May / June 2000

From the President

By Alex B·ez, Southwest Texas State University

Dear TexTESOL III Members:

For those of you who have been participating in our events, we want you to know how much we appreciate your involvement, and getting to know YOU! Your involvement in TexTESOL III, your participation at our events, and your communication with us make TexTESOL III a vibrant support and advocate for ESL teachers and students throughout Central Texas and throughout the state! Thank you!!!

As for those of you whom we haven't yet met at our events, we want you to become a part of the "TexTESOL III Family," promoting the best of ESL pedagogy, administration, and community involvement in Central Texas. For many of us, we still have a long way to go "to move from the portables into the main building" - the physical location of many an ESL class in many schools. But with your support and interest and energy, we CAN put ESL on the community and political maps where we belong, with the respect and attention that we and our students deserve. Here I cite our mission statement:

Pictured above, guests at TexTESOL III's Spring Awareds Brunch at the Doubletree Hotel on April 15, 2000: L-R: Mimi Cavender-Horta, Former President, TexTESOL II, San Antonio; Marilyn Ramirez, President, TexTESOL II, San Antonio; and Eva Campos, Universidad Nacional AutÛnoma de MÈxico (UNAM).

"TexTESOL III is the Central Texas affiliate of TESOL (Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages), an international professional organization whose mission is to strengthen the effective teaching and learning of English around the world while respecting individuals' language rights."

With our 10-member Board and offices located in Austin, we continuously provide opportunities for professional development, promote the networking of ESL professionals, support political advocacy for language minorities and ESL professionals, and seek to acknowledge excellence in the teaching and administration of ESL in the Central Texas area.

The 2000 International TESOL Convention, March 13-17, provided ample opportunities for professional networking, teacher training, exchange of ideas, perusal of exhibits, and for us to "scout out" speakers and exhibitors for upcoming TexTESOL III conferences and events. First Vice President Rebecca Herman and I attended numerous TESOL affiliate meetings where we learned even more about our parent organization, and were able to exchange ideates about how things are effectively done at the affiliate level.

Our trip included the TexTESOL Presidents' Council Meeting, hosted this year by TexTESOL IV's (Houston area) President, Federico Salas. The conference was also a wonderful venue to host the traditional "Texas Round-Up," a gathering of current and former Texans, as well as "Texas Wannabes," in a festive atmosphere on Friday night, March 17th!

TexTESOL III Celebrates Excellence in ESL Teaching Spring Awards Brunch

A beautiful day, the lovely Spanish colonial Doubletree Hotel, and a delicious brunch complemented our Spring Awards Brunch and awards event on Saturday, April 15th. Keynote Speaker, Dr. Diane L. Schallert, Professor of Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, speaking on "Intercultural Communication in the Classroom," regaled us with ideas and stories about the need, the research, and the solution for appropriate in-classroom and outside-classroom discourse for English language learners. Delicious food for thought, indeed!

TexTESOL III was proud to award four Central Texas teachers an array of prizes, and the honor of the "TexTESOL III excellence in ESL Teaching" award. The very deserving year 2000 winners are:

Kristi Beall - A second-grade bilingual teacher at Blanton Elementary School in Austin, Kristi also heads the after-school enrichment program there, and involves parents of her learners by inviting their attendance at her Saturday morning English classes. She is famous for organizing "Community Nights" to increase parent and community involvement in the school, where up to 500 community members participate!

L-R: Alex B·ez President, TexTESOL III, Rebecca Herman, First Vice President and Newsletter Editor, TexTESOL III, Edna A. Gonzales, Rose Garden Elementary School in University City, Kristi Beall, Blanton Elementary School in Austin, Mary Corredor, Austin Community College, and Ann Hall, Texas Intensive English Program, Austin.

L-R: Kristi Beall with her mother, Nadine Beall

Kristi's mother, Nadine Beall, also an elementary school bilingual teacher, proudly watched her daughter receive the award. Kristi was introduced by Blanton Elementary teaching colleague, Ana Ramos.

