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Posted: 4/28/05

TAMIU Third Annual Bilingual, Biliterate Conference Friday, Saturday

 

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Texas A&M International University's College of Education will present its Third Annual Bilingual, Biliterate Conference, entitled Promoviendo Educación Equitativa/Promoting Equity in Education, tomorrow, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, 2005 at the Western Hemispheric Trade Center and Student Center.

Conference fees are $60.00 for both days and $30.00 for university students.  Conference attendees are primarily teachers, and students seeking certification in the area of bilingual education EC-4, 4 - 8 and 8 - 12 certification.

Conference hours are from 1 - 5:30 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Registration information is available by calling Dr. Ramón Alaníz, chair, Department of Special Populations, at 326.2434, or Dr. San Juanita Hachar, Conference chair, at 326.2427.

The Conference goal is the provision of training on effective teaching practices for second language acquisition and strategies targeted at improving standardized scores of second language minority students.   

Topics for concurrent Conference sessions include current legislation, Two-Way models, longitudinal studies on English Language Learner's gains, meeting the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP), IDRA Parent leadership models, enhancing oral language proficiency, TAKS assessment and the English Language learner as well as "hands on" workshops for the early childhood programs working with second language minority children. 

The Conference opens Friday at 1 p.m.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Elena Izquierdo, chair for the Development of Teacher Education at the University of Texas in El Paso and associate professor in Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) Education.

Dr. Izquierdo is a linguist by training and holds a Ph.D in Linguistics and Bilingual Education from Georgetown University.  In addition, she was the principal of the nationally recognized Ernesto Serna Two Way School, a dual language elementary school in Washington D.C., where all children, Pre-K-6th grade, learn two languages.

Concurrent sessions will continue though 5:30 p.m. Friday in various locations in the WHTC and SC.

Saturday's sessions will begin at 9 a.m. A highlight will be tours and showings at the new Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center Planetarium  and special awards for local bilingual educators.

The Plenary keynote speaker for Saturday is Dr. Leo Gómez. 

Dr. Gómez is an associate professor in Bilingual-Bicultural Education at the University of Texas-Pan American. He holds a Ph.D in Curriculum and Instruction with specialization in Bilingual/ESL Multicultural Education from Texas A&M University. His research focused on instructional practices that effect language minority students. His latest publications include Attitudinal Shifts of Teachers Implementing a Two-Way Bilingual Education Program, published in the TABE Journal and Supporting Dual; CALP Development among Second Language Learners, published in the Education Considerations Journal.

Saturday's sessions will continue through 2 p.m.

This year's  Conference is truly regional and will attract educators from Hebbronville, Zapata, Mirando, Crystal City, Carrizo Springs.

For more information contact Dr. Alaníz at 326.2434, ralaniz@tamiu.edu or visit offices in Killam Library (KL) 333A, or contact Dr. Hachar at 326.2427, sjhachar@tamiu.edu or visit offices in KL 321A.

University office hours at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu