Spokane Regional ESL Conference: Full Schedule

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10:15am PST

The Metaverse for Education: Is it coming?

Two years ago, who would have imagined that our teaching would be via Zoom or Microsoft Teams using platforms such as Google Classroom, Blackboard, Canvas, etc. as well as educational apps like Quizlet, Kahoot, Nearpod? Is the Metaverse next? Join us for an informal presentation followed by discussion of this topic.

Speakers

Ron Belisle

Instructor/Conference Chair, Mukogawa U.S. Campus

Ron has been on the faculty at Mukogawa U.S. Campus in Spokane since its inception in 1990. He has also taught at both public high school and university in Japan as well as adjunct positions at WSU in Pullman, Gonzaga University, Kansas State University, and Moody Bible Institute... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 10:15am - 11:00am PST
Riverfront Park

Assessment

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, K-12 Settings, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

10:15am PST

Extensive Reading Program for adult ESL students

Learn about the benefits of extensive reading and MReader program.

Speakers

Sarah Mortensen

ESL Instructor, Spokane Community College

My name is Sarah Mortensen. I am an English language instructor for adult immigrants and refugees at Spokane Community college. I have been working at the Valley Center, which is an offsite location for the college. I was provided with a collection of readers for my students, and... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 10:15am - 11:00am PST
Chief Garry Park

Instructional Strategies

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings, Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, Bilingual Programs

10:15am PST

Regaining A Sense of Playfulness In the Classroom

Research from experts such as Peter Gray and Stuart Brown has shown the importance of play for children of all ages (including adults), to include in school environments. This presentation will seek to unpack how play can be integrated into the fabric of an ESL class, from teacher play to student assignments._x000D_

Speakers

David Martin

Professor, Washington State University

David Martin has been teaching for 21 years with about 15 in the ESL realm. He is currently a Teaching Assistant Professor in the English department at WSU, focusing on developmental and first-year composition. His research interests include ESL teacher identity trajectories, identities... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 10:15am - 11:00am PST
CDA Park

Instructional Strategies

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings, Teacher Educators, Administrators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, Bilingual Programs, International Settings

10:15am PST

Team teaching as a learning tool in TESOL certification

The presenters will outline the structure of the Gonzaga ESL Community Outreach (GECO) program and its team-teaching process, then work as a panel to share experiences in team teaching. We will highlight some benefits and difficulties and discuss how this has helped us grow as educators and been a formative part of our graduate education.

Speakers

Daisuke Aoki

Gonzaga University

Marie Saint-Just

Gonzaga University

Hailey Herrington

Gonzaga University MA TESOL program

Saturday February 26, 2022 10:15am - 11:00am PST
Mirabeau Park

Instructional Strategies

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

10:15am PST

Refugee Connections Spokane: Programs and Services

Refugee Connections Spokane offers a number of programs and services, and is in the process of building new programs. This presentation will include some background on RCS, details on our programs and services, how to access them, and how to get involved in our organization's work.

Speakers

Kathryn Garras

Refugee Connections Spokane

Non-Profit Partners

Refugee Connections Spokane

Refugee Connections Spokane supports and empowers refugee and immigrant communities by providing services, fostering community bonds, and advocating for refugee and immigrant rights in the Inland Northwest.

Saturday February 26, 2022 10:15am - 11:00am PST
Tubb's Hill Park

11:15am PST

Promoting Digital Literacy via Online Interactive Platforms

In this session, the presenters will provide theoretical support and reasons why teachers may need to consider integrating three apps in their classrooms. Then, the presenters will highlight basic information, features of each app, and provide practical ways to utilize these apps in ESL classrooms.

Speakers

Ali Asiri

PhD student, WSU

With a background in Teaching English as a Second Language, Ali is pursuing a PhD degree in the Language, Literacy, and Technology program at Washington State University. Ali’s research interests include CALL Teacher Education, Educational Technology, and TESOL.

Mazen Alyobi

Ph.D Student, Washington State University

Mazen Alyobi is an EFL Instructor at King Saud bin Abdulaziz for Health Sciences University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student at WSU in the Language, Literacy, and Technology program. Mazen is interested in Artificial Intelligent in Education, EduTech... Read More →

Hamzah S. Rajeh

Washington State University

Hamzah S. Rajeh is a Ph.D. candidate in the Language, Literacy, and Technology program at Washington State University. His MA in TESOL from Gonzaga University. He is interested in Educational Technology, CALL, MALL, Flipped Learning approaches, and Teacher Education in EFL classe... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 11:15am - 12:00pm PST
Riverfront Park

Assessment

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Teacher Educators, Bilingual Programs

11:15am PST

In at the Deep End: Developing a Course for the Fellow Program

The Virtual English Language Fellow program is an excellent opportunity to widen your teaching horizons, expand your professional development, add polish to your CV, and broaden your cultural competence. The presenter will describe project matches, brainstorm curriculum development, and demystify the process. _x000D_

Speakers

Bridget Green

Virtual English Language Fellow/English Language Programs, Virtual English Language Fellow/English Language Programs

Saturday February 26, 2022 11:15am - 12:00pm PST
CDA Park

11:15am PST

Teachers’ Attitudes and Perspectives towards World Englishes

This study examines the attitudes and perspectives of Filipino and Chinese ESL/EFL teachers on World Englishes through focus group discussions, open-ended questionnaires, and interviews.

