7th Annual CCSU Conference for Language Teachers
People in Contact Through Real-World Languages
From the Classroom to the Neighborhood
March 9, 2013, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
STUDENT CENTER, Ella Grasso Blvd., NEW BRITAIN, CT 06050
Exhibitors:
Sponsors:
CCSU Department of Modern Languages
Chinese Culture Center - CCC
Center for International Education – CIE
CT Council for Language Teachers – CT COLT
CT Italian Teachers Association – CITA
Intensive English Language Program – IELP
Italian Resource Center – IRC
Summer Institutes for Language Teachers–SITS, SITI, SITCh, SIT-LANG
Chinese Culture Center
CT Council for Language Teachers
Italian Resource Center
Santillana USA Publishing Co.
Modern Language Studies Abroad
Summer Institutes for Language Teachers–SITS, SITI, SITCh, SIT-LANG
Studio Arcobaleno
Tandberg Educational
Walking Tree
.6 CEU credits offered by CCSU Continuing Education to participants attending the entire Conference 8:00 am-4:30 pm
8:008:30
Sign in
Exhibit Opening
(Student Center/Alumni Hall)
Breakfast
8:308:45
Welcoming Remarks
(Alumni Hall)
8:459:45
Keynote Address:
(Alumni Hall)
Lilián Uribe, Chair, Modern Language Department
Christine Dombrowski, Modern Languages
Mary Collins, Director, Center for Teaching & Faculty Development and Learning Community Groups
Margaret Colvin, Modern Languages
Nelleke Van Deusen-Scholl, Director, Center for Language Study, Yale University: Innovative Trends in Language Education:
Preparing Global Citizens
9:4510:15
Coffee Break
Exhibit Time
(Bellin Gallery/Alumni Hall)
Session 1
10:1511:15
Clocktower Room
Chinese
1849 Room
ESL
Xuefeng Theodorou,
Simsbury High School:
Teaching Chinese from
Classroom to
Community
Pinar Akpinar, CCSU
IELP: (In) Effective Use of
the English (In)Definite
Articles by Turkish
Second Language
Learners
Xun Zheng,
Connecticut Chinese
Language Academy:
Teacher education in a
Chinese language
school-challenges and
opportunities
Susan Reid & Karen
Riem, CCSU IELP: The
Neighborhood as an
Extension of the
Classroom: A CrossCultural Exchange
Blue & White Room
French
Camp-Philbrick Room
General Topics in English
Claire Leatham, Clark
Lane Middle School,
Waterford: Four
Francophone Bilingual
Cities: A Group Project
for Teen Learners of
French
James Zavodjancik & Judy
Deleeuw, Milford & East
Lyme Public Schools: The
Four Cs: Collaborate,
Connect, Communicate,
and Co-Teach
Christi Moraga, CT
COLT: “Le Salon de
l’Immigration” –
Interpersonal
Communication
11:2512:25
Yasemin Kesen, Yale
University: Vocabulary
Uptake: The Issue of PostTask Assessment
Sprague Room
Italian
Robert Haxhia, CCSU:
Lingue: Gli studenti
Americani e l’Italia in
tempo reale
Giuliana O’Connell,
CCSU: Playing with
Words, the Italian Way
Carlton Room
Spanish
Juan José VázquezCaballero, Haddam
Killingworth High School:
Herramientas gratis "Web
2.0"para motivar y desafiar
a los estudiantes del siglo
XXI
Vodcast: Audiovisual files
for flipping the classroom.
How to personalize and
challenge students in the
21st Century
Session 2
Clocktower Room
Chinese
1849
ESL
Kathleen Ferguson,
GotCharacters.com:
Overcoming the
Challenges of Learning
Mandarin: An
Kathleen Rowsam,
Bennie Dover Jackson
Middle School: An
Interdisciplinary Project-
Blue & White
French
Lethuy Hoang,
Springfield College: A
l’heure du numérique,
savez-vous comment
vous y prendre?
