Bringing Teachers Together
for
Immersion Experiences
Catharine Keatley, Ph.D.
<ckeatley@gwu.edu>
Sheila W. Cockey, MA
<scockey@wildblue.net>
National Capital Language Resource Center
NCLRC
Who we are
 Newsletter
 Culture Club
 Publications
 Summer Institutes
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www.nclrc.org
What You Will Learn Today
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Goals
Participants
Activities
Housing and food
Transportation
Cost
Running the immersion experience
Follow-up
Value of Short Term Immersion
Shorter, less expensive travel
 Easier to be away from home, job, family
 Provide a perk-me-up for skills
 Earn CEU credits
 Network professionally
 Increase knowledge
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Planning the Experience
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Audience
Budget, plan
according to budget
Variety of sessions
Housing, food,
meeting site
Advertising
Cost per participant
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Tentative schedule
Registration and
money matters
Communication
Check-in
Evaluation
Follow-up
Behind the Scenes
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Immediately before
AV equipment works
Set the tone
Promise
Logistical information
flow
Essentials
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Shepherding, good
directions
Food
Available at all hours;
solve problems
Liaison with support
groups
French Experiences
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French Embassy
Contemporary France
Bayard Presse
French pastry cooking demonstration
Indochina and Quebec
La Vie en Rose
Cooking class
French collection at National Gallery of Art
Spanish Experiences
Embassy of Spain
 State grant
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Writing lessons on the computer
Dance class: Salsa!
Tour of the National Gallery of Art
Playing a popular children’s game
Getting to know each other & reading magazines
Cooking lessons in a private home
Embassy reception
Attending a dance performance
Cooking demonstration
A poet signing her work
A poet talking with participants
Learning the jarabe tapatío
A non-profit presenter
A university professor presenting
General Advice
University and other experts
 Off-campus element
 Activity
 Variety of topics or thematic
 Hotel vs college campus
 Reception with important people
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What Did You Learn?
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Work with a team
Plan early with a budget
Advertise early
Have a good selection process in place
Provide up-front logistical and content
information
Plan for glitches
Have a cell phone handy
Arrive early
Put on a
happy face!

Bringing Teachers Together
for an
Immersion Experience
Catharine Keatley, Ph.D.
<ckeatley@gwu.edu>
Sheila W. Cockey, MA
<scockey@wildblue.net>
National Capital Language Resource Center