ELP Instructors present at TESOL Conference 2016

Congratulations to Jeri Ahern, Elizabeth Gillstrom, Sarah Grosik, Amanda Kniepkamp, Karen Liebner, Eve Litt, Ian Nichols, and Alyssa Swanson who were accepted to present at the TESOL Conference 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Jeri Ahern and Eve Litt Creating Buy-in:  Integrating IEP Core Curricula and TOEFL Prep Instructors should help students see the connections between IEP classroom tasks and skills assessed in the TOEFL. This interactive session will provide participants with the tools necessary to seamlessly integrate TOEFL prep into course curricula. We present insight as assessment specialists, review the scoring practices and present a quick overview of the TOEFL.

Elizabeth Gillstrom, Sarah Grosik and Eve Litt J-1 Scholar Proficiency Assessment:  Meeting the New DOS Regulation When the US Department of State implemented regulatory changes to its J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, universities were challenged to verify applicants’ English language proficiency. The presenters outline the process they undertook to meet this new regulation, while discussing lessons learned and strategies that participants can implement within their respective institutions.

Elizabeth Gillstrom Insights into ITA Testing and Training from Conversation Analysis Conversation analysis offers in-depth insights into talk-as-text and allows us to dissect what we may intuitively know about the discourse of ITAs. In this session, we explore current CA/ITA research projects, and involve participants in a discussion of potential applications.

Sarah Grosik and Alyssa Swanson IEP Re-accreditation: Keep Calm and Follow the Standards This presentation examines a university-based IEP’s approach to re-accreditation from the Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA). The presenters outline the self-study plan implemented at their institution and lessons learned.  Through reflection on their own successes and failures, the presenters share dos and don’ts with the audience.

Amanda Kniepkamp Insights into ITA Testing and Training from Conversation Analysis Conversation analysis offers in-depth insights into talk-as-text and allows us to dissect what we may intuitively know about the discourse of ITAs. In this session, we explore current CA/ITA research projects, and involve participants in a discussion of potential applications.

Karen Liebner and Eve Litt Integrating Language Domains with Technology and Project-Based Learning Participants will learn about an innovative approach to integrating the four language domains and multiple technologies into a project-based learning experience for adult ELLs.  The presenters will share how their project was implemented and approaches to modifying the project for varying skill levels.

Karen Liebner Perspectives on Advising: Chinese International Undergraduates and their Advisors This research-based presentation shares the results of a qualitative investigation of advisors and Chinese international undergraduates advising relationships. The results revealed possibilities for enhancing advising procedures and policies to better meet the needs of Chinese students and possibly international students from other countries as well.

Ian Nichols Co-presenting on Instructor-Guided Peer Review: Maximizing Benefits and Moving beyond Writing Peer review is standard practice in writing instruction but could be used both more effectively and in broader contexts. Presenters share strategies for more effective guidance and increased student engagement in peer review for writing and oral presentation. Participants leave with tactics and materials to adapt for their teaching contexts.