Mary Corredor - Having taught ESL at virtually every level and to every kind of ESL audience, Mary has recently been named Chair of the ESL Department at Austin Community College (ACC), where she teachers and supervises a very diverse and multilingual college community of teachers and learners. As a teacher trainer, Mary devised a special syllabus to help new teachers pass the EXCET test for ESL. In her current position, she is diligently working to create a program for identifying, advising, assessing, and placing college ESL students at ACC. Mary was proudly introduced by her ACC colleague, Dr. Guadalupe Lopez Cox, Dean of the college.

Edna A. Gonzalez teaches bilingual education at Rose Garden Elementary School in Universal City, Texas, where she created a program called "Los Compadres," which pairs high school Spanish students with students at Rose Garden Elementary, for learning, tutoring, mentoring, and culture sharing.

She shows her personal commitment to her students by frequently visiting the homes of the families of her students. She also involves her students' parents in Rose Garden's Even Start program and in the school's multicultural events. Edna was warmly introduced by her Principal, Mr. Jay Muennink. Her colleagues Brenda Badeaux, Jan Prince, and Joellen Coryell accompanied her to the awards ceremony.

Ann Hall - Many of Ann's teaching colleagues from Dexter Hall (Texas Intensive English Program (TIEP) in Austin) attended the brunch to celebrate her accomplishments. A past president of TexTESOL III, Ann has been a teacher and administrator for many years at TIEP, and has established a reputation as an ESL expert, a valuable faculty resource, and a patient and inspiring teacher and administrator. Ann has also organized special events for TIEP, such as the College Application Workshop, an academic conference featuring former ESL students, and an innovative Academic Debate. Ann's sister, Jane Alley, and her son, James Hall, proudly watched as TIEP Curriculum Director, Sue Rodriguez, made the introduction.

At the brunch, TexTESOL III gave a special award this year to retiring Texas Education Agency Director of Community and Adult Education, Dr. Deborah Stedman. For over 17 years at the Texas Education Agency, Dr. Stedman has been the dynamic administrative and policy link between the Texas legislature and thousands of ESL professionals and students across Texas. Dr. Stedman says she is most proud of creating the Consortium of ESL Professional Development Programs, a statewide group of academic institutions which provide ongoing, local, and hands-on professional development workshops and seminars to Adult ESL professionals across the state.

Many thanks to Jo Bennett, Representative of Steck-Vaughn Publishers, for presenting an exhibit of ESL materials targeting K-12, college, intensives, bilingual, citizenship, and adult courses. And, thanks to Jo and Steck-Vaughn for giving a $50 ESL materials gift certificate to each award winner, as well as ESL material packages for our raffle!

Indeed, a good time was had by all! Please look for nomination forms and information in upcoming TexTESOL III newsletters, and in your mailbox, for the 2001 "TexTESOL III Celebrates Excellence in ESL Teaching" Awards competition.

TexTESOL III Fall 2000 Conference:
Building a Community of Learners

TexTESOL III has been cordially invited back to the beautiful Ragsdale Center, St. Edward's University, Austin, for our Fall 2000 Conference: "Building a Community of Learners." Again we will provide a scrumptious catered gourmet luncheon, concurrent sessions of the best presentations on ESL methods, ideas, and theory for K-12, adult, university, and intensive teachers and administrators, a comprehensive exhibit of the latest in ESL materials, and of course, our raffle!

L-R: Alex B·ez, and Dr. Deborah Stedman, Director of Community Adult Education, Texas Education Agency.

Please note the enclosed "Call for Presenters" to submit YOUR presentation for this exciting conference. And, look for your pre-registration form in upcoming issues of the TexTESOL III Newsletter! We want to see all our members there-and bring your friends, colleagues, supervisors, and principals who are not yet TexTESOL III members!