Camp-Philbrick
General Topics in English
Spanish
Valerie J. Lofland, CCSU:
An Analysis of World
Language Teachers’
Openness to Implementing
Alternative Methodologies
Sprague
Italian
Carlton
Spanish
Carmela Pesca, CCSU: A
Visit to Boccaccio's World
on the 700th Anniversary
of His Birth
Israel Velez, Vinal Technical
High School: Dictogloss in
Teaching Spanish
Amy Schlett & Sarah
American Student's
Perspective
and Strategies in Their
Classes to Enable Students
with Learning Disabilities
to Succeed
Based Approach
(Workshop)
(Workshop)
Wen-Lin Su, Miss
Porter’s School: Using
“Edmodo” to Create a
Cross-Level Language
Learning Community
12:301:30
Lunch
1:302:20
Information
Session
Betty Chang-Twillie/張沁
蓮 & Meghan Hannick,
Capitol Region Education
Council: Centers/Stations
in World Language
Learning
Rita Leonardi, CITA: Il
mini Decamerone di
Giovanni Boccaccio.
Introduzione alla
letteratura italiana
attraverso due storie del
Decamerone
Labins, CCSU: TV Ads to Aid
in Language Instruction
Guest Speaker: Michaela Volovsek, President, CT Council of Language Teachers – CT COLT
(Bellin Gallery/Alumni Hall)
Kim Wachtelhausen, CT State Department of Education: Overview of the System for Educator Evaluation and Support (SEED),
Connecticut’s Model for Evaluation. A topic of special relevance for in-service language teachers of Connecticut
(Camp-Philbrick)
1:302:20
Exhibit Time
(Alumni Hall)
Session 3
2:203:20
Clocktower Room
Chinese
Tina Wu, CCSU:
Teaching Chinese
Characters: Flash
Animation and Semantic
Approach
(Workshop)
1849
ESL
Yanling Huang &
Haoquan Jia, Hohhot,
Inner Mongolia: An
Analysis of Mongolian
College Students' Third
Languange Acquisition
Upon David Ausubel's
Cognitive Theory of
Learning
Blue & White
French
Silvia Bettega, Irving
A. Robbins Middle
School: Un voyage
virtuel dans les
arrondissements de
Paris
(Workshop)
(Workshop)
3:304:30
Camp-Philbrick
General Topics in English
Sprague
Italian
Rich Rader: Track Them To
Stop & Start Them In Their
Tracks
Mirtilli Morgana,
Federica Protti & Sonia
Beretta, Studio
Arcobaleno: Dalla mappa
concettuale all'ipertesto:
unità di lavoro interattiva
e interdisciplinare
Michael McCarthy,
Berkshire Country Day
School, MA: The Gateway
to Meaningful
Communication in a
Second Language
Carlton
Spanish
Sandra Mannino, East
Hampton Middle School
and High School: The
Mexican Culture: Teaching
and Learning Activities
(Workshop)
(Workshop)
Session 4
Clocktower Room
Arabic
1849
ESL
Blue & White
French
Camp-Philbrick
German
Sprague
Italian
Carlton
Spanish
Maha Meraay, CCSU:
Language Teachers as
Intercultural Mediators
Sarab Al Ani, Yale
University: Challenges
and Successes in Using
Technology for Teaching
and Testing Iraqi Arabic
Alla O. Schlate, Sacred
Heart University,
English Language
Institute: Skype
Conferences in ESL
Teaching
Elaine M. Ancekewicz,
IALC, Fordham
University LC: Les
Études interculturelles
— Comment les
incorporer et les
évaluer dans les cours
de langue française?
4:304:45
Conference Evaluation
(Alumni Hall)
4:455:30
5:307:00
CT COLT Wine and Cheese Reception (Bellin Gallery)
Performance
(Welte Auditorium)
Free Admission
Ilka Kostka, SCSU:
Interactive and Multimodal
“Glogs” for the 21st
Century Language
Classroom
Christine Rapp
Dombrowski, CCSU:
Foreign Language and the
Art Community in
Connecticut
Anna Iacovella, Yale
University: Italian
Women Writers: Parrella,
a Representative for
Culture Trends
Paloma Lapuerta &
Gustavo Mejía, CCSU:
Bringing the Neighborhood
to the Classroom
SITS Students: Marina Morus
Francesca Dattilo,
CITA: Inferno Dantesco
Selected teaching units
produced by graduate
students as part of the
Summer Institute for
Teachers of Spanish at
CCSU.
