 2 1:30-2:15 LaGuardia

Publisher Session—Cambridge University Press

Cambridge's new five-level series, Ventures, addresses the most pertinent issues in adult education today.  Attendees will experience how this standards-based course builds strong classroom community through relevant topics, interactive collaboration, and project work.  By promoting learner persistence and independence, students will be prepared to confidently launch new ventures outside the classroom.

Mary Louise Baez has been a senior ESL specialist with Cambridge University Press since 1997.  She has taught and trained teachers in the U.S. and Latin America.

Mary Louise Baez

Academic content to support English language learners

Friday, November 2 10:15-11:00 Room 305

Demonstration - 45 minutes SE, IEP/HE

English Language Learners sometimes struggle with academic content because they either lack appropriate vocabulary or the scaffolding to support the content they are responsible for comprehending through reading or listening.  Strategies and techniques to support ELLs will be presented.

Mary Louise Baez is an ESL specialist with 21 years experience.  She's taught and trained teachers in the U.S. and Latin America and was ParaguayTESOL president.

Linda Barrios

Sheryl D. Meyer

Communicative teaching demands communicative testing

Friday, November 2 3:30-4:15 Room 305

Demonstration - 45 minutes AE, GA, IEP/IE

This demonstration will discuss the importance of creating communicative reading and grammar tests.  The presenters will briefly explain what communicative teaching means.  Then they will show a variety of test items that they and their colleagues have used to assess reading and grammar communicatively.  Some student responses will be included.

Linda Barrios has been teaching at the English Language Center at the University of Denver for 22 years.  She especially enjoys using an integrated approach in her reading and composition classes. Sheryl Meyer has been teaching ESL for 14 years, and she is currently teaching at the English Language Center at the University of Denver.

Olena Benedyktova

Break the ice and warm them up!

Friday, November 2 11:15-12:00 Room 314

Demonstration - 45 minutes GA

Every language teacher knows the importance of ice-breakers and warm-ups in a lesson. But not everyone can always come up with a good and relevant one. This demonstration will provide a set of activities that you can choose, adjust, and try out in your classes right away.

Currently an international graduate student and a teaching assistant in the U.S., Olena Benedyktova has several years of unique experience in teaching languages, teacher training, and materials development for the U.S. Peace Corps Ukraine.

Nancy Berry

A systematic approach to building academic vocabulary

Saturday, November 3 10:15-11:00 Room 303

Demonstration - 45 minutes IEP/HE, SE

ESL learners planning to study at American universities must acquire the vocabulary needed to comprehend textbooks and lectures.  After describing how one IEP’s curriculum was modified to systematically include high frequency and academic vocabulary, the presenter will invite participants to share how they have helped students learn this crucial vocabulary.

Nancy Berry has been a curriculum supervisor and instructor at the Intensive English Program at Colorado State University for the past several years.

Lisa Blackburn

Helping kids make connections

Friday, November 2 1:30-2:15 Templehof

Demonstration - 45 minutes EE, SE

This session will demonstrate techniques and graphic organizers that help students make personal connections to what they read. Making connections helps students with memory and reading comprehension and helps them relate to the world of literature in a personal way.

Lisa Blackburn is ESL team leader at Sheridan Middle School and historian for CoTESOL.

Kathy Bougher

Molly Prince, Briton Sloan, Nikkie Kirby

U.S.-Mexico immigration and border issues for educators

Saturday, November 3 1:30-3:15 Room 316

Panel - 1 hour 45 minutes BE, GA

How do realities of the U.S.-Mexico immigration and border issues impact students, families, and educators?  Educators who participated in a 16-day border immersion experience along the U.S.-Mexico border will present a multi-perspective panel discussion on their experiences, using PowerPoint, printed resources, and an audience discussion session.

Kathy Bougher is an English Language Acquisition instructional specialist in the Denver Public Schools. Molly Prince teaches a fifth grade class which includes immigrant students in Mapleton. Briton Sloan works as a bilingual social worker in the Denver Public Schools. Nikkie Kirby works at the Spring International Language Center at Auraria. All participated in the June 2007 Educators´ Mexico Trip.

