Experts to speak on how to help English-language learners

The Saturday morning series, Supporting English Language Learners, will feature Maria Estela Brisk, a professor of education at Boston College, on Feb. 18, and Francisco Jiménez, a professor of modern languages and literatures at Santa Cruz University, on April 22.

Katrena Leininger, director of the Professional Development Initiative for the Purdue Literacy Network Project, said the subject matter is of particular interest to educators, but is useful for a wide audience.

"These experts were chosen because they are interesting, dynamic speakers who will draw on their own experiences with learning English," Leininger said. "These speakers can serve as an inspiration to those learning English, as well as provide tools to professionals who would like to help these individuals.

"We hope to attract not only teachers and future teachers who are facing the issue of how best to support children learning English as a new language, but we also feel both speakers will appeal to those in the community who work with people learning English, such as social service providers and pre-service K-12 teachers."

This is the first year for the lecture series, which began in September, and the presentations are open to the public. The talks are 9 a.m. to noon. The Feb. 18 lecture is in Stewart Center, Room 314, and the April 22 talk is in Stewart Center, Room 214. The cost is $30 for each lecture, but students with a Purdue identification card can get in free.

Brisk's presentation is titled "Language, Culture and Identity: Teaching Literacy to English Language Learners." She will discuss the knowledge English-language learners need to be able to read and write in English and will provide strategies that foster the development of academic oral language.

Jiménez, the Fay Boyle Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures, will speak on "The Challenge and Joy of Learning English: Personal Experiences." He will illustrate the positive role teachers can play in the education of students whose native language is not English. More information about Jiménez and his work can be found on his Web site.

For registration information on the lecture series, contact Lisa Harker, program coordinator for continuing education, at (765) 494-2973. A downloadable brochure is available from Purdue Literacy Network Project Web site.

The Purdue Literacy Network Project offers three programs for teacher professional development: Literacy Collaborative, Reading Recovery and the Professional Development Initiative.

The Professional Development Initiative includes the Summer Literacy Institute, as well as the Professional Development Series, which provides classroom teachers the opportunity to study the theories and best practices of balanced literacy, a method of teaching reading that includes learning about letters, sounds and phonics, as well as reading and writing, to create a richer experience for students.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Katrena Leininger, (765) 496-2119, georgekl@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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