ERIC S DWYER, PhD  

October 2008

 

office address:

Modern Language Education and TESOL

ZEB 314, Florida International University

Miami, Florida 33199 USA

 

office telephone: +1 305 348-2078

 

emaileric.dwyer@fiu.edu

EricÕs home page: http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere

Podcasts and blogs: http://web.mac.com/eric.dwyer/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

Rˇsumˇ page: http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/resume.html

 

Download MS Word document: http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/resume.doc

 

Please click on the appropriate heading  

 

EDUCATION

PRESENTATIONS

DISSERTATION COMMITTEES

EXPERIENCE

CONSULTING

CONTINUING ACADEMIC INTERESTS

PUBLICATIONS

 

AWARDS

LANGUAGE

CURRENT SUBMISSIONS

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

INTERESTS

 

 

 

CURRICULUM

VITAE

BIOGRAPHY

REFERENCES

 

 

 

 

EDUCATION

 

The University of Texas at Austin—Austin, Texas                  

PhD in Foreign Language Education, Aug 1992 to Dec 1997  

primary focus of study:  reading Japanese—enabling beginning Japanese students to progress in an expeditious fashion so that they can become successful Japanese users in their future study

Dissertation: Getting Started the Right Way:  An Investigation into the Introduction of Kanji Learning to Neophyte Japanese Learners    

 

The University of Texas at Austin —Austin, Texas                  

Master's degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Aug 1987 to May 1989  

primary focus of study:  reducing anxiety in the EFL classroom by incorporating mnemonic devices using music and humor    

 

Harvard University —Cambridge, Massachusetts                  

Graduate Apprentice Teacher Studies, Jun to Aug 1987  

supervised student teaching, classes in preparation of instruction, and a seminar course in classroom techniques    

 

Utah State University —Logan, Utah                  

Bachelor's degree in Spanish, minor in Radio Communications,                  

Jun 1980 to Jun 1984     

 

Berklee College of Music —Boston, Massachusetts                  

concentrations on composition and jazz piano study,                  

3 semesters Sept 1983 to Dec 1984    

 

Instituto Mexicano/Norteamericano de Relaciones Culturales—Mexico City diploma in Spanish language skills, and Mexican history studies, Jan to Mar 1984

 

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EXPERIENCE  

 

Associate Professor and Program Leader

Modern Language Education and TESOL

Department of Curriculum & Instruction

Florida International University—Miami, Florida                  

Aug 2000 to present  

 

Responsibilities include administration and advising of approximately 70 students in undergraduate and graduate levels of Modern Language Education; teaching Special Methods courses for majors of Foreign Language Education; participation on dissertation committees; development of new MasterÕs and Specialist programs; participation in the Academic Council for the College in its development of new programs and courses; supervision of student teachers in the field; and continued research. Research projects include a look into the academic language facing English language learners as they work through mainstream courses and making that language accessible to them. Assistant Professor through 2005; tenure garnered in 2005.

 

Visiting Instructor

Department of Educational Foundations and Professional Studies

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Florida International University—Miami, Florida                  

Aug 1998 to Aug 2000  

 

Responsibilities included teaching and course development of four courses: TESOL Curriculum Adaptation, Special Methods of TESOL, Linguistics for ESL Instructors, Developing Language and Literacy, and Reading Strategies for ESL Students.  Research projects have included work regarding phonological components of Japanese reading development in both native speakers and foreign language learners, integrating ESL concepts in elementary school curricula, and longitudinally tracing a student through her second language learning experience. An additional project is currently being initiated in an effort to help LEP students in South Florida attain cultural and linguistically relevant text materials for their content classrooms.  Finally, a special project is the development of a teacher-exchange program between our department at FIU with a private language school in Japan for elementary English instruction.  In addition to regular duties, responsibilities include the advising of approximately 80 students in the Modern Language undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as university service on the library committee and voting committee.