Kat Bradley-Bennett

Teaching pronunciation, an independent study course

Friday, November 2 10:15-11:00 Room 316

Demonstration - 45 minutes AE, AL, BE, EE, SE, IEP/HE

Why teach pronunciation in the ESL classroom? What’s the theory behind it? What’s the technique? How far should you go in correcting students’ accents? The presenter will acquaint participants with teaching pronunciation, an online course for professional development credit recently developed by the Northern Colorado Professional Development Center.

Kat Bradley-Bennett teaches ESL at St. Vrain Adult Education and assists the Northern Colorado Professional Development Center. She taught English in South Korea and China.

Christina Brady

Methods, models, and mentors in accent reduction

Friday, November 2 2:30-3:15 Room 301

Demonstration - 45 minutes IEP/HE

This demonstration is a practical expose of methods for teaching accent reduction. The presenter will show how to use the Internet to find samples of expert users of English, explore new technologies for voice recording, and talk about using accent mentors for guidance outside the classroom.  

Christina Brady received an MA in TESOL from Georgetown University and works at the University of Colorado, Boulder.  She teaches accent reduction at the university and at local companies.

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Margie Brown

Sharon Rutz

Interaction structures for multi-level classes

Saturday, November 3 10:15-12:00 O'Hare

Workshop - 1 hour 45 minutes EE, SE, GA

Participants will practice five small group and five large group interaction structures which can be used with any content and any age.  Each structure promotes increased content and language learning through pair and small group interaction while also supporting individual accountability.

Margie Brown is an ESL coach in Colorado Springs School District 11 and liaison of the Colorado Springs CoTESOL chapter. Sharron Rutz teaches ESL at Palmer High School in Colorado Springs and has taught bilingual classes in California and New Mexico.

Paula Brown

Assess-Report-Improve

Friday, November 2 11:15-12:00 Orly

Publisher Session – CTB / McGraw-Hill

Developed by the research and assessment professionals at CTB/McGraw-Hill, TABE Complete Language Assessment System—English provides teachers with accurate, reliable evaluations of adult students’ English language skills. However, this test goes beyond proficiency—additional resources such as valuable lesson plans and instructional guidance materials offer classroom teachers the link to connect data to instruction.

Paula Brown, evaluation consultant for CTB/McGraw-Hill, offers a wide array of assessment services to Colorado customers. She provides expertise in formative and summative assessments and assists in linking the results to instruction.

Julie Bruch

Can we stay ahead by looking behind?

Friday, November 2 10:15-11:00 Room 312

Paper - 45 minutes AL, IEP/HE, SE

Do old-fashioned language teaching strategies have a role to play in modern language classrooms? Anecdotal evidence from language learners and teachers will be paired with current theory to re-evaluate strategies such as translation and memorization in order to explore how teachers can optimally facilitate language acquisition in the classroom environment.

Before teaching languages and linguistics at Mesa State College, Julie Bruch taught ESL at the University of Colorado and University of Kansas, and EFL in Japan, Spain, and Puerto Rico.

Dieter Bruhn

Competitive activities for the classroom

Saturday, November 3 1:30-2:15 O'Hare

Demonstration – 45 minutes GA

Finding creative ways to motivate students is the key to a successful and energetic classroom environment. In this lively and interactive presentation, participants will be put into the role of students and will take part in several competitive team activities that they can begin using in their classrooms immediately. Detailed handouts will be provided.

Dieter Bruhn is president and founder of One World Training, which offers TEFL certificate programs in Boulder, as well as 1^st vice president of CoTESOL and convention chair.

Mark Buchholz

All-Star supports learner persistence objectives

Saturday, November 3 10:15-11:00 Room 305

Publisher Session – McGraw-Hill

McGraw-Hill’s All-Star series builds community among students by creating a fun and active environment for learning.  Students identify and consistently evaluate goals by assessing their learning, growth, and mastery of skills.  Most importantly, individuals apply new-found knowledge to specific aspects of their lives including education, family, work, and community.  

