El fin...

It is really hard to imagine that this day we have all prayed for has finally arrived. And yet, it is with mixed feelings that we enter this gorgeous New England morning. Our paths will not continue down the same road much longer now. Some are leaving, and some will remain. And this is how it must be, for the work we have done and will continue to do in the days ahead must spread into the far reaches of our own little places in this world, and we are the only ones who can do this. May that which we have learned and experienced together have its unique ripple effect on minds, lives, and hearts for the future.

It is an honor for me, as the Assumption College TESOL Program Coordinator, to have been tasked with organizing this wonderful and all-exerting project. I have often found myself simply admiring and reflecting on the people and the work of this TESOL group. From our excellent faculty members, who spent innumerable hours imagining, creating, and presenting courses and introducing all manner of English language teaching concepts, to our phenomenal group of teacher-learners, who pushed us all to our limits with their intellectual prowess, amazing work ethic, and sense of humor, this has been a most satisfying and worthy endeavor.

"I know more than all my teachers," said the Psalmist, "because thy testimonies are my meditation." This promise of David is today fulfilled in our hearing. Thanks for the chance to know, learn, and work with you all. We will never forget.

A big, big thanks to Assumption College, Provost Frank Lazarus, Landy Johnson, and Michelle Aubin, as well the entire Assumption Team that made us feel at home here for the last 10 weeks. Thank you Sister Mary Ann, Father Dennis, Sister Cathleen, IT Joe, Robin at the bookstore, and many, many others. Thanks to Sister Catherine and the St. Peter's team, Pat, Julie, Megan, and Liz! Assumption College is a great place!

I leave you with,

An Old Irish Blessing (Thanks, Clint.)
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Andy

The Second Half

Well, the first 5 weeks of our program flew by. We had a great experience looking at the management of language teaching organizations in particular. This program is definitely causing our teacher learners to look at what they do in the classroom and at their schools. There have also been a lot of discussions and a couple of excursions to Concord and Boston. We also had a most profitable MATSOL convention in Framingham, Massachusetts for 2 days. Here, now, are a few photos of Session 1.

Happy book box victims

"Name That Tune" with Landy Johnson and Provost Lazarus at the TESOL Welcome Luncheon

"Well, it says here..."

"Let's talk strategic finance, meaning... complete banality."

Minuteman Statue, Lexington, Massachusetts ------------------------- Now, we are well into the second session. We have spent three weeks at our practicum site working with ESL students and teachers there. It has been a good experience with us all preparing lessons to deliver on video! With the completion of my two courses in the first session, we have now added to fascinating courses to round out the certificate, namely Cross-Cultural Issues and Integrating Technology. We have grown closer as colleagues and friends, learning from each other every day. The finish line is coming soon, and then this will be a thing of the past, so I want to savor the experience, trusting that we have done what we originally set out to do. Sorry to take so long to get back to the blog, but I was kind of busy... :)

Day 2 - Duck Day

What a day yesterday. We finally met! We had a great opening class, sharing who we are and what we do. We also spoke about our needs and expectations out of this program. I really learned an amazing amount... (I also loved the HDMI plug to the wide screen HDTV for my laptop and documents!)

Later, we walked around campus getting "mug shots" for IDs, collecting a heavy box of textbooks, and finding a nice spot to have great conversation around some good food in Taylor Dining Hall.

As the day continued, I saw the jet lag kicking in, so we called it a day at Emmanuel House (thanks Sister Cathleen!).

It's so interesting to be involved in this program because I can see how the people at Assumption College, all over the college, have been expecting and preparing for us. From campus security (Jack?)to Robin in the bookstore and Monica in Taylor and many others (Joe in IT, Vivian in the library, Father Dennis and Sister Cathleen), I must say it is a credit to this wonderful institution and its leadership, beginning with Dr. Landy Johnson and the Provost, Dr. Frank Lazarus and all their entire office, Michele, Louise, and Laurie. Thanks a lot!

God is obviously blessing this thing, and it makes you want to deliver your best each day.


Now, I am so excited about today's class!

After synthesizing the information gleaned at yesterday's meeting, acquainting myself with each of you and learning more about what you are doing at Assumption Language Center and the St. Peter's ESL Program (and learning of our little..."book problem"), and sleeping on it all. I think you are going to find today to be one of the most unexpected and potentially exciting days of the entire program. I think I have found a way to "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat". (A bit hyperbolic, but you will get the point.) See you at 1:30.

Not to forget, today is Duck Day at Assumption. Check some recent editions...

Assumption TESOL - Day 1

Welcome to America! Welcome to New England, Worcester, and Assumption College!

We know you have had an extremely long journey from the Philippines, so we will not begin in the morning until 10:00 a.m. in Testa 155. Don't worry, it will be a "light" day getting to know each other and tending to several important details such as...

Welcome and Introductions
TESOL Certificate Overview and Q&A
TESOL: Language and Theory Syllabus
"Housekeeping" & Announcements
College IDs
Course Textbooks
Dining Hall around 12 p.m.

Enough said... Try and get some rest!

Hey, Worcester! Here We Come!