 

Extension Instructor ESL Services

The University of Texas at Austin—Austin, Texas

June 1993 to Jan 1998  

 

Responsibilities included designing and teaching of grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking courses at intermediate and advanced levels; design and implementation of a grammar curriculum to be used in a new program; designing and teaching of a beginning reading program, adviser, counselor, and supporter of international students; playing piano at social functions.

 

ESL Instructor

Texas Intensive English Program—Austin, Texas                  

July 1992 to Dec 1994  

 

Responsibilities included two semestersÕ teaching beginning English reading and writing; one semester teaching advanced reading and writing; continuous substitute teaching at all levels; various conversation classes; two summer sessions teaching conversation to high school Japanese students on home-stays; and contributions to curriculum development.  

 

Japanese Teaching Assistant

The University of Texas at Austin—Austin, Texas                  

Aug 1993 to May 1994  

 

Responsibilities included two semestersÕ teaching beginning Japanese to university students; design and implementation of supplementary materials including video, cultural addenda, grammar games, projects, songs, and tests.  

 

English and Spanish Conversation Teacher

Four Seasons Language School and Cultural Center—Hamamatsu, Shizuoka JAPAN                  

Sept 1989 to Nov 1991  

 

Responsibilities included teaching and designing of conversation courses at all levels in English and Spanish at various local companies, community classrooms, and a local junior college; curriculum design for weekly childrenÕs classes; English writing and publishing of medical journal material; word processing.

 

 

Apprentice Teacher of English as a Second Language

Harvard University—Cambridge, Massachusetts                  

June to Aug 1987  

 

Responsibilities included 15 hours of teaching TOEFL Preparation each week, supervised class preparation, staff meetings, and supplementary student conferences.  

 

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PUBLICATIONS     

 

Algren, M.; Dwyer, E.; Eggington, M.; and Witt, B. (2008). ŅSo, YouÕve Agreed to Chair a Conference!Ó in Coombe, C.; McCloskey, M.L.; Anderson, N.; and Stephenson, L. (Eds.) Leadership Skills for English Language Educators. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=231735

 

Dwyer, E. (Ed.) (2007). Sunshine State Journal, Vol 6, No. 1. Spring 2007.  Information available at http://www.sstesoljournal.org/

.

 

Dwyer, E. (2007). Epilogue. Sunshine State Journal, Vol. 6, No. 1. Spring. Text information available at http://www.sstesoljournal.org/Epilogue%20SPR%202007.html

 

Ramos, F., Dwyer, E., Pˇrez-Prado, A. (2005). Two-way Bilingual Education School Principals on Finding Highly Qualified Two-way Bilingual Education School Teachers: Current Challenges and Possible Solutions. Sunshine State Journal, Vol. 24.

 

Zaragoza, N.  and Dwyer, E. (2005). Look, I Made A Book. Peter Lang USA Publishing. Text information available at

http://commerce.peterlangusa.com/genBook.asp?CategoryName=Education&CategoryType=All+Disciplines&ProductID=0-8204-6760-X

 

Kossack, S., E. Dwyer, H. Landorf, C. Alacaci, & L. Martinez (2004). Scaffolding Expository Writing: Text Patterns to Text SkeletonsInternational Journal of Learning. Available at http://ijl2003.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.37/prod.194

 

Kossack, S., Dwyer, E., H. Landorf (2004) Authentic Academics: Service Learning in Teacher Education., International Journal of Learning. Available at http://ijl2003.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.37/prod.182

 

Dwyer, E., Mart’nez-Pˇrez, L., Ramos, F., and Pˇrez-Prado, A. (2004). Two Way Bilingual Education in Miami: Bridging public school administrator experiences to university teacher preparation programs. In upcoming publication in Florida Educational Leadership. Winter

 

Pˇrez-Prado, A., L. Mart’nez-Pˇrez, F. Ramos, and E. Dwyer (2004). ŅImproving teacher preparation for bilingual programs: listening to the practitioners.Ó First International Symposium on Bilingualism and Bilingual Education in Latin America. Paper presented for English Speaking Scholastic Association for the River Plate, Buenos Aires, April 1.

