Dear Members
It’s more than half way through the year and for the benefit of both earlier
and recent joiners, we would like to give you a quick update on the things we’ve
been busy with and tell you about some important events planned for the rest of
the year. We hope you’ll be able to join us for some or all of them.
In the past few weeks we have done some intensive lobbying at the door of the
ACT Minister for Education, Andrew Barr, for a much needed increase in quality
and funding of ESL teaching. We have expressed ATESOL’s serious concern over
present trends which we feel have reduced ESL teaching to a level that is
neither professional nor responsible towards children from an ESL background.
The Minister has taken note of our concerns and we will continue to be vigilant
in this area and seek the necessary changes.
Some of you will have participated in one or both of two inspiring
professional development sessions that we organised. In May 35 of our members
gathered at the UC to attend thought-provoking presentations by three academics
and teachers, Dr Deborah Hill (UC), Geoffrey Millar (ADFA) and Peta Shepherd
(SIEC/Dickson College) who were scheduled to present the same papers at the
International TESOL conference in Alice Springs in July, focusing on “Developing
identity and keeping diversity alive in a TESOL setting”. We also received much
positive feedback from the second PD session in June, where Eulea Kiraly gave a
fascinating practical introduction to digital story-telling. However, the best
is yet to come and we hope you will feel inspired to join in.
Upcoming events for your diaries
> Urgent political lobbying this week: Many of you will
know that on 23 July the Department of Immigration & Citizenship released a
Discussion paper on the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) as part of their
review of this program. Responses to the paper have to be in by August 15. Many
of our members work within the AMEP and we feel this is a real opportunity for
us to gather our best thinking and make an important contribution to a
submission, which ACTA (the Australian Council of Tesol Associations) plans to
present to the minister. We warmly invite you to participate in an emergency
meeting to formulate reactions and thoughts on this discussion paper. Prereading
is highly recommended. The paper can be accessed on: http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/delivering-assistance/amep-review-paper.htm
Date: Thursday 7 August Time 4.30pm Place: Canberra
Institute of Technology, Reid Campus, J Block (on the corner of Constitution
Avenue and Corrnderrk St) .
> Best Ever Lessons: At the end of August we have
organised what is promising to be a real imaginative PD session consisting of a
panel of four kindergarten, primary, secondary and tertiary teachers/lecturers
who will present their “Best Ever Lessons”.
Date: Saturday 23
August Time: 9.30 – 12.30 Venue: CIT, Reid Campus ($10 for non-members)
Bookings essential: plumtree@grapevine.net.au or bronwyn.rose@cit.act.edu.au
> Spring Dinner: Guest speaker at out annual Spring
dinner in September will be the renowned NZ linguist Scott Thornbury. He is
currently Associate professor of English Language Studies at the New School in
New York, where he teaches on an on-line MATESOL program. He has written several
award-winning books for teachers on language and methology and has taught
teachers in NZ, Egypt, UK and Spain, where he lives. Scott Thornbury’s talk will
focus on some of his own rich experiences in teaching.
Date:
Thursday, 18 September Time: 7pm Venue: Southern Cross Yacht
Club Price: $45 including a three course dinner (members only)
> Teaching reading: In October Dr. Kate Wilson will
present aspects of her PhD thesis on this quite controversial and very important
subject relating to ESL. teaching.
Date: Saturday 18
October Venue to be confirmed
New Members: Please feel free to share this letter and the
attached membership form with
colleagues whom you think may be interested. We will be posting a membership
card to you at the end of this week and look forward to seeing you in the coming
months.
Regards,
Lona Thwaites President ATESOL, ACT
Check out the
Events
page for details of 3 exciting events planned for 2nd Semester
2008
The new ATESOL ACT Committee for 2008 was elected at the Annual General
Meeting on 19 March. See our Contacts page for your Committee Members and their contact
details.
Many exciting events are being planned for 2008. Keep watch on our Events page for
details.
The
ATESOL ACT Membership Form for 2008 has been added to the
website. Sorry for the delay.
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