Keeping your language fresh!
As language instructors, use of our language can get a little rusty. This is true when you teach your native language. I teach ESOL students at the beginning and advanced level. My "ear" for what is grammatically correct is a little corroded. So, I always look to the summers as a refresher to get back in the grove. Even if your teaching language is not your native language, you can definitely benefit from an immersion experience in your target language, sometimes without leaving the country.
1. Consider traveling to a country where your language is spoken. You may even want to teach English for a short period, or teach the target language to immigrants coming to the country.
2. Contact your state foreign language association. Sometimes they host foreign language immersion experiences with other teachers in your state. If they don't, consider putting together a proposal to create a program.
3. Volunteer abroad. Many programs charge for this, but joining a mission trip with a local church might be a cheaper option.
4. Work with an immigrant population in your town. Schools, churches, and community organizations host summer programs for children in the area. Many times these programs are not publicized to the public, so you will have to contact schools and organizations that work with the target population on your own.
5. Volunteer to interpret for organizations. Many times non-native English speakers need competent language speakers to escort them to doctor's appointments, school registrations, etc.
1. Consider traveling to a country where your language is spoken. You may even want to teach English for a short period, or teach the target language to immigrants coming to the country.
2. Contact your state foreign language association. Sometimes they host foreign language immersion experiences with other teachers in your state. If they don't, consider putting together a proposal to create a program.
3. Volunteer abroad. Many programs charge for this, but joining a mission trip with a local church might be a cheaper option.
4. Work with an immigrant population in your town. Schools, churches, and community organizations host summer programs for children in the area. Many times these programs are not publicized to the public, so you will have to contact schools and organizations that work with the target population on your own.
5. Volunteer to interpret for organizations. Many times non-native English speakers need competent language speakers to escort them to doctor's appointments, school registrations, etc.
¡Hola!
ReplyDeleteI found your Blog while looking for info about FUNIBER. Are you doing your Doctorate with it? Do you have any more insight about it? I'm like you, a WL professional, teaching Spanish and Italian in TX, and looking for a distance program for my Ph.d.
Espero tu respuesta,
Ana
Hi Ana,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response. I'm still in the process of thinking about it! I don't know where you are located in Texas, but Texas A&M university has a PhD in Hispanic Studies that is done by distance learning and is only for Texas residents :( Have you looked at the University of South Africa? Let me know what you find. I have found trying to contact actual students who study at FUNIBER at the PhD level to be near impossible! Thanks for stopping by!