To receive CEU credits, participants are required to attend the entire conference from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Please remember to sign in &
out, and to leave the evaluatuion form at the conference registration desk.
Pinocchio. The Story of a Puppet. From Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio
Directed and performed by Massimiliano Finazzer Flory. Choreography and Dance by Michela Lucenti & Emanuela Serra
Piano music performed by Gianluca Pezzino (In Italian with English supertitles)
Followed by refreshments
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Language
Arabic
Chinese
Time &
Venue
Description
3:30-4:30
Maha Meraay, CCSU: Language Teachers as Intercultural Mediators
Clocktower
Room
The intercultural aspect of any language involves the application of skills and knowledge one already has accordingly with the norms of
usage of that language. Therefore, the role of the teacher stretches farther than a linguist to become a mediator balancing between a
learner and what he/she can utilize.
Sarab Al Ani, Yale University: Challenges and Successes in Using Technology for Teaching and Testing Iraqi Arabic
10:15-11:15
Clocktower
Room
Iraqi Arabic is a spoken dialect of Arabic. Unlike Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), Iraqi Arabic is a spoken form, not a written one. Teaching
and testing Iraqi Arabic therefore is done mainly via speaking and listening abilities, however it is not possible to completely avoid the
written form especially in teaching and testing instructions. This presentation discusses the demands of teaching and testing for a dialect
of Arabic (such as Iraqi Arabic),
Xuefeng Theodorou, Simsbury High School: Teaching Chinese from Classroom to Community
This presentation explores innovative ways in which classroom activities can be brought to broader community, deepening students'
understanding of language in a cultural context.
Xun Zheng, Connecticut Chinese Language Academy: Teacher Education in a Chinese Language School – Challenges and Opportunities
Chinese
11:25-12:25
Clocktower
Room
This presentation will demonstrate the challenges arise from the teacher education in a Chinese language school. The presenter will also
discuss how such challenges may provide opportunities for language educators and teacher training staff to improve instrcutional effect.
Kathleen Ferguson, GotCharacters.com: Overcoming the Challenges of Learning Mandarin: An American Student's Perspective
Chinese language instruction has grown dramatically in the U.S. But the reality is that not enough students continue their studies beyond
the elementary level. What are the barriers? How can instructors help students overcome them? The speaker will address these
questions from a student’s perspective and share with you (and you can share with your students) multi-media learning tools she
developed to learn and remember Chinese.
Wen-Lin Su, Miss Porter’s School: Using “Edmodo” to Create a Cross-Level Language Learning Community
Sharing how to use Edmodo educational social media to engage different levels of language learners, educate them to be good digital
st
citizens and foster them to master 21 Century 4 C Skills-- Communication, Collaboration, Critical thinking and problem solving, and
Creativity and innovation.
Chinese
ESL
2:20-3:20
Clocktower
Room
Tina Wu, CCSU: Teaching Chinese Characters: Flash Animation and Semantic Approach (Workshop)
10:15-11:15
Pinar Akpinar, CCSU IELP: (In) Effective Use of the English (In)Definite Articles by Turkish Second Language Learners
1849 Room
This study investigates why many Turkish second language learners have difficulty using English (in) definite articles effectively. Results
from the study revealed that Turkish speakers of L2 learners’ (In) effective use of articles directly correlates with their exposure to English,
Teaching Chinese characters is challenging. However there are ways to make learning Chinese characters fun and interesting. Instructional
methods that promote visual and verbal presentation are more likely to lead to meaningful learning. In this workshop, the audience will
learn effective instructional methods and flash tools to create animated multimedia teaching materials for immediate use.
Susan Reid & Karen Riem, CCSU IELP: The Neighborhood as an Extension of the Classroom: A Cross-Cultural Exchange
ESL
ESL
11:25-12:25
CCSU’s Department of Education and Intensive English Language Program (IELP), and the multi-lingual Naylor-CCSU Learning Academy
(NCLA) in Hartford offer a unique cross-cultural exchange for IELP and NCLA students at the school and on campus.