Mark Buchholz has taught ESL.  He also worked as an ESL specialist for five years before joining McGraw-Hill.  Mark has an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Shirlaine Castellino

Focusing on advanced level skills

Friday, November 2 2:30-3:15 Room 314

Discussion - 45 minutes IEP/HE

This discussion will focus on prioritizing which skills to concentrate on to help our advanced level students as they transition into the university. The presenter will share an informal survey asking former students what their greatest challenges are in their classes and open the discussion for sharing of ideas.

Shirlaine Castellino is an instructor at Spring International Language Center in Littleton.  She also coordinates the college ESL classes at Arapahoe Community College.

Ranee Cervania

A pre-writing technique for visual learners

Friday, November 2 11:15-12:00 Room 305

Demonstration - 45 minutes IEP/HE, SE

Participants will experience a pre-writing technique using drawing and/or metaphor, in combination with the more traditional techniques of freewriting, outlining, or mapping.  Through introspection, they will examine its effectiveness and/or ineffectiveness and its applicability in various settings.  Perceptions of students who have used this technique will be reported.

Ranee Cervania teaches developmental reading and writing at the Community College of Denver and is the curriculum specialist for the FastStart program at CCD.  She completed her MA in ESL and PhD in education, specializing in curriculum and instruction and ESL, at the University of Hawaii--Manoa.  She has been a second/foreign language teacher of English and Filipino for over 30 years.

Mark A. Clarke

Common ground contested territory

Saturday, November 3 1:30-2:15 Orly

Publisher Session - University of Michigan Press

The presenter will discuss current challenges to English language teachers as he presents ideas from his new book.  Among the topics examined will be: obstacles to authentic learning activities, instructional strategies that promote engagement, balancing the demands of standards with the needs and interests of learners.

Mark Clarke is professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture at the School of Education, University of Colorado at Denver.

Nancy Commins

TIER 1 classrooms in linguistically diverse schools

Friday, November 2 3:30-4:15 O'Hare

Demonstration - 45 minutes BE, EE, PA

Participants will interact with a set of “Look For” indicators for classrooms organized with the needs of ELLs in mind. It can be used to set a focus for classroom observations, as well as for self-assessment and goal setting. Pictures for classrooms that reflect these understandings will be also presented.

Nancy Commins has been working with students and educators in linguistically diverse schools in a variety of capacities for nearly three decades. She loves her work!

Corby Connolly

Diane Witt

Brain-based learning through creative expression

Friday, November 2 2:30-3:15 Logan

Demonstration - 45 minutes EE

This demonstration will provide teachers with a framework to make a standards-based curriculum truly accessible to ELLs through brain-based inquiry activities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, using mind-mapping, puppetry, movement, creative play, and art.

Corby Connolly is a bilingual, Emmy award-winning puppeteer, and elementary school ELL teacher. Corby is also an adjunct teacher at Regis University. Diane Witt, a seasoned classroom teacher and ESL instructor, is passionate about helping children discover their own learning styles to develop their academic competencies.

Lonnie Dai Zovi

Yes you CAN use music to teach!

Friday, November 2 2:30-3:15 Heathrow

Demonstration - 45 minutes AE, SE, GA

Students of all ages will boogie-woogie their way to English fluency through rhythmic chants set to blues, reggae, calypso, Irish jigs, and more. The presenter will show how this exciting approach will enhance students’ pronunciation (sh/ch or t/th…), vocabulary, and general English fluency all while delightfully stimulating their musical intelligence.

Lonnie Dai Zovi teaches middle and high school, adult basic education and community college in Chicago and Albuquerque. She presents often in the U.S and abroad.

Lonnie Dai Zovi

Ghost stories for better English and history

Friday, November 2 10:15-11:00 Orly

Demonstration - 45 minutes Publisher Session

Ghost stories are especially interesting to students of all ages. We can capture this interest to teach vocabulary, grammar, writing, conversation skills, and even American history. The presenter will share her favorite historical stories and discuss how they can be used to further develop students’ English and historical and other knowledge.