Speakers

Alexander Tang

Adjunct Faculty, Seattle Central College

Alex Tang is an adjunct faculty member in the Basic and Transitional Studies Division at Seattle Central College. His research interests include but are not limited to: the use of L1 in the second language classroom, sociolinguistics, and less commonly taught grammar structures such... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 11:15am - 12:00pm PST
Tubb's Hill Park

Research

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings, Teacher Educators, Administrators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, Bilingual Programs, International Settings

1:00pm PST

Virtual Exchange Project for Japanese University Students

This presentation will discuss the uniqueness of a virtual exchange project between Japanese university students and elementary school students in Spokane. The presenter will highlight the special technological features used as well as the successes and challenges of a complex virtual exchange project.

Speakers

Daisuke Aoki

Gonzaga University

Saturday February 26, 2022 1:00pm - 1:45pm PST
Riverfront Park

Assessment

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, International Settings

1:00pm PST

What can we learn from learners' spoken errors?

The presenters will demonstrate features of a free online platform for providing oral corrective feedback after communicative activities. Current developments include machine learning to detect errors automatically, a searchable error corpus, speech-to-text transcription, and integrated practice activities for students.

Speakers

James Hunter

Director, TESOL Programs, Gonzaga University

James Hunter has taught ESL/EFL for over 30 years in the US, UK, Spain, Japan, and the UAE and is the director of TESOL Programs at Gonzaga University. He has a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham, UK, and his research interests include Second Language Acquisition... Read More →

Maria Elena Aviles-Baquero

Computer Science Student, Gonzaga University

Evan Henderson

Alexander Hollier

Jacob Ottens

Saturday February 26, 2022 1:00pm - 1:45pm PST
Comstock Park

Assessment

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

1:00pm PST

The State of EFL Education in Japan

This presentation will introduce the current state of EFL in Japan, starting with high school policy, its implementation and limitations. It will also discuss how to counteract these limitations in the university classroom.

Speakers

Kevin Bartlett

Associate Professor, Mukogawa Women's University, Japan

I currently work as an Associate Professor in the Department of English and Graduate School of English and Literature at Mukogawa Women's University, Japan. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, I have called Japan home for the last 17 years . My research interests are in the areas... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 1:00pm - 1:45pm PST
Chief Garry Park

Curriculum and textbook development

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Teacher Educators, Bilingual Programs

1:00pm PST

Academic Vocabulary in Discourse: Noun Groups and Nominalizations

Improve scaffolding of academic vocabulary by recognizing and bridging the complexity of noun groups and nominalizations in discourse. Presentation shows how authentic discourse can be visible and accessible to students at multiple levels in classroom interactions without oversimplifying or replacing academic language.

Speakers

Gregg Brekke

Assistant Professor, Whitworth University

Gregg is on the faculty of Whitworth University, where he serves as Director of English for International Students, and the TESOL Minor. He has taught English to learners overseas and in the U.S. for more than 30 years, including K-12, immigrants and refugees, and university students... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 1:00pm - 1:45pm PST
CDA Park

Instructional Strategies

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings

2:00pm PST

Motion Media for Language Learners:Theory, Research and Practices

In this informational session, participants explore the many ways that Motion Media such as films, tv shows, and videos make language learning fun and productive. As the language classroom moves from Zoom and back, Motion Media enriches approaches, methods and materials to support instructional goals and objectives.

Speakers

Terry Knudsen

Instructor of English, Mukogawa U.S. Campus

Saturday February 26, 2022 2:00pm - 2:45pm PST
Mirabeau Park

Assessment

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Administrators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

2:00pm PST

Do you hear what I hear? How teachers respond to errors.

Surprisingly little research has been conducted on the level of agreement between teachers as to what constitutes an error. This session reports on an investigation into the uniformity of responses to spoken learner language, measuring reaction time and confidence in grammaticality judgments.

Speakers

James Hunter

Director, TESOL Programs, Gonzaga University

Saturday February 26, 2022 2:00pm - 2:45pm PST
Comstock Park

Instructional Strategies

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

2:00pm PST

Living & Teaching in Two Worlds: Academic ESL & Tutoring Whatever

This presentation highlights the unique relationships that were cultivated within and between two teaching and learning contexts: an ESL tutoring center and an academic ESL program.

Speakers

Marie Saint-Just

Gonzaga University

Saturday February 26, 2022 2:00pm - 2:45pm PST
CDA Park

3:00pm PST

Integrating Augmented Reality into the ESL Classroom

Have you as a teacher used AR in your classroom? If not, in this interactive, hands-on workshop, you will learn what AR is and how to utilize it in your ESL classroom. This workshop aims to provide you with guidelines and resources needed for this implementation.

Speakers

Ali Asiri

PhD student, WSU

Effah Morad

2nd year Ph.D student, University of Delaware

Knowledge seeker 📚

Saturday February 26, 2022 3:00pm - 3:45pm PST
Riverfront Park

Assessment

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Teacher Educators, Bilingual Programs

3:00pm PST

Making Connections: Study Abroad Programs During the Pandemic

The teacher and student presenters discuss the study abroad programs during the pandemic. The study explores ambiguous loss of college experience both for students and instructors. At the end, this presentation offers suggestions for virtual study abroad and online teaching/learning during the pandemic.

Speakers

Kei Kawanishi

Associate Professor, Mukogawa Women's University

My research interests have focused around the topic of second language writing, but recently with the pandemic influencing our teaching and learning, I am focused on helping students connect and team-build. I am presenting a study with second-year junior college students on how they... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 3:00pm - 3:45pm PST
Tubb's Hill Park

Policy and Advocacy in a time of change

Target Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, International Settings