The TexTESOL State Conference for 2000 will be held in San Antonio on October 27-28, 2000. Look for the "Call for Presenters" and Registration Form, at the TexTESOL II website. And, at the conference, come visit our TexTESOL III table in the Exhibit Hall-pick up information and fun giveaways about our 2001 conference!

Yes, it's getting close to that time again when TexTESOL III hosts the TexTESOL State Conference, November 3-4, 2001, at the Doubletree Hotel, Austin, Texas. We are busy planning an all-star cast of speakers and exhibitors, and fun and inspiring events to make your 2001 conference unforgettable.

Please note that this conference will be held on a Saturday and Sunday, so plan your travel arrangements to come in on Friday and leave on Sunday afternoon-or make it a vacation and come early to stay late and enjoy the sightseeing, entertainment, shopping, and dining that Austin has to offer!

We welcome TexTESOLers to join us in the planning and execution of this conference, so if you want to be a planner and volunteer, please contact us by e-mail to First Vice-President Rebecca Herman rherman@del-valle.k12.tx.us ) or mail us at our home office (see return

address). We need YOU to facilitate the site management, food and entertainment, hospitality, concurrent sessions and speakers, exhibit hall.

Please have a safe and wonderful summer, and for TexTESOL information, please consult our website at http://www.textesol.org/region3/ .

1999-2000 TexTESOL III Board

Call for Contributions

If you would like to contribute an article to this newsletter, please contact the newsletter editor, Rebecca Herman, at Rherman@del-valle.k12.tx.us.

Please send your contributions by e-mail as a text-only document of up to 500 words. If this is not possible, you may send a hard copy to the TexTESOL III office:

You may contribute to any section, including book reviews, research, teaching tips, literature reviews, job announcements, and the calendar. If you would like to volunteer to read books and review them for our newsletter, please contact the editor at the above e-mail address. Our newsletter is published at least four times a year.

If you would like to volunteer to read books and review them for our newsletter, please contact the editor at the above e-mail address. If you would like to contribute a book that you think should be reviewed for publication, you may donate (not loan) a book to be reviewed to the above mailing address, along with your recommendation that it be reviewed for this newsletter.

Call for Presenters

TexTESOL 2000: Facing The Future

READY TO FACE THE FUTURE? Really think so? You'll be amazed at what this new century will mean for us and for our students! Brave new demographics, new student needs, astounding new teaching approaches and technologies to meet those needs. Mind-boggling high-tech glamour and warmer, fuzzier humanity, hand in hand, mixing metaphors in our schools of the future. It's the near -the NOW future! And it's here for you to explore OCTOBER 27-28 at the TexTESOL State Conference 2000, San Antonio. PRE-REGISTER NOW! Use the handy forms.

This is the year's not-to-miss TexTESOL event. The Millennial Conference! And San Antonio's Riverwalk romance! So much to explore since you were here last! Charming new shops, incredible restaurants, the boat rides, the music, and nighttime fun under huge moonlit cypresses! Bring your family with you this time; the prices are definitely right. Marriott Rivercenter Hotel welcomes you at special TexTESOL rates, and there are many other choices in the heart of comfortable, strollable downtown.

Friday and Saturday's Conference will spill out of beautiful Southwestern-themed Sheraton Four-Points Hotel and across the street to the spacious Municipal Auditorium. The paired venues give a roomy intimacy and regional charm to a conference themed to the Future! We're within a short, safe, tropical riverwalk stroll to all the River Bend area sights. And if you've never spent a conference weekend in San Antonio nourishing your mind, your spirit --your taste buds-- now's your very best opportunity. C'mon! We've got a party planned for YOU!