Kathleen Rowsam, Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School: An Interdisciplinary Project-Based Approach (Workshop)
1849 Room
This workshop focuses on the benefits of using an interdisciplinary, project-based approach to teaching English Language Learners,
emphasizing the importance of making learning practical, relevant, and meaningful.
2:20-3:20
Yanling Huang & Haoquan Jia, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia: An Analysis of Mongolian College Students' Third Languange Acquisition Upon
David Ausubel's Cognitive Theory of Learning (Workshop)
1849 Room
Due to the diversity of Mongolian values, there appears an urgent need to cultivate Mongolian College students from inner grassland to
acquire knowledge of English. Based on Ausubel's educational psychology, a tendency of positive language transfer seems to work better.
Our four-year study program and related statistical data show that "Meaningful Learning " is applicable and helps significantly to
Mongolian College students who have expectations to integrate with the mainstream in China.
ESL
French
3:30-4:30
Alla O. Schlate, Sacred Heart University, English Language Institute: Skype Conferences in ESL teaching
1849 Room
10:15-11:15
I would like to share my experience in preparing and using Skype conferences in ESL teaching. Not only does it serve as a tremendous
boost in Language learning, but it also brings different cultures together.
Claire Leatham, Clark Lane Middle School, Waterford: Four Francophone Bilingual Cities: a Group Project for Teen Learners of French
Blue & White
Room
The benefits and challenges of a multimedia student project on four francophone bilingual cities: Perpignan , Bienne, Bruxelles and
Montreal.
Christi Moraga, CT COLT: “Le Salon de l’Immigration” – Interpersonal Communication
La Francophonie and global movement is a topic students need to learn. They look forward to participating in a French
Immigration Fair and communicate interpersonally – an engaging activity becomes an assessment. This idea developed from
attending Yale’s Summer PIER Institute.
French
French
11:25-12:25
Lethuy Hoang, Springfield College: A l’heure du numérique, savez-vous comment vous y prendre? (Workshop)
Blue & White
Room
Si la formule célèbre « Tirez la chevillette et la bobinette cherra » s’entoure de mystère et de charme, la formule moderne « Cliquez avec
le bouton gauche sur le champ de recherche, saisissez un mot-clé et validez » est également opaque, mais pour des raisons techniques et
non pas poétiques. Car pour ouvrir la porte au monde numérique, il suffit de se munir d’outils lexicaux appropriés, ce que je propose dans
cet atelier.
Silvia Bettega, Irving A. Robbins Middle School: Un voyage virtuel dans les arrondissements de Paris (Workshop)
2:20-3:20
Blue & White
Room
French
3:30-4:30
Blue & White
Room
General Topics
in English
In this project, students researched the various arrondissements in Paris, chose one of them, maintained unrehearsed conversations with
tourists (classmates), and presented their findings to the class. The presentations were done via PP, Prezi, and Google Earth. Some final
presentations will be shown.
Elaine M. Ancekewicz, IALC, Fordham University LC: Les Études interculturelles — Comment les incorporer et les évaluer dans les cours de
langue française?
Des médias, des films, des récits de voyage, des exercises de réalité virtuelle nous présentent autant de possibilités de discussion et
d’analyse interculturelles, mais comment les incorporer dans nos classes et comment évaluer les compétences interculturelles de nos
étudiant(e)s en fonction de vie professionnelle et active en dehors de la classe et après l’université? Cette communication vous présentera
quelques exemples d’études interculturelles, des suggestions et activités de classe, aussi bien que des suggestions d’évaluation.
10:15-11:15
James Zavodjancik & Judy Deleeuw, Milford & East Lyme Public Schools: The Four Cs: Collaborate, Connect, Communicate, and Co-Teach
Camp-Philbrick
Room
Join us in learning about co-teaching in response to Connecticut secondary school reform and mandatory world languages course credits.