Lonnie Dai Zovi teaches middle and high school, adult basic education, and community college in Chicago and Albuquerque. She presents often in the U.S and abroad.

Julie Damron

Using portfolios in the language classroom

Friday, November 2 1:30-2:15 Room 303

Paper - 45 minutes IEP/HE

Using portfolios in the language classroom, in addition to traditional language testing, provides a hands-on, holistic way for students to demonstrate their language learning. This paper looks at why portfolios are a valuable addition to the classroom, how they can be used, and what research says about using portfolios.

Julie Damron is an assistant professor at Brigham Young University in the department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages. She received her PhD from Purdue University in 2000 in linguistics/TESOL. After years of teaching TESOL, she has returned to the language classroom to put into practice those theories and methods she had been teaching about the TESOL classroom. She currently teaches Korean and does research in teacher training.

Julie Damron

Danny Damron

Keeping connected with students through the Internet

Friday, November 2 10:15-11:00 Room 301

Demonstration - 45 minutes SE, IEP/HE

Research shows that one of the biggest fears of college students is being lonely. This demonstration shows one quick, easy, and fun way to show interest in your students outside of class, using the Internet. Participants will then have time to discuss and share their ideas for keeping in better contact with students.

Julie Damron is an assistant professor at Brigham Young University in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages. She received her PhD from Purdue University in 2000 in linguistics/TESOL. After years of teaching TESOL, she has returned to the language classroom to put into practice those theories and methods she had been teaching about the TESOL classroom. She currently teaches Korean and does research in teacher training.

Danny Damron received his PhD from Purdue University. He teaches business Korean and directs international internships in Korea, Belgium, Scotland, and elsewhere.

Jennifer Daniels

A practical guide to ELL curriculum development

Saturday, November 3 1:30-3:15 Templehof

Workshop - 1 hour 45 minutes SE

Participants will learn how to lead a collaborative curriculum development process for sheltered content classes, including creating matrices between content and ELD standards. Current TESOL publications and tools will be referenced and demonstrated as well as curriculum tools such as curriculum mapping.

Jennifer Daniels has taught secondary ESL in the U.S. and Israel and currently works as a regional second language specialist.

Patricia Davis

Movies: A rich resource for the ESL classroom

Friday, November 2 1:30-2:15 National

Demonstration - 45 minutes IEP/HE

Movies are rich sources of practical vocabulary, controversy, colorful language, cultural norms, parallels to literature, and the occasional belly laugh.  The presentation will consider movies for use in ESL classrooms,  review activities designed to stimulate vocabulary acquisition, encourage discussion of history and culture, and provide opportunities for analytical and summary writing.

Patricia Davis has an MA in Education from the University of Texas, Austin.  She teaches ESL at Spring International Institute and reading at Arapahoe Community College.

Connie Davis

Helen Nielsen

Strategies and activities for teaching speaking

Saturday, November 3 1:30-3:15 Room 305

Workshop - minutes AE

Even advanced adult ESL students can’t seem to get enough speaking practice.  This interactive session reviews what speaking involves and offers strategies and activities teachers can incorporate into their lessons and increase the amount of speaking practice for their students.  Activity suggestions are offered for beginning, intermediate, and advanced proficiency levels.

Connie Davis directs the Northern Colorado Professional Development Resource Center.  She contributes to professional development in northern Colorado and teaches ESL at Front Range Community College in Longmont. Helen Nielsen teaches ESL at Front Range Community College in Longmont, which to her is a dream career!

Carole de Casal

Yvonne Bogard

An integrated research-based academic and situational curriculum

Friday, November 2 11:15-12:00 National

Paper - 45 minutes BE, IEP/HE, EE, SE

Based upon the latest second language research, this session will provide an opportunity for participants to interact with a newly written curriculum that combines an academic focus with situational learning to ensure students can apply the material being learned. This approach focuses on listening and oral language skill acquisition.

Carole de Casal is the associate dean and director of teacher education at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.  She brings more than 35 years of cross-cultural and multilingual experience to the position.   Yvonne Bogard is the coordinator for technology.  She has experience in both business and education, including teaching in Korea.  She teaches in the linguistically diverse education program at UCCS.

