7th Annual Dual Language Conference a TAMIU this Weekend

Texas A&M International University’s College of Education will host its Seventh Annual Dual Language Conference Jan. 14-15 at the University.

The Conference is presented in partnership with Laredo Independent School District, United Independent School District, and Teaching and Mentoring in Communities.

The Conference will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and continue on Saturday in the Student Center and Bullock Hall.

Friday’s events will include registration, exhibits and conclude with the General Session. Saturday’s events begin at 7:30 a.m. and include registration, continental breakfast, exhibits, sessions, luncheon and keynote address. The Conference and sessions continue through 2:30 p.m.

Conference cost is $75 for students and $120 for on-site registration and payment will be accepted at the door. Conference fees include attendance at sessions, exhibits, continental breakfast and luncheon.

Dr. Miroslava Vargas, one of the Conference organizers, said the Conference theme is Dual Language, Content and Learner-Centered Instruction: Effective Pedagogy for P-16
ELL Academic Success.

“The Conference focus is to bring awareness of current trends and research in the area of education for the academic success of English Language Learners (ELLs). It will be of current benefit to teachers, parents, school board members and administrators attending Conference sessions,” she explained.

The Conference will offer 26 different sessions ranging from early childhood to high school. Activities and strategies that have been successful with ELLs will be demonstrated and shared with Conference participants. (Click here for Conference program.)

Dr. Kathryn Lindholm-Leary and Dr. Lloyd B. Potter will be Conference keynote speakers.

Dr. Lindholm-Leary received her Ph.D. at the University of California-Los Angeles, where she worked at the Spanish-Speaking Mental Health Research Center and the Center for Language Education and Research.  She is Professor Emeritus of Child and Adolescent Development at San Jose State University, where she has taught for 23 years.

Her research interests focus on understanding the cognitive, language, psychosocial, and societal factors that influence student achievement, with a particular emphasis on culturally and linguistically diverse students. She has worked with dual language programs for the past 25 years, evaluated over 30 programs and helped establish 60 school programs in districts in 12 states.

Lindholm-Leary regularly consults with various state departments of education and the US Department of Education.  She has authored or co-authored four books and many chapters and journal articles on the topics of dual language education and child bilingualism and presented her findings at over 100 local, state, national and international conferences.

Dr. Potter is professor of demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he serves as Director of the Institute for Demographic and socioeconomic Research and the Texas State Data Center.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science degree in education from the university of Houston at Clear Lake, a Ph.D. in demography and sociology from the University of Texas and a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University, training doctoral level demographers in the areas of public policy and health, and conducting demographic research on public policy and health-related topics.  

Governor Rick Perry appointed him as the Texas State Demographer in May 2010.

For Conference information, call Dr. Vargas at 956-326-2426.

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