lCMC PRESENTS AN EVENING OF FUN
AND GAMES
There's still time to reserve your seat at the LCMC's 2nd Annual
SCRABBLE Scramble fundraiser from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Bolger Center
in Potomac. Join us for a fun "LCMC version" of the traditional game
-- players can purchase extra letters, buy a peek at a dictionary,
and play cooperatively with other team members. Dinner is included,
along with a cash bar and fabulous raffle prizes. For more
information, contact Pam Saussy at 301-610-0030 or
psaussy@literacycouncilmcmd.org.
calling talented
students and volunteers!
We're
looking for musical entertainment for the SCRABBLE Scramble on March
21st. This is a great opportunity to show our supporters the kinds
of folks that participate in our programs as learners or volunteers
-- not just hard-working students and tutors, but creative and
talented individuals in their "non-LCMC" hours. If you or your
student is musically talented (instrumentally or vocally) and you
would like to help, please contact Pam Saussy, LCMC Executive
Director, at 301-610-0030 or
psaussy@literacycouncilmcmd.org.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR OUTSTANDING STUDENT!
Think about all of the hard work that your student has done. Reflect on his or her achievements. Consider the circumstances of his or her life. Does your student demonstrate a commitment to learning? Can your student do things now that he or she couldn't do before tutoring? Has your student overcome challenges in his or her quest for improved literacy? Has learning English or learning to read had an impact on your student's life, in large or small ways? If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, nominate your student for the LCMC's Outstanding Student Award, which will be presented at the Annual Meeting on April 15, 2010. Click here for the nomination form.
►When: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm
►Where: Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, MD 20852
►What: LCMC Business Meeting, Volunteer Recognition, Outstanding Student Awards, Dinner
Watch for your invitation in the mail.
STUDENTS AND TUTORS VISIT WHITE HOUSE
This past December, tutors Mary-Ellen Friedland and Kate Renner
accompanied a group of LCMC students for a a tour of the White
House. Student Julie Cai shared her impressions of the visit in an
essay. READ MORE.
left to right: Ashton Sanoir, Zhrjing "Landy"
Wang, Huilan "Julie" Cai, Mary-Ellen Friedland (tutor), Alfredo
Munoz, Kate Renner (tutor), Milton Whitley, and Mei Fang Zhao
T How to administer a check up, March 2, 7:00 - 8:30 at the Rockville Library, 2nd floor meeting room
E The 2010 Census -- Help Your Student Count! March 3, 7:00 - 8:30 at the Rockville Library, 2nd floor meeting
room
Working with students with disabilities, April 29, 7:00 - 8:30 at the Rockville Library, 2nd floor meeting
room
►NEW CONVERSATION CLASS IN GERMANTOWN
A conversation class for advanced students (Skill Books 3 & 4)
is now available at the Upcounty Regional Services Center. The
class meets on Mondays from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, and is led by Ron
Wiles. Interested students should email
Carol Gardner or
Kim
Brown or call 301-610-0030.
►MCAEL 2010 Spring Institute for Professional Development:
ESOL Everyday English
March 4th, 2010 (Thursday), 6-9 pm
Communicative Activities for ESOL
April 23rd, 2010 (Friday), 6-9 pm
All trainings are complimentary for instructors; however, an
application needs to be submitted in order to attend. For more
information or an application, please visit
http://www.mcael.org and
click on "Teach a Class."
►American University TESOL Program:
“Call ‘em as you ‘ear ‘em”: Ear Training and Transcription to
Improve Pronunciation Teaching, Sunday, January 24, 2010, 9:00
am to 2:30 pm. Breakfast and lunch will be provided (breakfast
begins at 8:30 am). Registration is $15. To register or for
more details, contact Rebecca or Lori at 202-885-2582 or email
tesol@american.edu.
►Online resources:
Expanding ESL, Civics, and Citizenship Education in Your Community: A Start-Up Guide http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-677.pdf
Curricula and teaching guidelines can be found through a resource entitled U.S. Civics and Citizenship Online: Resource Center for Instructors. See the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services site at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
and look for the link under “Educator & Volunteer Resources."
public and private sources. In 2009, the monetary value of our total volunteer time was
over one million dollars -- a figure which enhances the LCMC's credibility in the eyes of
potential funders.
MARCH
PROFILE: GINNIE KIESEWETTER, ESL Coordinator
Ginnie Kiesewetter, one of
the LCMC's ESL coordinators, interviews prospective students,
matches them with volunteer tutors, and supports the pair or
group as they work together.
Q: What
do you like most about your job?
A:
I'm a teacher at heart -- that's why
I like this job so much. Meeting prospective students is one of
the things I love most. During the initial interview, I always
manage to teach something; for example, I help the student learn
how to make a particular sound, or share a few "tricks" about
how to approach reading a word. I also give suggestions on how
students can learn while they are on the waiting list. I often
recommend listening to CDs of children's books while reading the
book at the same time. Every interview is an opportunity to
learn something new.
Q:
What kind of help do you provide to
tutors?
A:
I enjoy using my tutoring and
teaching background to share ideas and solutions. On a typical
day, I might give practical tips for helping students learn
phonetic sounds, recommend books for working with idioms, or
suggest ways to improve a student's attendance. I like to hear
from tutors -- it's good to know what is or is not working,
whether they are meeting regularly and making progress, and
whether the match is working out.
Q:
What is your impression of the
students you meet?
A:
Our students are hard-working, dedicated and caring. Many have
given years of their lives to make sure their children have
opportunities that they never had. Now they are intent on
learning English themselves. Hearing about our students' lives
and their struggles makes you recognize how good we have it.
Their personal stories are intense. I'm so glad that I can give
my time and attention to help them make improve their lives.
Q:
What advice would you give to students?
A:I
Communicate with your tutor!
Q:
What are the most important things you'd tell a tutor?
A:
Be flexible and have a sense of humor.
Student and tutor progress/Student achievements read more
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