Christine Deines

Jillian Lettes

Teaching your ESL students computer literacy

Friday, November 2 11:15-12:00 Room 301

Demonstration - 45 minutes AE, CALL, GA, IEP/HE

The growth of the Internet and use of technology has created a real deficit for those that do not use computers.  You can help close the digital divide and start teaching and using computers and technology in your ESOL classrooms!  This session will demonstrate computer/technology lessons and an introductory curriculum.

Christine Deines has an MA in library and information science. She is program manager for Spring Institute. She has directed, taught, and written curriculum in ESL for 10 years. Jillian Lettes, program coordinator for Spring Institute, began her teaching career as a volunteer five years ago, then lived and taught English in Oaxaca, Mexico. She began her career with the Spring Institute in 2006.

Sherie Dike-Wilhelm

Online learning for literacy with Moodle

Saturday, November 3 1:30-2:15 Room 301

Demonstration - 45 minutes CALL, SE

Bringing online learning to ESL classrooms combines technology and literacy to boost skills in both areas. Presenters will show both the teaching and technical aspects of using Moodle to create online courses or course supplements. Tours of online classes and student feedback are included.

Sherie Dike-Wilhelm is the ELL teacher at Silver Creek High in St. Vrain Valley, Longmont. Her MA is in Spanish and TESOL. Lauren Rider is the coordinator of instructional technology, also in St. Vrain. Her MA is in instructional and learning technologies. She taught middle school math for 11 years.

Burna Dunn

Myrna Ann Adkins, Barbara Sample

Intangible keys to successful pre-employability training

Friday, November 2 2:30-3:15 National

Demonstration - 45 minutes AE, GA

All pre-employability programs work on activities like filling out applications and answering questions in a simulated interview.  The presenters demonstrate examples of other activities, intangible keys to success, that are included in their pre-employability training classes that are aimed at building confidence and empowering students to operate more independently.

The presenters are all staff members at the Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning in Denver. Burna Dunn, director and principal trainer of the ELT/TA Project (funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement), has developed curricula for competency-based and employment ESL projects. Myrna Ann Adkins, president and chief executive officer, manages and designs programs, leads the marketing and development of the Institute, and presents cross-cultural communication workshops. Barb Sample, director of educational services, has primary responsibility for designing and maintaining the quality of the educational programs and facilitates the professional development process for full-time and part-time instructors.

Burna Dunn

Myrna Ann Adkins, Barbara Sample

Refugee mental health/cultural adjustment

Saturday, November 3 11:15-12:00 Room 303

Demonstration - 45 minutes AE, GA

Why are refugees a vulnerable population?  The presenters begin this interactive session by exploring what positive mental health is and why refugees may experience short-term or long-term mental health challenges. Three classroom activities are demonstrated, and presenters describe what teachers should consider in doing these activities with their students.

The presenters are all staff members at the Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning in Denver. Burna Dunn, director and principal trainer of the ELT/TA Project (funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement), has developed curricula for competency-based and employment ESL projects. Myrna Ann Adkins, president and chief executive officer, manages and designs programs, leads the marketing and development of the Institute, and presents cross-cultural communication workshops. Barb Sample, director of educational services, has primary responsibility for designing and maintaining the quality of the educational programs and facilitates the professional development process for full-time and part-time instructors.

Sherri Durman

Kay Elder

PowerPoint empowers

Saturday, November 3 1:30-2:15 Heathrow

Demonstration - 45 minutes AE, CALL, IEP/HE

Empower your students with useable technology while incorporating ESL language skills.  PowerPoint presentations are used in many educational and workplace venues and also give your students and you an opportunity to express their creativity.

Kay Elder has 20 years of adult ESL teaching experience at all student performance levels.  She has taught in various programs throughout Colorado, and currently teaches at McLain Community High School. Sherri Durman has six years of adult ESL teaching experience.  She has an MA from the University of Colorado.  She is the computer lab teacher at McLain Community High School.