Thursday, July 9, 2009

ADP is Underway






AUC Skype English



One of the things that I enjoy doing is spending time on the internet. There is so much to learn and discover there. I have recently begun to understand the idea of harnessing the power of new technologies to improve language learning.

In doing that I have also discovered that it is possible to deliver good, solid language instruction through a variety of web 2.0 technology. Some of the stuff you can use is listed below.

Play around with these technologies and you will see what is possible! If you would like me to show you how to do it, just email me and we can schedule something.


















Friday, July 3, 2009

Tears No More

This has become my favorite song. It is called Nunca mais as lagrimas and it is in Portuguese. It literally means, tears no more.

The harmonies are absolutely phenomenal and the arrangement is just stunning. I hope you enjoy this blessing, too!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

My Language Learning Re-Education Continues


When I was in college, we had videos and some language laboratories to practice our German and French, but there is just no comparison to what is out there today regarding language learning and technology.



Over the last year or so, I have been learning more about teaching languages with technology. I had heard about Second Life from a colleague, so in April 2008 at the TESOL Convention in New York City, I attended a few presentations on SL. Just a few weeks later, my quest led me to St. Petersburg, Florida for the CIBER Business Language Conference there. That was an absolutely fantastic one. So, I kept learning more and more.



I continued playing and researching on the web. I attended the SLanguages 2008 teaching conference within Second Life and got hooked. I have since attended SLanguages 2009 in May, and just a few weeks ago the NCFLRC Language Teacher Education Conference in Washington, D.C.

So, I am developing a group of tools to use in my teaching as well as some ESL Teacher mentors that are doing some of the things I would like to do with my students.

Here are some cool tools...
secondlife.com
talkshoe.com
skrbl.com
yugma.com

Here are some cool teachers...
Nik Peachey
Jennifer Lebedev

This is what the future looks like...

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

June 2009 Open House



All Open Houses at AUC are fun, but this past Sunday's was really great. I got to debut my new song "The AUC Admissions Song", and I met some really neat people. Several decided that they want to study with us. That is a blessing.

Here are a couple of shots...

Dr. Saturne's Welcome


Some Professors

(left to right) Natural Sciences Department Chair, Dr. Richard Brown; Art Professor Master, Wayne Hazen; Adult Degree Program Director, Dorothy Page

One of AUC's Finest


Everybody together, now!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Language Teachers Conference

I love going to conferences. It is like going back to school. You learn a lot and meet interesting people.



Preparing Language Teachers for the 21st Century: Sixth International Conference on Language Teacher Education will be held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. this weekend.

It will be just a few blocks away from the White House. This is where I grew up, so it will be nice to see my old stomping grounds. I will be in the Nation's Capital for the conference on Friday only. After that, I will be visiting my brother and sister and their families in Ocean City, Maryland.

Did I mention that the 3 best reasons to become a teacher are June, July, and August?

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Pastor Eduardo & The GNYC Luso-Brazilians

I spent Memorial Day Weekend at Camp Berkshire in New York. It was a Campmeeting for the Luso-Brazilian Adventist churches in the New York region. I made an incredible discovery...

Pastor Eduardo!



A few shots...

My Boys


Making Friends


Pastor Claudio Vilela (my friend)


Pastor Eduardo waiting to play soccer


My Beautiful Wife with Nick


Down to the River


Claudio says hi


The Cabin where we stayed


Barkhamstead Reservoir, Barkhamstead, Connecticut