|
 Printable
View
Professional Development for Today’s
Foreign Language Educator
Welcome to the January electronic newsletter of the National K-12
Foreign Language Resource Center!
Happy New Year! Each New Year brings the opportunity to make resolutions
to improve ourselves. You certainly will notice the beautiful redesign
of this the NFLRC's website and newsletter. Kudos to Julio Rodríguez
on a beautiful design! This month we will highlight some opportunities
for you to improve your professional practice. As an educator, what
part of your practice would you like to improve? Perhaps you would
like to focus on your oral proficiency, travel abroad plans, or
develop new classroom materials. Resolve to focus on somean aspect
of your teaching and learning in 2004!
Cindy Kendall, Newsletter Editor
Marcia Rosenbusch, Director, National K-12 Foreign
Language Resource Center
Focus on Our Center
The National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center will be offering
two
exciting institutes [1] this summer! Full
and partial scholarships [2] are available for both institutes.
Language,
Culture, and Content Connections: Mexico and the Zapotec Culture
[3], July 12 - 22, 2004
In collaboration with two other centers, the Stone Center for Latin
American Studies (Tulane University, New Orleans) and the Center
for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (University of Wisconsin,
Milwaukee), this institute will provide PK-12 Spanish teachers with
experience developing content-related and culturally-rich thematic
units, and will help them develop skills in teaching strategies,
curriculum design, technology, and use of information sources on
Mexico and the Zapotec culture.
Rethinking the PK-12 FL Curriculum: Intrinsically Interesting,
Cognitively Engaging, Culturally Connected, and Articulated
[4], July 27 - August 6, 2004
The focus of this institute is on designing and teaching curricula
that are content-related, cognitively challenging, culturally rich,
and which spiral and articulate across PK-12 levels of instruction.
This institute will enhance the skills of PK-12 classroom teachers
of all languages and the skills of teacher educators and supervisors
who prepare pre- and in-service teachers. Pairs or teams of teachers
from the same school district who represent the various program
levels are especially encouraged to participate. Other
National Foreign Language Resource Centers [5] will be offering
summer institutes in 2004 so explore these possibilities too.
Featured Website of the Month
The Institute of International
Education [6] highlights global opportunities for international
education. An independent, nonprofit organization and administrator
of the Fulbright program, the Institute is a resource for educators
and institutions worldwide. Its goals are: to promote closer educational
relations between the people of the United States and other countries;
to increase the number of students, scholars and professionals who
have the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research outside
of their own country; to strengthen and internationalize institutions
of higher learning throughout the world; to foster sustainable development
through training programs in energy, environment, business management,
and leadership development; and to partner with corporations, foundations,
and governments in finding and developing people able to think and
work on a global basis.
Focus on Study Abroad
We all know the best way to improve oral proficiency is to interact
extensively with target language speakers. What better way to do
that than to study in a target language country. StudyAbroad.com
[7] and the National
Registration Center for Study Abroad [8] are two places where
you can locate opportunities in countries around the world to improve
your language skills. Many programs also offer graduate credit.
Focus on the Teacher
Do you have a Professional Development Plan? Some districts have
formal plans for teachers to use as a guide for professional development,
other districts leave professional development entirely up to the
teacher. The Eisenhower
National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (ENC)
[9] at The Ohio State University collaborated with the National
Staff Development Council [10] to produce an online
individual professional learning plan [11] adaptable to educators
in all content areas.
Focus on Research
Are you interested in helping a scientist? Are you interested in
ecology and anthropology? Consider participating in an Earthwatch
[12] expedition. Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in
scientific field research and education to promote the understanding
and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Scientists apply
to Earthwatch for help in field research. Earthwatch recognizes
the potential impact of educators and offers grants
[13] to teachers and students. There are also considerable tax advantages
associated with participating in Earthwatch expeditions. Earthwatch
is a 501(c)(3) and the cost of the expedition and related expenses
are tax deductible (consult your tax advisor).
Staying on Top Using Technology
Reading target language newspapers is a terrific way to maintain
language skills and connect to what is happening in countries around
the world. The
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Library [14] has created
a page with publications organized by languages. Comparing headlines,
editorials and viewpoints from different newspapers can be very
thought-provoking.
Quotes to Ponder
"Always remember that all learning is to some extent self-learning
and must be self-guided and self-motivated. The more you know about
yourself as a learner, the better you will be at guiding your own
learning."
Connick, G. P. (ed.), (1999). The Distance Learner's Guide,
p. 113.
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but
still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I
will not refuse to do something I can do."
Edward Everett Hale, 1822-1909, Author and Chaplain United States
Senate.
"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary
project, all your thoughts break their bonds;
Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in
every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful
world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you
discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed
yourself to be."
Patanjali, ca. Second Century B.C., Yoga Sutras, Method of Enlightenment.
Memories of Iowa
This month we bring you images of the other university in Iowa,
the Old
Capitol at the University of Iowa [15] in Iowa City, IA. Click
on the "Where am I" link in the upper right corner to see a detailed
"map" of your online viewing and a bit of history about the Old
Capitol.
|
January,
2004 Iowa State University, Ames, IA