It's goodbye, Manila and hello, Boston! Our Assumption Language Center teachers are in the air! Last minute details... To do lists to finish off... Ready or not, here they come! Arriving Tuesday night at Logan.

Instructor Profile 5: Faezeh Malakouti Rad

Faezeh Malakouti Rad is an Educational Technologist and Computer Engineer mainly interested in e-Learning and the integration of Technology in Higher Education. Faezeh is originally from Iran, but has lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts since 2009. She holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering and a Master's of Education from Boston University(BU) in Educational Media and Technology.

Faezeh has been teaching various computer courses from 2003 and she recently finished working in a team designing an online course for BU’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation as an Instructional Designer. Faezeh enjoys traveling, skiing and reading novels in her free time.

Faezeh is collaborating with Ed Collins on the "Integrating Technology" course in Session 2. This duo is a real 1-2 punch, and sure to offer a power-packed class!

Instructor Profile 4: Stanton Edwin Collins

Ed Collins was born in Farmington, Maine and grew up in East Wilton. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in Farmington and then moved on to college, first at the University of Maine and then Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. There he earned a B.A. in Religion and a Second Teaching Area in German Language after taking time off from AUC to study at Seminar Schloss Bogenhofen in Austria. He then earned an Ed.M. in Educational Media and Technology from Boston University.

Ed’s work experience is diverse, having worked with many different types of people in various fields, from construction to technology to education. He has taught elementary school, English and TESOL, been the president of the Atlantic Union College Alumni Association, sat on the school’s Board of Trustees, and developed educational software and web sites. Ed currently freelances for Pearson Education, an industry leader in educational technology and publishing. His personal interests include the Old Testament, computers and technology, sports, health and exercise, reading, politics and collecting quotations.

Ed will be teaching the "Integrating Technology" course in Session 2 (May 15-June 14).

Integrating Technology Lab

Although the room might change, this is what we can expect to use for the course on Integrating Technology (textbook selection still under review) which begins in mid-May. A few shots below...

Instructor Profile 3: Donna Luna

Donna Luna has a BA in English from Atlantic Union College and an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language from St. Michael's College. She spent two years teaching English in Japan and four years directing the English degree program at the university level in the Dominican Republic.

Following her work abroad, she returned to the States and taught for ESL for five years at Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. Currently she is teaching ESL at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Donna lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Jose and their three children.

Donna will be teaching Reading and Writing for TESOL and TESOL Classroom Topics: Cultural Issues.

TESOL Practicum Site

One of the things we are doing for the TESOL Certificate is to give our teacher-learners the opportunity to practice the things they are learning in the classroom... in the classroom!

Beginning in mid-May, we will be teaching and observing twice a week at St. Peter's ESL Program in Worcester. This is a community-based, adult ESL program operated by the Assumption Center in Worcester. St. Peter's is staffed by some very nice, retired second language teachers who donate their time to the local community. Sister Catherine (seen below) runs the program and will be studying with us at Assumption as well.

Through this practicum, we will begin a teacher development group that will have Tuesday lunches to reflect and share on our teaching experiences with our colleagues. Here are a few photos of St. Peter's. It is a great program!

Instructor Profile 2: Gabriella Ivic

Gabriella Ivic is originally from Hungary. She has been living in the U.S. for many years and is a proud U.S. citizen. She has a Master’s in TESL and English Language and Literature. She has been teaching ESL in the U.S. for twelve years.

Currently, Gabriella adjuncts at Assumption College, Quinsigamond Community College, and Clark University. Teaching English is her passion. She is a linguist who studied Russian and Italian as well. She is married and enjoys traveling with her husband.

Gabriella will be teaching Listening and Speaking for TESOL.

Instructor Profile 1: Edward Rivera

Edward Rivera, or "Andy", as he is known by family and friends, is a family man, guitarist, and language aficionado. He lives in the small rural farming community of North Orange, Massachusetts and loves to camp, drive his truck, and garden with his wife and children. Andy has traveled to more than 20 countries, speaks 6 languages, and holds an undergraduate degree in Romance Languages and a Master's in TESOL/Foreign Language Education.

Andy is in search of a farm where he can merge his two great interests, agriculture and language teaching. He has been teaching languages since 1993, most recently as the Director of the English Language Institute at Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. Currently, he adjuncts at Assumption College and Quinsigamond Community College, and freelances as an independent TESOL tutor, teacher, and consultant. His website is earforlanguage.com

Andy will be teaching two courses (TESOL: Language and Theory and Assessment, Design, and Management in TESOL) and directing the TESOL Practicum at St. Peter's ESL Program in Worcester.

Testa 155 and Testa 255

We have our classroom assignments. We will be meeting in one of the nicest spots on campus, in a new, state of the art building. Below are some photos of the building, our classrooms, and parking areas. Not long now!

The Richard and Janet Testa Science Center

4 More Weeks...

Spring is in the air, and we are getting ready to roll with our new TESOL Certificate at Assumption College.

The program has been designed, classes have been created, texts have been selected, instructors have been secured, and all we are waiting for now are our teacher learners from Assumption Language Center in the Philippines!

After 10 weeks of planning and organizing, we stand only 4 weeks away from the start of it all. What a learning experience is in store!