We'll find great food, good company, and a star-studded program in San Antonio this October. Site visits have been carefully chosen to show off not just successful innovative programs, but to give us an authentic preview of the future of diverse language education. The Program is top notch. Denise Murray, a perennial favorite, will kick off Friday's Keynote. Featured speakers include Mary Lou McCloskey, JoAnn Aebersold, Dave Sperling (of the Internet ESL Caf»!) and Carolyn Kessler. Margo Gottlieb, a very popular TESOL Academy guest, will keynote on Saturday. All these stars and more will show you new projects, brand new material. Prize-winning bilingual writer/poet Carmen Tafolla will rouse us to our bicultural best at Saturday's Awards Luncheon. And we have actors and poets and musicians in store!

Vendors will be gearing their exhibits to show us the best of now and the stuff of the future, the good stuff we didn't even know we needed till now. And they'll show us how to use it!

Don't forget to send us information on your presentation! You know that thing you like to do? You do it with your students every day? So why not share it with 25 of your colleagues, too? Nothing to it. And a state level presentation is great on your resume! Rooms full of presenters will renew our energy, rev our interest in the future of what we do. Will we do it better? And have more fun? Come see. Saturday afternoon's sessions lead up to a Grand Fiesta with spectacular prizes, great desserts, and entertainment surprises!

Come see old TexTESOL friends, and make new ones. After the Fiesta, you're on your own. You'll have seen the Future. Now go out and celebrate it in this easiest of towns to enjoy. Have some San Antonio fun! You'll have earned it! Go home happy, with a bag full of new tricks and great new stuff. Proof that you've Faced the Future of ESL!

Calendar

September 23, 2000. TexTESOL III Fall Conference: "Building a Commuity of Learners."

Ragsdale Center, St. Edward's University, 3001 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704-6489. Submit proposals by July 31, 2000 to: TexTESOL III Fall Conference, 1103 West 24th St., Austin, TX 78705. Contact: Rebecca Herman, Program Chair: rherman@del-valle.k12.tx.us

October 27-28, 2000. TexTESOL State Conference: "Facing the Future." Four Points Sheraton Hotel and the Municipal Auditorium in Downtown San Antonio,TX.

Contact: Chris Green, Conference Chair (210) 444-1710 ext. 1732. E-mail: cgreen@idra.org .

February 27-March 3, 2001. TESOL 2000. "Gateway to the Future." St. Louis, Missouri. Deadline to submit proposals in progress and poster sessions: : Aug. 14, 2000. Download the proposal form at: http://www.tesol.edu/conv/t2001.html.

November 2-4, 2001. TexTESOL State Conference: "2001: An ESL Odyssey." 23rd Annual TexTESOL State Conference; Doubletree Hotel (IH-35), Austin, Texas, USA. Contact: TexTESOL III, 1103 W. 24th St., Austin, TX 78705.
Web: http://www.textesol.org/region3/ .

TESOL Academy 2000

Registration materials for these summer academies may be downloaded from the TESOL website:

TexTESOL III Membership Form

Please tell us what you would like to see TexTESOL III do for you! Suggestions are always welcome!

Please make check payable to TexTESOL III Membership and mail with registration form to:

1. Southwest Academy The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) San Antonio, Texas June 9-11, 2000	2. Northeast Academy Boston University Boston, Massachusetts June 23-25, 2000
3. Midwest Academy The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Chicago, Illinois July 21-23, 2000	4. Southern Cone Academy Centro De Capacitcion Y Perfeccionamiento Docente Montevideo, Uruguay July 8-9, 2000

TexTESOL III Newsletter

TEXAS TEACHERS OF ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES

1103 WEST 24TH STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705

May / June 2000, Volume 2, No. 11

Table of Contents

From the President

1999-2000 TexTESOL III Board

Call for Contributions

Call for Presenters

TexTESOL 2000: Facing the Future

Calendar

TESOL Academy

TexTESOL III Membership Form

From the President

1999-2000 TexTESOL III Board

Call for Contributions

Call for Presenters

TexTESOL 2000: Facing The Future

Calendar

TESOL Academy 2000

TexTESOL III Membership Form