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| | 
| On a crisp almost-fall
morning President Brad Martin
opens the 2009 Conference
in the Robert C. Byrd Conference
Center on the Davis and Elkins
campus
in Elkins.
 |
Participants from across the state
review the information in their
program notebooks and renew
friendships just prior to the opening.
|
a nationally
known speaker on core
issues of language acquisition,
presented a thought-provoking
plenary session entitled:
"From Mastery to Proficiency:
Shifting
the Paradigm" |
|
Defining Proficiency "...The ability
to deliver
and receive
communication
that is
situationally
appropriate..."
De Mado | 
|
In addition to distinguishing between
proficiency and mastery instruction, Mr. De Mado's motivational
presentation focused on * organizing
principles of language acquisition... |
|
|
...* an inclusionary approach to
second language instruction, and * the importance of
Interlanguage in the acquisition process. Interlanguage an approximate form of the
language being studied; the learner
is still
in the process of acquisition -
he is communicating, but
is not yet
proficient. |
|
Participants
confer and
compare notes
during the
morning
break. |
|
|
Language teachers are very expressive!! |
Lunch was enjoyed
in the elegant foyer of Halliehurst mansion.
|
Ten of
West Virginia's
eleven guest Chinese teachers
joined us for the
conference. |
|
Mr. De Mado's afternoon session included
a
demonstration of inclusionary activities
that provide students the tools,
the
motivation,
and the opportunity to
be
successful
in their
language study. |
Working in language-specific groups, participants played
the role of students and developed lively and highly
creative raps following Mr. De Mado's guidelines.
 | 
|
Collaboration,
concentrated effort,
and lots of fun
filled the
afternoon - - - | 
|
- - - educational, entertaining, and language-rich.
Gustavo Barros
follows
directions
while others
listen intently.
 |
 |
Following the
"rap session"
Mary
Jane Williams and Shirlene
Groseclose
(newly elected Secretary and Treasurer of WVFLTA)presented a
multiplicity of ideas to engage students in language
learning using technology. |
|
|
After a break participants returned to
Halliehurst on Friday evening
to enjoy relaxed
conversation and social time followed
by presentations and entertainment.
Vice-President,
Christina Huhn (Marshall University),
introduced
Susie Marcus
, one of the six recipients of a
study-abroad
scholarship awarded by WVFLTA in conjunction with
the WV Higher Education Policy Commission. Dr. Huhn, who is leading the WVFLTA
program to strengthen bonds between
K-12 and Higher Education faculty, then offered the podium
to representatives
from WV universities who took the opportunity to explain
their programs as
well as opportunities available to WV world language
teachers and students. Presentations were given by :
Dr. G. T. "Buck" Smith
Davis and Elkins
|
Dr. María Carmen Riddle
Marshall University |
Dr. Harald Menz
Bethany College |
|
Mary Frye
Rebecca Conner
WV State University | 
|
The evening concluded
with inspirational music...
|
... original lyrics by Brad Martin -
"We Do What We Do"
-
in eleven different languages.
|
We learn to say
the thoughts we say,
We learn we have to
start,
We learn to
say just as we say,
We learn to give it heart.
 |
 | 
|
We close the books
and jump right in,
We don't just talk
the talk,
We make mistakes
and jump back in,
We learn to
walk the walk.
|
Participants
gather for the Opening Session in the Little Theater of Elkins
HS... ...where
they were entertained by the interactions of "
Mr. Mastery"(Brad Martin)and "
Professor
Proficiency" (Del Chrol)
...
...followed by the
presentation of the 2009 Teachers of the Year.
| 
|
Mary Frye, Chair of the Teacher of
the Year Committee, and Brad Martin, President, congratulate Marchetia
Bailey (K-12) and
Rebecca
Conner (Higher Ed.) for their accomplishment -
2009 WV Outstanding
World Language Teachers.
(see the
Have you heard? page for Mary's presentation of the
award.)
|
The Exhibits area offered the opportunity to speak with textbook
and
software representatives, shop for classroom or personal
items,
and chat with fellow teachers.
WVFLTA thanks the Elkins HS world language students who assisted
in the
set-up and operation of
the Exhibits.
Exhibits Chair,
Joanne Fawcett
,
supervises
while
Mark Fawcett
,
wvflta.org
webmaster, works on the database.
In the morning participants
alternated between time in Exhibits
and meeting in language
groups.
Dr. Christina
Huhn moderates the Panel Discussion :
"Bridging the gap between K12 and Higher Education
World Language Classes" Panel
members included: Brad Martin, Del Chrol, Mary Frye,
Robert
Crawford, Jenny Santilli, Ma Carmen Riddle and
David Marlow (not pictured) |
Lunch was another opportunity
to spend time, share, and chat
with friends and colleagues.
Nancy Ryan provided the table decorations (with
a gift of apples
from the Eastern Panhandle). |
 |
In his humorous and inspiring address
Mr. De Mado reminded us of
our strenghts - patience - tenacity - humor -
optimism
- and
encouraged us to adopt Camus' idea of"imagining Sisyphus happy".
 
"Fostering Student Language Proficiency through 21st Century
Assessment for Learning"
Robert Crawford
WV World Language State Supervisor
|
Project Based Learning Showcase
Showcase of projects initiated during the
2009 ESL and World Language
Summer Institute
Presenters:
María Howar
María Teresa Hacey de Lázaro
and
Shirlene Groseclose |
 "The Wide Range of
Pedagogical Tools
Used to Develop
Proficiency
through Virtual
Instruction"
Mary Sullivan
WV Virtual Schools |
"Making
Everything Count: The European Language Portfolio
(ELP) or Linguafolio
as a Tool to Build and Showcase
Students' Proficiency"
Harald Menz
Bethany
College 
|
WVFLTA 2009 was
an inspiring, energizing, and rewarding professional
development experience with opportunities to work together
collegially.
|
Member María Paola Cuecha
welcomes
one of our new
members,
Valerie Parker,
Spanish teacher at
Parkersburg Catholic HS. |
|
|