Co-teaching has been proven to be an effective method in engaging students, creating dynamic teams, and improving student learning
outcomes. These methods will help facilitate learning for all students in your classroom, including those with special needs. We hope you
will join us to discuss this proven technique and explore our research on world languages, co-teaching, and leadership.
Yasemin Kesen, Yale University: Vocabulary Uptake: The Issue of Post-Task Assessment
This presentation first introduces an action research project which investigates potential vocabulary uptake of students through a posttask assessment. Then, it provides an insight with regards to the role of vocabulary uptake and its pedagogical implications for second
language teaching.
General Topics
in English
General Topics
in English
German
11:25-12:25
Camp-Philbrick
Room
2:20-3:20
Camp-Philbrick
Room
Valerie J. Lofland, CCSU: An Analysis of World Language Teachers’ Openness to Implementing Alternative Methodologies and Strategies in
Their Classes to Enable Students with Learning Disabilities to Succeed
This research addressed world language teachers’ openness to alternative teaching methodologies to enhance second language
acquisition for students with learning disabilities. Statistical levels of distinction were found indicating years of teaching, level of education
and experience with special education impacted responses.
Betty Chang-Twillie/張沁蓮 & Meghan Hannick, Capitol Region Education Council: Centers/Stations in World Language Learning
How do we give our students the one-on-one attention they need in our language classrooms? How do we extend and review their
learning all at the same time? How do we create independence in classroom learning? If you have been thinking about any of these
questions, you should try this workshop. In this workshop, you will learn to create "centers/stations" for your students. It will help you
give the one-on-one attention to your students, extend their language learning and review all at the same time, and help students learn
without the classroom being teacher centered.
Rich Rader: Track Them To Stop & Start Them In Their Tracks
Searching for ways to motivate student participation? Want to track targeted behaviors that yield data for generating customizable
reports? Experience this fun, engaging, highly effective online tool that can be used by anyone to both track and motivate student
behavior.
Michael McCarthy, Berkshire Country Day School, MA: Gateway to Meaningful Communication for Second Language Learners
3:30-4:30
A method that helps second language learners to successfully develop vocabulary and the ability to circumlocute in order to converse in
real life situations.
Ilka Kostka, SCSU: Interactive and Multimodal “Glogs” for the 21st Century Language Classroom
Camp-Philbrick
Room
Glogs are interactive graphic blogs that contain video, text, audio, hyperlinks, and images. I will illustrate how glogs work then discuss how
glog projects strengthen students' critical thinking and literacy skills in digital, informational, and media forms.
Christine Rapp Dombrowski, CCSU: Foreign Language and the Art Community in Connecticut
This session proposes to explore the use of Connecticut’s many and varied museum art collections as effective pedagogical tools in the
foreign language classroom for promoting both communicative and higher-thinking skills in our students.
Information
Session
Italian
1:30-2:20
Camp-Philbrick
Room
Kim Wachtelhausen, CT Department of Education: Overview of the System for Educator Evaluation and Support (SEED), Connecticut’s
Model for Evaluation. A topic of special relevance for in-service language teachers of Connecticut
This presentation has been given across the State of Connecticut to ensure a clear message and understanding of the System for Educator
Evaluation and Support (SEED), Connecticut’s Model for Evaluation. It will include the opportunity for Q & A.
10:15-11:15
Robert Haxhia, CCSU: Lingue: Gli studenti Americani e l’Italia in tempo reale
Sprague Room
Students in my Italian class expressed their desire to learn the Italian language because they wanted to learn more than about Italy’s
current events, sports, fashion, politics and economy. In my presentation, I will highlight some of the areas that my students found
interesting during my classes.
Giuliana O’Connell, CCSU: Playing with Words, the Italian Way
Italian
11:25-12:25
Sprague Room
Italian
2:20-3:20
This presentation is going to introduce a variety of idiomatic expressions, some tongue-twisters games, the multiple meanings of certain
words, and their daily usage in the Italian language.
