MinneTESOL Joint Interest Workshop: Linking ABE and College Prep
A Conversation about College Level Writing Expectations

1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Friday, May 9, 2008

Does the development of strong writing skills need to wait until transition or college-level ESL classes? It is vital to include writing from the early stages of ABE ESL all the way through to college prep classes so that learners can thrive in the workplace and in their communities and prepare for further education. This 3-hour workshop includes discussion with colleagues, presentations from panelists and a chance to apply what you’ve heard about to your own settings. The panelists will share promising practices in writing instruction for ABE and college settings to prepare all learners for the possibility of furthering their education or getting a better job.

CEUs will be available.

Schedule

1:00 - 1:30 pm    On-site hospitality, pre-panel focus activities
1:30 - 3:00 pm    Introductions
                          Panel - 20 minute presentations inc. demonstration of promising practices
                          Summary
                          Question and Answer
                          Acknowledgements
3:00 - 4:00 pm    On-site follow-up activities
                          Local networking
                          Resources
                          Evaluation

The Panelists

Laura Funke has been teaching ESL throughout the metro for 10 years. She is currently at Inver Hills Community College, where she teaches ESL writing, development writing and composition.

Diane Pecoraro works as an independent education consultant. For many years she was the ESL/ABE Program Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education.

Betsy Parrish is faculty coordinator of the Adult ESL and TEFL Certifi cate Programs in the Graduate School of Education at Hamline University. In her nearly 25 years in the profession, she has worked as an ESL/EFL teacher, teacher educator, writer and consultant in the Twin cities, France, South Asia and Russia.

Participating Sites

• Saint Paul Community & Technical College
  Room - Main Building 137 A&B

• Minnesota State University - Mankato
  Room - Memorial Library Room 94 B

• Minnesota State University - Moorhead
  Room - Center for Business 103

• University of Minnesota, Crookston
  Room - Dowell Hall 100

Registration

If you have not already registered, please do so by contacting Stephanie Sommers, AIS Co-Chair, at Stephanie.Sommers@mpls.k12.mn.us.  Please note the site where you will be attending, as seating is limited.  Thank you!

Coordinated by:
MinneTESOL - ABE/Higher Ed Interest Sections
University of Minnesota - Crookston