ISSUE
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February 2014 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER of The Belize TESOL
Exploring new ways to teaching English language learners (ELLs) ...
In This Issue: Launching of Belize TESOL P.2 Belize TESOL’s Progress P.3 Launching of Kaina OHS in Belize P.4
Belize is a nation of diverse cultures and
Registration Form P.5
languages. English, Belize’s official language and the
Dr. Udz’s Doctoral Abstract P.6
language of instruction is a
Dr. Udz’s Professional Background P.7
legacy left behind by British colonizers. As a result, English
Dr. Enriquez’s Doctoral Abstract P.8
is mostly spoken in formal
Dr. Enriquez’s Professional Background P.9
settings. Kriol is the lingua franca, but there are many
A TESOL In-Class Writing Activity P. 10
Spanish speakers, there are various Mayan languages, Garifuna, Mandarin, Low German and others. Consequently, over ninety-five percent of our students are ELLs. This phenomenon has serious implications for our students’ spoken and written English at the pre-school, primary, secondary, and even tertiary levels. It is time educators become sensitive to this situation and take a proactive approach to this issue. — Erica Aguilar 1
Launching of the Belize TESOL Association I am pleased to announce that the Belize TESOL Association was launched on Thursday, March 24, 2013. This very important event took place during the annual Education Week sponsored by the University of Belize’s Faculty of Education and Arts. The launching of Belize TESOL coincided with the first ever University of Belize Story Telling Festival (which I organized). The launching was officially done by Mr. Amilcar Umaña, the deputy mayor of Belmopan, who is himself a teacher. Present at this event was the Governor General of Belize, Dr. Colville Young, a former educator, who would have it no other way, as he wanted to be present for this occasion. I thank Dr. Priscilla Lopez, the interim Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts and the University of Belize’s Office of Public Information (OPI) for providing venues, and other expenses for the launching and for the first meeting. Mr. Emil Pulido and other colleagues have been avid supporters and for that, I am grateful. That’s as far as BelizeTESOL has gotten and as things develop, I will keep you informed. Yours in Education, Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino
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Ms. Ethnelda Paulino and Mr. Amilcar Umaña launching the Belize TESOL Association at the UB Gymnasium. Story Telling Pictures Below...
The Belize TESOL Association’s Progress Since the launch of the association, I convened a meeting on June 19, 2013. At the meeting, there were representations from several key organizations. Among those present were Mrs. Gwen Nunez Gonzales, education officer from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Mrs. Dativa Martinez from Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Mr. Louis Wade from PLusTV and teachers from several schools in the Belmopan Area, as well as some NOVA TESOL graduates. The meeting was quite interactive. I spoke about ways the Belize TESOL and the Central American and Caribbean Group (CA and CB Group) could impact the lives of Belizean teachers and students. Dr. Alberita Enriquez used an activity to generate discussion on the effects of sheltered instruction on the achievement of limited English proficiency students. Dr. Silvaana Udz, gave an overview of the approaches (depending on a schools’ location and language community) that can be used in lieu of those which we have been using, and are no longer effective. At that time 78 educators expressed interest in this association. A twelve (12) member working committee was also formed. Since then, the following officers have been elected: President, Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino; Vice President, Dr. Rita Enriquez; Treasure, Mrs. Margaret Enriquez; Secretary, Mr. Emil Pulido; Zone Managers, Mrs. Tritia Stuart, Mr. Armin Cowo, Dkta Silvaana Udz and Newsletter Editor/Organizer Mrs. Erica Aguilar. Because of the geographical layout of Belize, we decided that in order to target the entire country, we will have a northern, central, southern and western zone. Some very important people have been instrumental in helping to make Belize TESOL get this far. I am grateful for all the support I got from the following people: Mr. Ulrich (Uli) Schrader who shouldered the responsibility of inviting me to interact with the TESOL community, and for inviting me to the MEXTESOL Convention. Yours in Education, Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino
Ms. Ethnelda Paulino, Dr. Alberita Enriquez and Dr. Silvanna Udz at the first Belize TESOL Association meeting (left to right).
First Belize TESOL Association meeting held at the UB Jaguar Building; over thirty educators, at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, were present. 3
Launching of KAINA in Belize
Kaina Online High School is the first online high school of Belize. It is the brainchild of Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino. The name, Kaina is the name of the founder’s mother. Dr. Rita Enriquez is the co-founder of the Kaina Online High School. Kaina Online High School will offer courses taught in regular high schools. It requires internet access. It will, for example eliminate the expenses of purchasing costly foot wear, uniforms, and providing money for transportation, lunch, and books. It will offer the four years of high School; upon successful completion, a person will earn a high school diploma, thereby enabling that person to access college and university education. The school accepts persons who want to do four years of high school and persons who wish to complete high school. For example, if someone successfully completed 2nd form, then he /she will be accepted into 3rd form and so on. Such a person needs to submit a high school transcript. A prospective form one student needs to submit his/her last report card or Primary School leaving Certificate.