Carmela Pesca, CCSU: A Visit to Boccaccio's World on the 700th Anniversary of His Birth
Teachers can contribute to the celebration of the 700th anniversary of Giovanni Boccaccio’s birth by planning lessons on the author’s
world: the late medieval city-state, the mercantile society, historical sites, biographical aspects, artistic representations, significance of the
novella genre, etc.
Rita Leonardi, CITA: Il mini Decamerone di Giovanni Boccaccio. Introduzione alla letteratura italiana attraverso due storie del Decamerone
Due storie del Decamerone di Giovanni Boccaccio sono presentate agli studenti di scuola media superiore, come un invito alla letteratura
italiana. Saranno incluse attività e pratica per gli studenti da fare in classe e a casa.
Mirtilli Morgana, Federica Protti, Sonia Beretta, Studio Arcobaleno: Dalla mappa concettuale all'ipertesto: unità di lavoro interattiva e
interdisciplinare (Workshop)
Sprague Room
Un approccio metodologico all'insegnamento della lingua e della cultura italiana. Presentazione metodologica e esemplificazione di
realizzazione di una unità didattica. Tema: "Una pagina di vita italiana."
Italian
3:30-4:30
Anna Iacovella, Yale University: Italian Women Writers: Parrella, a Representative for Culture Trends
Sprague Room
Students of Italian from beginning to advanced levels often ask questions related to social, historical, and cultural events of Italy. Literature
combined with theater and filmic creations facilitate the understanding of cultural, historical or social behavior. Valeria Parrella’s eclectic
works offer an interesting perspective to observe the cultural and historical events with their social implications in greater detail.
Francesca Dattilo, CITA: Inferno Dantesco
Students are introduced to Dante’s Inferno through presentations and multimedial projects.
Spanish
10:15-11:15
Juan José Vázquez-Caballero, Haddam Killingworth High School: Herramientas gratis "Web 2.0"para motivar y desafiar a los estudiantes
del siglo XXI
Carlton Room
Lino, Jing, google voice, generadores de códigos QR, wordle , vimeo y mucho más gratis para potenciar el aprendizaje de la lengua y la
enseñanza de la cultura. Aplicaciones en "Formal Oral Presentations," paneles interactivos en la red, posters culturales y de vocabulario,
uso de Vodcasts, "Integrated Performance Activities."
Juan José Vázquez-Caballero, Haddam Killingworth High School: Vodcast: Audiovisual files for flipping the classroom. How to personalize
and challenge students in the 21st Century
Spanish
11:25-12:25
Carlton Room
This is an innovative method of teaching language. The homework becomes the lesson, and the class time becomes the homework and
practice. Vodcasts let you to flip the classroom in order to differentiate instruction, to challenge students with the four skills, to
personalize the instruction with lessons online while integrating technology.
Israel Velez, Vinal Technical High School: Dictogloss in Teaching Spanish
This presentation will explain the use of dictogloss activities as a teaching tool for collaborative listening, writing and oral interaction,
communicative competence and written output. It is also based on the cultural aspects.
Amy Schlett & Sarah Labins, CCSU: TV Ads to Aid in Language Instruction
TV advertisements are an effective and engaging way to prepare students for authentic speech. In this presentation, you will learn how TV
Spanish
Spanish
2:20-3:20
advertisements can enrich language classes and you will be introduced to advertisement databases rich in culture that you can incorporate
in your instruction.
Sandra Mannino, East Hampton Middle School and High School: The Mexican Culture: Teaching and Learning Activities (Workshop)
Carlton Room
This workshop will present teaching and interactive learning activities with a Mexican culture context. The topics will be “el
arte, la familia y la quinceañera.” These activities will incorporate communication, grammar and vocabulary.
3:30-4:30
Paloma Lapuerta & Gustavo Mejía, CCSU: Bringing the Neighborhood to the Classroom
Carlton Room
A project developed in an intermediate-level class to make students familiar with the Latino Community in CT will be the focus of our
presentation, which will include specific activities and student samples.
CCSU SITS Students
An overview of selected teaching units produced by graduate students as part of the Summer Institute for Teachers of Spanish at CCSU.
Information about SITS 2012 will be shared.
Janet Picerno, 1942 – 2013
This Conference is dedicated to her memory