May 11, 2016
K-State staff and instructors present at international language conference
Faculty and professional staff from the English Language Program and Office of International Programs attended the TESOL Association's recent 50th anniversary International Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
TESOL International Association, formerly Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, is an international association of professionals advancing the quality of English language teaching through professional development, research, standards and advocacy.
Mary Wood, director of the English Language Program, and Beverley Earles, associate director for international planning and analysis in the Office of International Programs, planned and contributed to the preconvention institute session "Perceived Threats: Evidencing Programs' Value and Managing Public-Private Partnerships" with Mark Algren, University of Missouri; Katherine Earely, University of New Hampshire; Tara Smith, University of Alaska; Carter Winkle, Barry University; and Sherry Warren, University of South Carolina.
In addition, Earles organized, chaired and presented as part of the program administration interest section academic session "Research and Protecting ESL Students: Honoring Classrooms and Adjudicating Requests" with Peter DeCosta, Michigan State University; Scott Stirling, Indiana State University; Jacqueline Evans, Northern Arizona University; Kara MacDonald, Defense Language Institute; and Maureen Burke, University of Iowa. Earles also was the TESOL Program Administration Interest Section chair for 2015-2016.
Abby Franchitti, curriculum and assessment director for the English Language Program, was part of the panel discussion "Getting on the Same Page: Aligning Writing Standards" with T. Leo Schmitt, Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY; Jenifah Abu Hassan, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Frank Noji, Kapiolani Community College; Nigel Caplan, University of Delaware; Gena Bennett, University of Central Arkansas; and Jeannie Kahaney, The New School. Franchitti also served as the TESOL Higher Education Interest Section chair for 2015-2016.
In the doctoral forum, Christina Kitson, instructor in the English Language Program, presented "Kansas ELLs and Their Performance on State-Mandated Assessments. Kitson also presented "Using A Kahoot Game for Review" and gave the invited presentation "LiveBinder as a Teacher Tool."
Ketty Reppert, instructor in the English Language Program, was part of the panel presentation "Solutions for TESOL Programs Lack of Administrative Preparation" with Kara MacDonald, Defense Language Institute; Netta Avineri, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey; Megan Forbes, University of Florida; Lynn Goldstein, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey; Bruce Rindler, Boston University; and Brad L. Teague, Duke University.