Presenters

   Today, making copies for handouts and tests or printing is explensive. Most of this money comes out of our own pockets, and that’s why we need to think about ways to enhance our teaching with different resources such as free online tools. These tools can be used to complement face-to-face instruction. The integration of these tools as teaching and learning aids can foster a variety of approaches and pedagogical philosophies into our EFL classroom.

   There are plenty of free tools  we can use in our EFL classes in an asynchronous or synchronous manner. In this workshop, the presenter will provide practical ideas about the use of VLEs, behavior management tools, Google Docs, presentation tools, audio recorders, podcasts, online assessment tools, synchronous online meetings, web based discussions, smartphones applications, and other tools to promote a paperless EFL classroom. 

Biographical statement:

   Miguel Pérez is an EFL teacher with a passionate interest in Learning Technologies. He has over five years of experience teaching EFL to children, teenagers and adults. He is also currently VenTESOL Communications Coordinator, and the Head Teacher at MFL Academy in San Felipe, Yaracuy.

   It is very common to hear teachers complaining about their students not speaking English properly or fluently. Often teachers complain that they are unable to find a way to help them to be bold and improvisational in class. This workshop will allow participants to engage in a series of activities and discussions focusing on giving them some tips about discovering their students` learning styles when learning a second language. It is necessary that both teachers and students have an awareness of what they're learning styles are, as this will expand their horizons and help them face many difficult tasks or situations, as well as will lead them towards their goals. The presenter will talk about the most recent findings about learning styles related to a second language; also she will facilitate her own validated questionnaire.

Biographical statement:

   She studied Modern Languages at LUZ and holds an MA in Applied Linguistics. She has an extensive teaching as she has taught all English levels for over 17 years.  She has participated and presented her research results in Ventesol on several different occasions. She finished and complied with all the requirements of the Tesol Training Costa Rica's September  2005 Sit Tesol certificate Course and  was a participant at the" Daring to Lead" Tesol Convention in Tampa, Florida, March 15-18, 2006. 

   Sometimes interaction among students and teachers can be hard to achieve in ESL classes. Dealing with student-teachers interaction is not always easy, especially if students have different interests and levels. A good way to address this problem is by using automatic materials; these materials encourage studentsto use more realistic English in the classroom rather than simulated. Attendees will learn the basics about using authentic materials and some samples on how to use them to get the best out of their students!

Biographical statement:

   Jose Leonardo Gonzalez Godoy, Modern Languages senior student with La Universidad del Zulia and a TEFL teacher with New York Hunter University. Currently working at Centro venezolano Americano del Zulia (CEVAZ) as an English teacher.

   As it is known, teaching English is no easy task. Therefore, some ways to avoid difficulties have been found by applying certain practices that can be useful when teaching. During this workshop you will be presented with an adapted model of Leadership based on “The Student Leadership Challenge” (Kouzes & Posner). Such model consists of five practices which will be explained, as well as adapted to different class situations, which will give you a different approach on how to better manage your classroom.

Biographical statement:

   Kenedy Barboza started out as an English student in CEVAZ in 2007 and then started working as a teacher in 2008, and has been working here ever since. Emilio Suarez is a Modern Languages Teacher who graduated from La Universidad del Zulia and has 6 years of experience teaching English to children, teenagers and adults with a focus on student leadership development.  Recently, along with Emilio, Kenedy started developing a new Leadership program which is expected to launch soon.

Trace Effects is an interactive game developed by the U.S Department of State. The game was created with the idea of helping young learners to develop not only their language skills but also to show them a little bit of the American culture. As instructors we can use this great tool to teach our kids in a fun and dynamic way. Teaching is not just about grammar and vocabulary, It’s also about having fun through the process.

Biographical statement:

Carlos is an EFL teacher with more than 12 years of experience. He has always tried to incorporate new technologies into the English learning process. One of his goals as a teacher is to let students have fun while they learn in a dynamic and meaningful way. 

   In recent years technology has advanced at an incredibly fast pace. Younger generations have been brought up in this process and are extremely proficient in handling new tech from an early age. With new apps or other tools emerging nearly every day, the traditional teacher-student method has been left behind; with teachers taking the role of motivators in the classroom and as a ‘tool-provider’ to properly guide their students’ learning process. But, in the new ELT classroom these tools can not only be provided to students so they can improve, but they can also be used by teachers as dynamic ways of teaching and providing feedback. In this workshop, all these new tools will be analyzed one by one, providing ideas on how they can be included in the ELT classroom.

Biographical statement:

   Manuel Chirinos is a Chemical Engineer and English Teacher from Maracaibo, Venezuela. He has been linked to CEVAZ since 1996, being first a student and later a teacher since 2011. 

   A presentation designed for EFL teachers how to incorporate American customs into the classroom an important aspect of teaching English language is teaching students how to use their language in real life situations this presentation will focus on 10 values and customs that affect how the English languaje is used in the United States.

Biographical statement:

   Dara Jackson-Garrett is the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant from the U.S. she is from Baltimore, Maryland and has served as a teaching assistant in Washington DC and Costa Rica. She recieved her Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from American University in Washington D.C. Where she minored in Spanish. 

   The following investigation shows the role that authentic educational materials have in the English teaching area and how those materials work as tools for the teachers of that subject as a second language. It is emphasized in the work developed by Delmastro (1995), Laime (2006) and Stern (1992), quoting specially this last for his work on the field of learning-teaching processes and the selection of those materials. The type of investigation is Documentary-bibliographical, with a hermeneutic method and the research technique is triangulation. In this matter, we will develop not only the characteristics that those materials should have to be used as tools to teach English as a second language, but also some examples.