 

Dwyer, E. (article in press). Defining Academic Grammar. NABE News. Submitted draft may be viewed at http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/acadgrammar.html

 

Dwyer, E.S. and Ide, R. (2003). ŅTeen Life in Japan.Ó Chapter in Slater, J. (Ed.) Teen Life in Asia. Greenburg Publishing. Text information available at

http://www.greenwood.com/books/bookdetail.asp?sku=GR1532

 

Dwyer, E.S. (2003). ŅTeen Life in South Korea.Ó Chapter in Slater, J. (Ed.) Teen Life in Asia.  Greenburg Publishing. Text information available at

http://www.greenwood.com/books/bookdetail.asp?sku=GR1532

 

Grigorescu, C. and Dwyer, E. (2003). The Mismatch of the Language of Textbooks and Language of ESL Students in Content Classrooms. ERIC Clearinghouse.   In Proceedings for First Annual Research Forum, Florida International University, April 2002. Text available for viewing at http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/mismatch.html

 

Stack, L, K Buchanan, E Dwyer, C Harper,  C L  Huffman, N Kuhlman, A H Mac’as, M L McCloskey, B Witt (2002). TESOL P-12 Teacher Education Standards. Alexandria, VA: TESOL Publications.

Text available for viewing at http://www.tesol.org/pdfs/aboutassoc/ncatestds.pdf and http://www.ncate.org/standard/new program standards/tesol.pdf

Elected to 2004 Associations Advance America Honor Roll

 

Rocco, T.S.; Bliss, L.A., Gallagher, S.; Pˇrez-Prado, A.; Alacaci, C.; Dwyer, E.S.; Fine, J.C.; Pappamihiel, N.E. (2002) The Pragmatic and Dialectical Lenses: Two Views of Mixed Methods Use in Education. Chapter 23 from Tasshakori, A., Rocco, T., and Bliss, L, (Eds). Mixed Methods in Education. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Text information available at http://www.sagepub.com/book.aspx?pid=3193

 

Dwyer, E. (2001). ŅThe Truth About Bilingual Education.Ó Response to editorial. Dallas Morning News. December 24.  

 

Dwyer, E. (2001). Hello Korea. Miami-Dade TESOL Council Newsletter. June.  

 

reviewer and contributor to Grammar Dimensions series (2nd ed, 1997).  Boston: Heinle & Heinle.  

 

Dwyer, E, K Asanavage, and J Schmidt (1997). Issues, Ideas, and Solutions in Action.  TESOL Affiliate News.  Summer.  

 

Dwyer, E (1997).  A Tour of the Southwestern Educational Development Laboratory.  TexTESOL III Newsletter, Vol, 1., No. 4.  July-August.  

 

contributor to Saito, Y., et al (1993).  Japanese:  Step By Step.  Austin:  University of Texas Press.  

 

Dwyer, E (1988).  "on Frontiers:  An Active Introduction to English Grammar." Textbook review.  Texas Papers in Foreign Language Education.  Vol. 1, No. 2.  Fall.  Austin:  Foreign Language Education Center—The University of Texas at Austin.  

contributor to Graham, C (1988).  Songs for the ESL Classroom.  New York:  Oxford University Press.  

 

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PUBLICATIONS: CURRENT SUBMISSIONS AND PROJECTS  

 

 Funded Research

 

Project:

Science Academic Vocabulary for English Language Learners (SAVE-Language Learners) Project

Funding agency

Multi-University Reading, Mathematics and Science Initiative (MURMSI)

Project dates

Oct 2004 through

December 2005

Amount of funding

$160,000

 

 

Other Projects

 

 

 

Dwyer, E., Grigorescu, C. (in process). A K-12 Academic Word List.

 

Dwyer, E. (in revision). DWI: Driving without Incident. Draft may be viewed at http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/dwi.html

  

Dwyer, E.S.; Kawai, N.; Matsubara, C.; Dwyer, M.L. (illustrations). (in revision). Sai-san. Draft may be viewed at http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/sai-san.html

 

Dwyer, E. (article in revision). Secondary Literature and English Language Learners. (in revision).

