NYS TESOL Special Interest Groups (SIG)

Recent Activities

"The Contributions and Challenges of Non-Native English Speaking Teachers Who Teach ESL in NYC Schools"

Date: Friday, May 7, 2010
Time: 4:00 to 6:30 PM
Location: Cochrane Room- 2nd Floor, 239 Greene Street, New York, NY 10003

Original Program Description:

Dear NYS TESOL Colleagues,
  
You are invited to join a presentation and a follow-up meeting about the development and support of non-native English speaking teachers teaching in NYC public schools. The event is hosted by the ELL Think Tank and NYS TESOL Teacher Education Interest Group. The TE SIG Co-chairs, Joanna Labov, NYU and Soonhyang Kim, D'Youville College, present research findings about "The Contributions and Challenges of Non-Native English Speaking Teachers Who Teach ESL in NYC Schools". We are looking forward to meeting you Friday, May 7 at 6PM.
  
Agenda:

1. 4:00-6:00 Presentation and discussion:
   Topic: The Contributions and Challenges of Non-Native English
   Speaking Teachers Who Teach ESL in NYC Schools
   
   Speaker: Joanna Labov and Soonhyang Kim, co-chair, NYS TESOL Teacher Education Interest Group
   
   Description: Nonnative English speaking teachers (NNESTs) who teach in New York City public schools face numerous challenges as a result of their non-native English speaker status. These challenges include resistance to being hired because people commonly assume that NNESTs are not as competent as native English speakers to teach ELLs. In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the validation of NNESTs' abilities to teach ELLs.
   
   The researchers report on the results of a city-wide research study in New York City that used a survey to examine principals' understandings of the contributions and challenges that nonnative English speaking teachers face in teaching ESL in NYC public schools.
   
   The findings can help support for NNESTs at the school-level and for student teacher education programs. Students who decide to teach in grades K-12 in large, urban schools systems in English-speaking countries may need additional preparation to teach ELLs effectively. The findings can be applied to teacher preparation programs to help non-native English speaking teacher candidates become effective and self-confident ESL teaching professionals.
   
   
2. 6:00-6:30 Follow-up TESOL teacher educator meeting

NYS TESOL Teacher Education SIG Roundtable Planning Meeting

Date: Friday, October 2, 2009
Location: D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY

On Friday, October 2, 2009 the NYS TESOL Teacher Education Special Interest Group (SIG) met for the first time to plan future events about teacher education and ESL. This roundtable planning meeting was held at D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY. The participants attended the meeting in order to learn tips for teaching ESL, to create a network with other ESL teachers, and to encourage more collaboration with the BETAC.

For more details, download the meeting notes:
"First NYS Teacher Education SIG Roundtable Planning Meeting a Success" PDF