Hidalgo SEP Teachers Focus on Fluency

On Sept. 24th-26th, forty-six primary and secondary teachers gathered for a workshop entitled “Developing Learner Fluency” at the SEP offices in Pachuca, Hidalgo.
The group proved to be a pro-active crowd that dove into the many activities offered by "EXCELLENT" Canadian teachers Kevin Batdorf and Troy Gariepy on the first two days and by English Language Fellow Brigitte Miller on the last three.
These experienced teachers learned different ways to exploit role play, oral fluency games, how to implement cooperative learning with a reading jigsaw and interactive "routines". Finally, they discussed the implications of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence theory on teaching and how to apply it effectively in the classroom. The workshop's opening and closing ceremonies, which were organized by SEPA Ingles coordinator Juan Luis Lopez Lugo and his staff, were attended by the vice-minister of education and other SEP officials.
According to the workshop evaluations, 92 % of the participants found the topic and the activities very interesting and useful. The favorite parts of the workshop were the activities themselves and the part on “Multiple Intelligences”. Participants wrote that they will try to apply these activities and “role play” in their own teaching. Finally, they hope to learn more about multiple intelligences, role play, group work, evaluation, fluency and songs. Other comments included, ““the topic was based in the curriculum – it is practical and easy to apply in classrooms”, “ none of the teacher’s wanted to go home when it was over despite the fact it was payday, because they enjoyed it so much” and “I learned great new ways to work with my Ss and reinforced others”.
Thanks for all of your enthusiasm. Please leave comments here to let me know how these activities work in YOUR classrooms! - Brigitte

Escuela Normal Superior de Chiapas gets motivated with Cooperative Learning and Multiple Intelligences

On September 22nd and 23rd, 2007 64 English teachers and students attended the workshop entitled “Motivating Learners with Cooperative Learning and Multiple Intelligences" at the Escuela Normal Superior de Chiapas (ENSCH)in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. The event was organized by Maestro Enrique Sanchez Manchinelly and facilitated by English Language Fellow Brigitte Miller. Despite the diverse English levels of the group and the fact that the workshop followed the regional MEXTESOL convention, many dedicated Chiapan teachers participated admirably anyway.
In the first session on Saturday from 4p.m.- 8p.m., participants discussed what motivates teachers and learners. Then they practiced cooperative learning: what it is and how to organize it effectively by participating in a reading "jigsaw".
In the second session on Sunday morning from 9a.m.- 1:30p.m., participants learned about Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence theory. Then they interacted in some cooperative, multiple-intelligence activities that can be used in their own classrooms.Some products of these activities were the multiple intelligence chants and their cooperative learning word webs.
According to the workshop evaluation, 97% of the participants found the activities interesting and useful. Their favorite parts of the workshop were "Multiple Intelligences" and the interactive activity "Who Am I?".
The workshop ended with some words of encouragement from the ENSCH director Maestro Jose Raul Davila Ramirez and the distribution of certificates of participation. Thanks to Enrique and the hard-working teachers of Chiapas for making this event happen. Good luck.

"Four Skills, One Way?" the South-East Regional MEXTESOL convention in Tuxtla Gutierrez is a great success!

More than 120 English teachers and students as well as presenters from abroad and all over Mexico participated in the South-East MEXTESOL Regional Convention on Sept. 21-22, 2007. The event was held at the City Express Hotel in Tuxtla and included plenary presentations by Dr. Wanda Griffith from the University of Austin, Texas; Dr. Louisa Greathouse Amador from the BUAP in Puebla and English Language Fellow Brigitte Miller from the U.S. Embassy's Office of English Language Programs. There were also concurrent sessions with dynamic workshops conducted by Dr. Ruth Roux from La Salle University in Tamaulipas, Octavio Aguilar Faviel from UNICACH and Edson Adir Marin Salguero from UAEM in Toluca to name just a few. The presentations covered practical topics including: oral fluency activities, writing, assessment, pronunciation and the four skills as well as theoretical concerns such as: cooperative learning, motivation, emotional intelligence and student-centered teaching.
In the closing ceremony participants expressed their enthusiasm for the event which included many interactive sessions and finished with a book raffle. The conference was admirably organized by MEXTESOL Chiapas Chapter President Edith Martinez Pelaez, Vice President Geraldine Montoya Robles and CELE Coordinator Diego Gamez Espinosa from the UNICACH. Bravo to the whole MEXTESOL Chiapas team and a big thank you to UNICACH who very generously sponsored the event. See you next year!