 

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PRESENTATIONS   

 

Dwyer, E.  Modern Songs for ESL.  TexTESOL III Annual Spring Conference.  Austin, Texas.  February 1996.  

 

Dwyer, E. Focus On Grammar: Perspective on Use. Invited Presenter. Addison-Wesley presentation at The University of Texas at Brownsville.  Brownsville, Texas. August 1996.  

 

Butki, E, E Dwyer, D Hajji, and V Meunier.  Perspectives on the Graduate Student Experience.  Invited Panelist.  International Student Orientation.  The University of Texas at Austin. August 1996.  

 

Dwyer, E. Holistic Geometric Syllabus: A New Approach in Curriculum Design.  Texas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages 18th Annual State Conference. Houston, Texas. November 1996.  

 

Dwyer, E. List Games: Vocabulary Activities to Enhance Reading Acquisition.  Texas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages 18th Annual State Conference. Houston, Texas. November 1996.  

 

Butki, E, E Dwyer, D Hajji, and V Meunier.  Perspectives on the Graduate Student Experience.  Invited Panelist.  International Student Orientation.  The University of Texas at Austin. January 1997.  

 

Butki, E, R Baldick, E Dwyer, and V Meunier.  Surviving Graduate School. Invited Panelist.  Academic English Program Colloquium.  The University of Texas at Austin. February 1997.  

 

Asanavage, K, E Dwyer, and J Schmidt. Professional Development Activities.  Affiliate LeadersÕ Workshop.  TESOL 31st Annual Convention and Exposition. Orlando, Florida. March 1997.  

 

Dwyer, E.  Expanding the Newsletter.  Affiliate Newsletter EditorsÕ Workshop.  TESOL 31st Annual Convention and Exposition. Orlando, Florida.  March 1997.

 

Dwyer, E.  List Games: Vocabulary Activities to Enhance Reading  AcquisitionForeign Language Methods course. Invited lecturer.  University of Texas at Austin. Austin, Texas. March 1997.  

 

Hajji, D, E Dwyer, M Lam, and K Kornweibel.  Perspectives on the Graduate Student Experience.  Invited Panelist.  International Student Orientation.  The University of Texas at Austin. August 1997.  

 

Dwyer, E.  Dynamic Vocabulary: Preparing and Empowering the Reader with Effectiveness and Fun.  Invited Speaker.  Texas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages TexTESOL II Regional Conference. San Antonio, Texas. October 1997.  

 

Dwyer, E.  Tackling kanji: Developing an up-to-date curriculum for acquisition.  American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language International Convention and Exposition.  Nashville, Tennessee.  November 1997.  

 

Dwyer, E. Is kanji pronunciation harder to learn than meaning? If so, what can be done about it? Invited presenter. 1998 Conference on Kanji. Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh. August 1998.  

 

Dwyer, E and E Pappamihiel. The Changing Identity of ESLers.  Texas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages 20th Annual State Conference. Arlington, Texas. November 1998.  

 

Dwyer, E. Grammar, Idioms, and MTV. TESOL 33rd Annual Convention and Exposition. New York. March 1999.  

 

Dwyer, E. Is kanji pronunciation harder to learn than meaning? If so, what can be done about it? Invited presenter. Florida International University Linguistic Forum, Miami, Florida.  April 1999.  

 

Dwyer, E. Grammar, Idioms, and MTV. Invited speaker. University of Hong Kong TESOL forum, Hong Kong, China.  April 1999.  

 

Stack, L, K Buchanan, E Dwyer, C Harper, N Kuhlman, M L McClosky, B Witt. TESOL P-12 Teacher Education Standards. TESOL 34th  Annual Convention and Exposition. Vancouver, Canada. March 2000.  

 

E Dwyer, C Harper, M L McCloskey. TESOL P-12 Teacher Education Standards. Southeast Regional Conference, Miami, Florida. October 2000  

 

Dwyer, E. Is kanji pronunciation harder to learn than meaning? If so, what can be done about it? Invited presenter, Linguistics Forum, University of Florida, Gainesville.  November 2000.  