Biographical statement:

   Maestrante en el Programa de Cs de la Educación, Mención: Gerencia Educativa (URBE). Licda. En Educación, Mención: Idiomas Modernos (LUZ). Active member of VenTesol since 2005.  

   Sometimes it seems our students just don’t get it! After carefully and thoroughly exposing students to target language and giving them reasonable input, they look absent-minded and are clueless. How can we move on? We will understand the usefulness of awareness raising, controlled skills work, intensive correction, and integration of the three dimensions of grammar through different strategies and exercises to help our students make sense of the language presented in class. Prevent them from going astray, and don’t let intake slip through your fingers or out of their minds, as we help learners build their language skills more efficiently and accurately

Biographical statement:

   B.A., UCV, 1991. Macmillan’s academic consultant for Venezuela, Andrés Ramos combines his background as EFL teacher, trainer, coordinator, and director at language centers and schools, as well as in developing materials on methodology, along with his passion for research and the shared experiences of the Macmillan network of users, to assist the ELT community through training, consulting and seminars on teaching strategies and trends

    Surrounded by smartphones, tablets, apps, gadgets, and gizmos, we use them to socialize, do banking, and keep updated with current events. Nevertheless, for ELT purposes, we may end our day none the wiser. Let's transfer our digital competencies and practices into the teaching realm, to engage and network with colleagues from around the globe, as well as lay and walk our own autonomous path to professional development. Follow our digital outlets, and become a trendsetter on social media!

Biographical statement:

   B.A., UCV, 1991. Macmillan’s academic consultant for Venezuela, Andrés Ramos combines his background as EFL teacher, trainer, coordinator, and director at language centers and schools, as well as in developing materials on methodology, along with his passion for research and the shared experiences of the Macmillan network of users, to assist the ELT community through training, consulting and seminars on teaching strategies and trends

   This presentation will focus on how technology, social networks and media have impacted our way of learning and teaching. Because of that, it is crucial for teachers to be able to teach students how to learn the target language by getting connected to any potential source from which they may learn about the language and the culture(s) in which such language is spoken. A variety of activities will be carried out to show participants what a modern English class should look like. Also, there will be a brief explanation of the theory of connectivism, developed by George Siemens, along with the dichotomy of language learning and acquisition.

Biographical statement:

   He graduated from Modern Languages in 2009, he's worked as an English teacher for 4 years at extension courses at Luz and recently at Urbe. At Luz he is one of the conversational course teachers. He is currently doing a Masters Degree on Linguistics and Language Teaching.

He also works as a French teacher at L’alliance Francaise de Maracaibo.

   In this session, attendees will learn the general steps they need to follow should they decide to pursue academic programs at accredited colleges and universities in the USA. The topics to be addressed during the presentation include:The US higher education system, the application process, tests, student visas, CADIVI and more.

Biographical statement:

   Claudia Sánchez is a mass communication graduate with an MSin Business Management from Universidad Dr. Rafael Belloso Chacín. She worked as an English teacher at CEVAZ for over 10 years, and she became the Corporative Program Coordinator at this institution in 2004. She currently directs the EducationUSA Advising Center there

   In this info-session, attendees willlearn about the different types of scholarships and financial aid programs they can apply forat American colleges and universities. They will also receive information on several study-abroad initiatives sponsored by the US Embassy in Venezuela for undergraduate and graduate students.

Biographical statement:

   Claudia Sánchez is a mass communication graduate with an MSin Business Management from Universidad Dr. Rafael Belloso Chacín. She worked as an English teacher at CEVAZ for over 10 years, and she became the Corporative Program Coordinator at this institution in 2004. She currently directs the EducationUSA Advising Center there

    Social media is currently a resource of wealth for professional growth. In this presentation, we are going to learn how networking with other teachers beyond our local boundaries results in new opportunities to establish new professional partnerships, access materials, participate in free online trainings, keep up to date with news and current ESL conventions or other related events in the ESL field, all of which pay the way to a solid professional development. The focus of this demonstration is to show how to use social media like Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and others to keep track of new teaching and learning approaches, online applications for teachers, and be able to build the 21stdigital competencies every professional needs nowadays.

Biographical statement:

   ESP teacher at LUZ, Cabimas. Master’s Degree in Linguistics and Language teaching. Made two online courses on how to integrate internet into the classroom, through the E-teacher program of the American Embassy in Caracas

   The most operative attitude for teaching English is: a harmonious amalgamation of different activities, the use of real life settings and visual support, collaborative work, native or well-structured-global-English language samples, practice the four skills, and a pleasurable, positive approach. All these gears are summarized in documentaries, photo stories, videos, clips and more.  Let’s grab our popcorns in 3…2…1…ACTION! 

Biographical statement:

   Heyni Barrios de Sabatino has been an English professor at Carabobo University since 1998. She has taught at all levels of Education and has worked in the US and Venezuela.  Mrs. Barrios coordinates the English Department at a private school, she is also an  Academic Consultant, a Teacher Trainer and the Chair of the English Practices at Carabobo University.  She has participated in different programs in Venezuela and abroad.

    What is the challenge of being a teacher of the 21^st century? The biggest challenge is to help our students learn academic content through real –world examples, applications and experiences inside a well managed classroom where the Discipline is not an imposition. A teacher’s effectiveness depends on his demonstration of the affective characteristics, caring that our students use of the language as much as possible, and helping them develop self-discipline. An ordering of the self from the inside not an imposition from the outside.

We invite you to join us and get results. Dare to apply.

Biographical statement:

    ELT Academic Consultant, Richmond Venezuela, Teacher and Teacher-trainer. Inoiré Miranda, also called Loly is a 20-year-plus classroom veteran. She enjoys preschool most. Apart from teaching, she has also directed and coordinated school programs. Her Teacher-training experience began some fifteen years ago. She fully enjoys it!