Ms. Ethnelda Paulino founder of Kaina
Dr. Alberita Enriquez cofounder of Kaina
KAINA will prepare students for CXC if they opt to take those examinations, and it will prepare the students for ATLIB. Kaina Online will also offer electives like agriculture, clothing and textiles, as well as non-traditional subjects like grooming (barbering, pedicure, manicure, hair processing). There will be a Face to Face orientation in order to teach students how to work online. Teachers will chat online, accept calls, text messages, and e-mails, as we progress. They will also require a few Face to Face Sessions as the need arises and when students request it. The registration fee is a non-refundable 25BZD per year and the fees are $300 per semester. A student can pay the 300.00 in full or pay $350.00 in installments. Each year, there will be two semesters. This is the plan. We decided that we need at least 10 students per class. So, you are free to invite others to apply. Although we intend to start later this month we may even begin a little later since it takes a while for new ideas to catch on. The good thing about online is that we can begin anytime. Yours in Education, Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino 4
Belize TESOL Association’s Registration Form
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Belizean Doctoral Abstracts
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Dr. Silvaana Udz’s Professional Background Silvaana Udz is an Assistant Professor at the University of Belize (UB) and an active promoter of the Belize Kriol language and culture. She lectures in English, Kriol Studies, Education, and Communication courses at UB, at the Belize City campus. She also has served in the past as the university’s Public Information Office. Silvaana completed her doctoral degree with Nova Southeastern University in May, 2012. Her Ed.D. in Higher Education was attained via a blended online and onsite instruction. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Language Education from Indiana University (1987) and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Biscayne College (1981), as well as diplomas and certificates in Mass Communication, Radio Production, and Television Production from several regional and international media training institutes and organizations (1986 – 2004), including CARIMAC, at UWI in Jamaica; CIESPAL in Ecuador; the International Institute for the Training of Journalists in Budapest, Hungary; and in Taipei, Taiwan.
Dr. Silvaana Udz,
Silvaana began her media career as a producer of a radio show for children in the late 1970s in Belize and her teaching career at the high school level in the early 1980s.
Assistant Professor at the University of Belize (UB) and an active
Today, she lecturers at the tertiary level and conducts training for diverse audiences, also serving as a consultant on various projects.
promoter of the Belize Kriol language
Directly complementing her work at the University of Belize, Silvaana conducts training workshops and seminars in public relations, communication skills, English-as-a-Second Language methodology, and Kriol language studies, the latter being her primary research interest. She is a founding member of the National Kriol Council of Belize and has served as the secretary of its literacy arm, the Belize Kriol Project, since its formation in the early 1993.
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Belizean Doctoral Abstracts
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Dr. Alberita Enriquez’s Professional Background Rita Frances Enriquez nee Avila, formally known as Alberita Frances Enriquez is an educator who hails from Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District. Rita entered the teaching profession in 1967 at the age of 16. She first began teaching in Barranco and was later transferred to Punta Gorda. She became a trained teacher in 1972 after graduating from the then Belize Teachers’ College. However, her family, including her husband, Lloyd Enriquez and three sons has resided in Belmopan for at least thirty-eight years. During all this time, she and her family through frequent trips have not severed ties with her home district. In Belmopan, She served as class teacher, and assistant principal at Belmopan Junior School (now United Evergreen Primary), and principal at the Belmopan Upper School, and then Garden City Government Primary School. She has had the privilege of serving in various professional organizations including the National Teachers’ Union, Cayo Association of Primary School Principals (CAPPS), Cayo District Educational Dr. Alberita Enriquez, Educator Council, and the National Garifuna Council-Belmopan Branch. and Co-founder of Kaina Online In 1995, she acquired a Bachelor’s Degree from the High School. University of the West Indies. In 2003, she was awarded a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a cognate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of North Florida. Rita Enriquez is founder of the Lan Barangu Luban Garifunaduau translated, Barranco House of Culture/Museum, in the Toledo District. It was established in November 15, 2005. The purpose of the Barranco House of Culture Museum, is to educate young Garifuna youth of Barranco, and other interested persons in Belize and abroad, about the vibrant Garifuna culture of Belize. In 2006, she was employed as a lecturer at the University of Belize where she taught English courses including Advanced TESOL, and at times supervised teachers on internship. In 2007, she became a doctoral candidate at the Nova Southeastern University. She attained a doctoral degree in Education with concentrations in Higher Education and Organizational Leadership in July, 2013. Alberita Enriquez is now co - founder of the first online high school in Belize, Kaina Online High School and Vice President of BelizeTESOL, where she plans to offer professional and dedicated service, as usual.
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A TESOL In-Class Writing Activity As teachers, we need to find ways of ensuring success for our culturally and linguistically diverse students and ensure that all of our students experience equal opportunities to learn. One such way is to encourage students to write about topics that connect the students’ knowledge and experiences to the classroom. Below is an example of a Geo Poem the students can be asked to write. It can be group work or individually done, followed by recitation. This exercise can be adapted for all levels.
Geo Poem (Name of country) (Four adjectives – words or statements that describe the country) Home of . . . (something that distinguishes it from other countries) Neighbor of . . . (name at least three neighboring countries) Who exports . . . (three items) Who imports . . . (three items) Who is proud of . . . (people, places, or characteristics) Who celebrates . . . (name three holidays) Whose flag is . . . (name the colors of the flag) Member of . . . (continent in which it is found) (Local name of country and a phrase to describe the origin of the name) Reference: Scarborough Arzu, H. (Ed.). (2001). Writing across the curriculum in secondary schools: Teaching from a diverse perspective. New Jersey, Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. Newsletter Editor/Organizer:
Belize TESOL Association
Erica Aguilar (hi.aguilar@hotmail.com)
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
To contact the Belize TESOL Association please call:
501-601-8081 501-632-2488
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