 

Facilitator for Castro-Feinberg, R, N Zelesko, and K Menken. Roundtable Discussion: Title VII Professional Development Programs. OBEMLA Title VII Institute, 30th Annual International Bilingual/Multicultural Education Conference—NABE 2001, Phoenix, Arizona. February 2001.  

 

Stack, L, K Buchanan, E Dwyer, C Harper, C L Huffman, N Kuhlman, M L McCloskey, B Witt. TESOL P-12 Teacher Education Standards. TESOL 35th  Annual Convention and Exposition. St Louis, Missouri. February 2001.  

 

Dwyer, E and P Killian. Helping low-level ESOL students achieve CALP. TESOL 35th Annual Convention and Exposition.  St Louis, Missouri. February 2001.  

 

Dwyer, E and P Killian. Helping English language learners access Academic Language. Invited speakers. Miami-Dade County Teachers Workshop. Sponsor: Florida International University Latin American and Caribbean Center. Miami. March 2001.  

 

Dwyer, E. The Masala Method. Invited speaker at Teachers Workshop, Sponsor: The American Home, Vladimir, Russia. June 2001.  

 

Dwyer, E and Z Moore. Sociocultural factors in using technology: An analysis of student teachersÕ email exchanges. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language International Convention and Exposition.  Washington, DC.  November 2001.  

 

Dwyer, E. Multilingualism. Invited speaker to Brazilian Cultural Center. Miami. April 2002. Stack, L, K Buchanan, E Dwyer, C Harper, C L Huffman, N Kuhlman, A H Mac’as. TESOLÕS Standards for P–12 ESL Teacher Education Programs Workshop for NCATE Program Reviews. TESOL 36th  Annual Convention and Exposition. Salt Lake City, Utah, April 2002.

 

Stack, L, K Buchanan, E Dwyer, C Harper, C L Huffman, N Kuhlman, A H Mac’as. Invited Presentation. TESOLÕS Standards for P–12 ESL Teacher Education Programs. TESOL 36th  Annual Convention and Exposition. Salt Lake City, Utah, April 2002.  

 

Dwyer, E and C Grigorescu. Connecting beginning ESOLers to CALP-accessible materials. TESOL 36th Annual Convention and Exposition.  Salt Lake City, Utah. April 2002. PowerPoint text of presentation available for viewing at http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/helpingESOLerswithcalp.html

 

Grigorescu, C., E Dwyer and P Killian. The mismatch of the language of textbooks and the language of ESOL in K-5 content classrooms. FIU Research Forum, Miami. April 2002.  

 

Dwyer, E, E DeJong, F Ramos, and A Pˇrez-Prado. Bilingual Education Forum. Invited Speakers. Sunshine State TESOL Conference. West Palm Beach, Florida. May 2002.  

 

Dwyer, E. The Kabsa Model. Invited speaker at Teachers Workshop, Sponsor: The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Education, 2 sessions: Taif and Abha, Saudi Arabia. August 2002.  

 

Dwyer, E. Research in academic vocabulary. Invited presenter. Florida International University Linguistic Forum, Miami, Florida.  October 2002.  

 

Ramos, F., Dwyer, E., Pˇrez-Prado, A. Improving the preparation of teachers wishing to work in two-way bilingual education programs. Listening to the practitioners. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language International Convention and Exposition.  Salt Lake City.  November 2002.  

 

Dwyer, E. Exploring the Internet. Invited speaker. Workshop at Universidad Tecnologica Empresial de Guayaquil. Guayaquil, Ecuador. February 2003.

 

Dwyer, E. Sound advice for teaching English sounds. Invited speaker. Workshop at Universidad Tecnologica Empresial de Guayaquil. Guayaquil, Ecuador. February 2003.

