It’s Time To Say Goobye

Dear Colleagues,

It’s time to say goodbye.

Thanks for a memorable two years in Kazan, Russia. I appreciate your hospitality and assistance. Please keep in touch.

Best wishes,

Natasha

American Center Seminars

Dear Teachers,

Today we will have our party; at this time you’ll get your certificates. Please meet us at Cafe Aroma, which is just around the corner from the American Center. The party starts at 3 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

Free Schools

What is a Free School?

If a student was asked to describe her ideal school, the following picture might emerge:

The students can make all the rules. The students can choose what they want to study and when to study. At this school, students are not tortured by assignments, tests and homework.  In fact, the school even lacks a formal curriculum.

Does this sound like a daydream created by weary student hovered over a textbook?

In fact, some of the aforementioned principles apply to the Free School Movement. Inspired by philosophers such Leo Tolstoy and John Dewey, the Free School Movement applies democratic ideals to education.  Thus, students participate in a democracy, in which all decisions about the school are voted on. The students are given the freedom to learn what they want at the appropriate time. In a Free School grade levels and standardized tests do not exist. The students and teachers create the classes and curriculum based on their needs and interests.

To learn more about this Free School Movement read the following article about the Brooklyn Free School:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/nyregion/thecity/07free.html

http://www.yesmagazine.org/for-teachers/teacher-stories/teachers-stories-free-to-be-me

You can also listen to an audio clip about the Brooklyn Free School from This American Life “Kid Politics”:

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/424/kid-politics

Spring Schedule–Ministry of Education-Group 2

Nicosia, Cyprus by Natasha Isadora

Ministry of Education
Workshop Schedule—Spring 2011
Thursday, January 267h Teaching Academic Writing Part I
Thursday, February 3rd No Class—Natasha is traveling
Thursday, February 10th Teaching Academic Writing Part II
Thursday, February 17th Teaching Speaking Part I
Thursday, February 24th Teaching Speaking Part II
Thursday, March 3rd Teaching Listening Part I
Thursday, March 10th No Class– Natasha is traveling
Thursday, March 17th No Class– Natasha is traveling
Thursday, March 24th Teaching Grammar
Thursday, March 31st Teaching Vocabulary
Thursday, April 7th No Class—Teachers’ Conference
Thursday, April 14th Assessment—Part I
Thursday, April 21st Assessment—Part II
Thursday, April 28th Teaching Visual Literacy
Thursday, May 5th Teaching Critical Thinking
Thursday, May 12th Using the Internet to Teach Part I
Thursday, May 19th Using the Internet to Teach Part II
Thursday, May 26th End of Seminar Party! ☺

Upcoming Conferences & Call for Proposals

NEW TIMES – NEW SONGS: ELT AFTER 2010
The 17th NATE-Russia International Annual Conference
Kaliningrad
June 28-30, 2011
Please stay tuned for Conference Registration and/or proposal submissions

TESOL Conference on Putting Research Into Practice
1-3 October 2011, in Doha, Qatar, and Online

The 3-day conference will focus on three key areas of applied research in the field of English language teaching:

* Understanding the “good language learner”
* Bridging the gap between goals and results
* Facilitating and supporting ongoing professional development

TESOL Invites proposal submissions for the TESOL Conference on Putting Research Into Practice, to be held in Doha, Qatar, and online. To submit a proposal for an on-site presentation or online teaching resource proposal, visit the conference Web site. The deadline for onsite presentation proposals is April 1.

http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=2094&DID=13522

Stay Connected: ELT Russia Ning

Dear English Language Teachers in Russia,

Please join the English Language Teachers in Russia Ning. This Ning, created in 2009 by Senior English Language Fellow, Todd Vidamor, serves as a forum for discussion. Additionally, you can find information about upcoming events, conferences, and professional development opportunities across Russia. To join, please click on the following link:

http://elt-russia.ning.com/

Please let me know if you have any questions! See you on the Ning!

Spring Schedule–Ministry of Education-Group 1

Nicosia, Cyprus By Natasha Isadora

Ministry of Education
Workshop Schedule—Spring 2011
Wednesday, January 26th Teaching Academic Writing Part I
Wednesday, February 2nd No Class—Natasha is traveling
Wednesday, February 9th Teaching Academic Writing Part II
Wednesday, February 16th Teaching Speaking Part I
Wednesday, February 23rd Teaching Speaking Part II
Wednesday, March 2nd Teaching Listening Part I
Wednesday, March 9th No Class– Natasha is traveling
Wednesday, March 16th No Class– Natasha is traveling
Wednesday, March 23rd Teaching Grammar
Wednesday, March 30th Teaching Vocabulary
Wednesday, April 6th No Class—Teachers’ Conference
Wednesday, April 13th Assessment—Part I
Wednesday, April 20th Assessment—Part II
Wednesday, April 27th Teaching Visual Literacy
Wednesday, May 4th Teaching Critical Thinking
Wednesday, May 11th Using the Internet to Teach Part I
Wednesday, May 18th Using the Internet to Teach Part II
Wednesday, May 25th End of Seminar Party! ☺