May 20, 2016
English Language Program faculty conduct teacher training in Chile
Two faculty members from the English Language Program conducted a series of teacher training seminars at Universidad Centrale in Santiago, Chile, in late April.
Taylor Jennings and Ketty Reppert have both taught in South and Central America and have worked with curriculum in the English language program. In addition, Reppert guided the the program through its 10-year accreditation process. Jennings will conduct the the program's five-year interim accreditation report this coming year.
Reppert and Jennings designed and conducted four workshops for the English faculty at Central Flipping the Classroom: Using Tech to Engage Students, Teaching Critical Reading Skills, Teaching and Assessing Speaking and Listening Skills, and Creating an Interactive Classroom. In addition to these workshops, they conducted a work shop for content professors on techniques to engage students in learning English through the content areas.
"Universidad Central has a goal of having content courses taught in English and they are exploring methods with which to improve the language skills of both faculty and students," said Mary Wood, director of the English Language Program.
While at Central, Reppert and Jennings also worked with Maria Soledad Perez Palaez, director of the English department, on strategic planning, goals for accreditation, and review of modules for English through the content area.
Wood indicated that this experience adds to the wealth of international teaching, traveling and living experiences that Reppert and Jennings can share with students in the classroom.
As a follow-up, eleven students from Central will have scholarships to come and study English for four weeks this summer with the English Language Program. A faculty member will accompany them and interact with the program's faculty on curricular issues. Additional plans are taking place for a faculty exchange in January 2017.