National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center (http://www.educ.iastate.edu/nflrc/)

Alumni Connection Newsletter - January, 2004 - Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Document Source: http://www.educ.iastate.edu/nflrc/newnflrc/news/200401/

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 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 classroom materials. Resolve to focus on some 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 the 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.

Links in this document

This Newsletter was pepared with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education under Title VI grant #P229A020023. The publication of products and website URLs in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only and does not imply an endorsement by the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center, Iowa State University, or the positions or policies of the U. S. Department of Education.

Subscription Information
You received this electronic newsletter because you are an alumni of an activity associated with the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center. This newsletter is published monthly. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, email us at nflrc@iastate.edu with the subject line "remove alumni connection."

Content: Do you have suggestions for content? Information to share with fellow alumni? Send your ideas to Cindy Kendall at ckendall@msu.edu.