ARTESOL

María Susana González
UBA

Maria Susana González is a teacher of English, a  B.A. in Letters and an M.A. in Discourse Analysis, graduated at Buenos Aires University.  She is in charge of the Chair of Reading Comprehension in English at Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires where she has been teaching since 1988 and doing research since 1995.  She has made presentations in national and international conferences.  She was also a teacher of English and Spanish in a state high school.

The Relevance of Reading Comprehension of Expository and Argumentative Texts at High School and University Level

The interaction of several variables affects the nature of reading in a foreign language: reader variables, text variables, and variables that depend on the context or situation.  At High Schools and Universities we have to teach English to heterogeneous groups of students with different threshold levels of the English language and different interests.  reading expository and argumentative texts presents several difficulties for our students who, in general, are not trained to cope with these text types.  Therefore, the purpose of this conference is to socialize theoretical and practical information about the possibility of including reading comprehension lessons at High schools to prepare students to face the reading of expository and argumentative academic texts at Universities.

Rachel Moran, ELF

Rachel Moran, English Language Fellow, has taught ESL/EFL for 26 years. She received an M.A. in TESOL from San Francisco State University and a B.A. in British Studies from Richmond University in London, England. Rachel has taught all levels and all subjects in ESL including Basic English to refugees up to advanced courses for Post-Doc Fellows at Johns Hopkins University plus advanced seminars for EFL teachers in Argentina. She has also developed and taught the following ESP courses: Voices of America, ESL through Film; Writing and Grammar via the Media; Conversations on the Presidential Election; Blended Skills for Teachers-in-Training; and Pronunciation, Idioms & Slang for International Teachers. Additionally, Ms. Moran co-wrote the curriculum for Santa Fe University of Art & Design’s Immersion English Program, in Santa Fe, NM, and chaired the curriculum writing committee for the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Currently, Rachel is the English Language Fellow in Argentina, a program sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Argentina. Her host institution is AMICANA the Binational Center in Mendoza.

Music: Indispensable to TEFL, ages: 12 and up

Music is not the fluff of the EFL classroom:  it is critical to accelerate language acquisition. Rationale for this thesis will be discussed and five songs  played and used in activities.  Attendees will  create a lesson plan for using a song in ten minutes and receive a song handout.

John Segota, CAE

John Segota, Associate Executive Director, has been with TESOL International Association (TESOL) since 1996. John’s responsibilities at TESOL include government relations, policy analysis, media relations and communications, oversight of standards development, and management of TESOL’s advocacy activities. John works closely with TESOL’s senior leadership on policy management, strategic planning, public relations, and governance issues.

John has presented both nationally and internationally on public policy as it relates to English language education, and has been the author of numerous articles and policy documents. He has extensive experience in grassroots advocacy management, and has served as a trainer running numerous advocacy workshops, including TESOL’s annual Advocacy Day in Washington, DC.

John has a BA in Political Science with a concentration in International Studies from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, a graduate certificate in Project Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives.

Advancing English Language Teaching through TESOL Standards

The standards-based reform movement has had a board impact upon all areas of education. TESOL International Association has led the way in advancing expertise in the English language teaching (ELT) field through the development of standards for many different areas of ELT. This presentation will provide an overview of the different standards for teachers, learners, and programs developed by TESOL, and explain how they can be used to enhance your teaching.

Advancing Educator Leadership through Advocacy

Educators play a critical role in improving the lives of their students, and in developing civil society as a whole. To be most effective, educators must seek out ways to shape the policies that impact their programs, their jobs, and their students’ lives. By influencing policy through advocacy, educators can develop important leadership skills that can enhance their professional lives. This interactive workshop will provide information on how educators can develop the skills to be a better advocate for their students, their program, and their field.