New PD Opportunity: Call-In Talk Show on Thursdays

Thursdays, beginning October 15, 2015
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Jones 117

Are you interested in a different form of professional development? Come to the Language Center for a call-in talk show about language education with Dr. Bill Van Patten from Michigan State University beginning this Thursday.

Do you ever listen to talk shows? Have you ever called into one? If not, you will want to read on and learn about an exciting and fun new show called “Tea with BVP.” Sponsored by the Center for Language Teaching Advancement (CeLTA) at Michigan State University, this is *the* call-in talk show for all those interested in second language acquisition and language teaching.

Bill VanPatten and his co-hosts, Angelika Kraemer and Walter Hopkins, field questions live on the air about language, language acquisition, language teaching, and any other topics callers and emailers bring to them. With Bill’s comedic background, it’s a funny and engaging way to look at issues that are relevant in our field.

Each week Tea with BVP will post different but often related topics to entice the listener to call in. On occasion, the show includes prominent guests who bring their own personalities and takes on the issues under consideration. To tune in, and to find out how you can call in from your own office, ask questions, and/or suggest topics, sign up at https://billvanpatten.wordpress.com/. You can also contact Tea with BVP on Twitter at @teawithbvp.

The Tea with BVP team adds, “we want as much audience participation as possible so don’t be shy. Check us out and call in! We are waiting to hear from you!”

The shows will be broadcast from Jones 117. Because the Language Center has a coffee pot and not a tea pot, coffee will be served in place of tea.

Dr. VanPatten is internationally known for his work in second language acquisition and second language instruction, with special emphases on input processing, processing and parsing more generally, the interface between input processing and acquisition, morpho-syntactic relationships, and instructed SLA. He has published six books, seven edited volumes, six language textbooks, and 100 articles and book chapters. Two of his articles are listed in the top ten citations for articles in Studies in Second Language Acquisition and he has received local and national awards.

Spanish Certificate: New Video for Students

The Language Center and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese have produced a new orientation video for students interesting in pursuing the Certificate of Advanced Level Proficiency in Spanish.

Eligible students interested in completing the certificate during Fall 2015 may complete the Self Assessment and submit a Critical Reflection Essay by October 16, 2015.

Please contact Spanish and Portuguese Advising at spadvise@umn.edu with questions about the certificate not answered by the video or FAQ.

PACE Workshop: Using Images as a Cultural Product and for Critical Analysis

October 30, 2015
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Recreation and Wellness Center, Beacon Room
Register online by October 23, 2015

Presented by Gwen Barnes-Karol & Maggie Broner, St. Olaf College.

This hands-on workshop will include an overview of theoretical considerations that can guide foreign language instructors in curricular planning, as well as a selection of activities using images as a point of departure towards greater student understanding of the target culture. The presenters will share materials they have created and used successfully with their own students.

Instructors attending are encouraged to come with a future unit in mind and bring a current textbook.

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.

Kate Clements to Plan PACE Professional Development Events

TandemPlus and Multimedia Lab Coordinator, Kate Clements, has assumed responsibility for the planning and implementation of PACE Professional Development events while the position held by Caroline Vang is open. Please welcome Kate to her new role. You can reach her at cleme050@umn.edu if you have any questions or ideas about upcoming events.

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.

Language Center Staff Changes

Professional Development and Classroom Support Specialist, Caroline Vang is leaving her position at the Language Center. Her last day will be Friday, September 25, 2015. Caroline has accepted a position at Minneapolis Public School’s District Office as a Training Specialist. She will work with instructors of all subjects and staff employees who work for Minneapolis Public Schools, developing and organizing workshops and conferences.

Caroline started at the Language Center as a graduate student in 2013, and moved to the continuing Professional Development and Classroom Support Specialist position less than a year later. She was instrumental to the success of the first year of the PACE Project. She was the primary coordinator of all of the professional development events associated with the grant. In fact, she will be facilitating a PACE workshop on her very last day! She also initiated a summer reading group called Pedagogical Innovations Reading Group (PIRG) to provide a free summer professional development opportunity for all language instructors.

Caroline will be remembered as an excellent recruiter of undergraduate staff and an advocate for students. We will also miss her friendly, empathetic and positive personality.

Caroline says that she will miss being at the cozy Language Center, as well as the staff and instructional team at the Language Center who supported her from the very beginning!

We are pleased to announce that Jonathan Prestrud has agreed to serve as an interim Classroom Support Coordinator while Caroline’s position is unfilled. Jonathan has experience working in many roles at the Language Center; he served as the TandemPlus Assistant, Classroom Support Staff, Multimedia Lab Attendant, and as a Test Proctor. He is excited to be back to step in, help out, and be part of the team again.