 

Kossack, S., Alacaci, C., Dwyer, E., Landorf, H., Mart’nez-Pˇrez, L. Patrones de texto como marcos de escritura. 4to Conferencia Internacional de la Lectura. Guatemala, Guatemala. February 2003. presentation in English and Spanish

 

Pˇrez-Prado, A., Ariza, E., Carmona, J., Dwyer, E., Ramos, F. Advocacy in TESOL in Florida. ŅAdvocacy and a Stack of Stuff. Board sponsored spotlight session at Sunshine State TESOL Conference, Jacksonville. May 2003.

 

Ilon, L., Dwyer, E., and Landorf, H. Questions regarding Academic Culture. Invited presenter. Fulbright Scholars Orientation meeting. Florida International University, Miami. August 6, 2003.

 

Dwyer, E. and Algren, M. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Education Training Project. Sponsored by AmidEast and the US Embassy Riyadh. Washington, DC and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. September 26 through October 21, 2003.

 

Dwyer, E. ŅGrammar, Idioms, and MTV.Ó Invited plenary speaker. Northeast Florida TESOL Conference. Saint Augustine, Florida, November 1, 2003.

 

Grigorescu, C. and Dwyer, E. ŅToward the K-5 Academic Word List.Ó American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language International Convention and Exposition. Philadelphia. November 2003.

 

Arrieta, E. and Dwyer, E. ŅHeritage Learners and Language Maintainers: A Survey of Attitudes.Ó American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language International Convention and Exposition. Philadelphia. November 2003.

 

Dwyer, E. Motivation and ESL. Invited presentation to Dade County Adult Assessment System for ESOL. Miami, Florida, January 30, 2004

 

Dwyer, E. Invited speaker: Opening Address. TESOL 38th Annual Convention and Exposition. Graduate Student Forum. March 30, 2004

 

Algren, M., Dwyer, E., Eggington, W. G., and Witt, B. Tips for Writing TESOL Convention Session Proposals. Special Event. TESOL 38th Annual Convention and Exposition.  Long Beach, California. April 2004.

 

Zemach, D., Islam, C., Quarterman, C. (organizers), Algren, M. and Dwyer, E. (invited performers). TESOL Talent Show. TESOL 38th Annual Convention and Exposition.  Long Beach, California. April 2004

 

Dwyer, E. Invited presenter. Shock Language Awareness workshop. FIU Reading Summit. Florida International University, Miami. April 20, 2004.

 

Pˇrez-Prado, A., Morales-Jones, C., DeJong, E. J., Erben, T., and Dwyer, E. ESOL Infusion in Higher Education Programs: New Challenges and Concerns. Sunshine State TESOL Conference, Tampa. April 2004.

 

Pˇrez-Prado, A., Dwyer, E. School and University Partnership Possibilities for Better Bilingual Programs. Sunshine State TESOL Conference, Tampa. April 2004.

 

Dwyer, E. and Pˇrez-Prado, A. Teaching on the Fly. Refereed presentation at Brazil TESOL Conference. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. July 21, 2004.

 

Salmon, A.K.; Dwyer, E.; Mart’nez-Pˇrez L. La compatibilidad de la instrucci—n de vocabulario con las inteligencias multiples. Refereed presentation at V Conferencia International de Lecto-escritura. Guatemala, Guatemala. February 2005.

 

Dwyer, E., and Algren, M. Leadership Development Certificate Program: Writing Effective Conference Proposals. Invited speakers. TESOL Arabia Conference, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. March 2005.

 

Dwyer, E, and Grigorescu, C. A K-12 Academic Word List. Refereed presentation at TESOL 39th Annual Convention and Exposition.  San Antonio, Texas. April 2005.

 

Majesky, J.; Stack, L.; Huffman, C.; Kuhlman, N.; Witt, B.; Buchanan, K.; Dwyer, E. The P-12 ESL Teacher Education Standards. Pre-conference Institute and Board Sponsored Session at TESOL 39th Annual Convention and Exposition.  San Antonio, Texas. April 2005

 

Witt, B.; Algren, M.; Dwyer, E.; Eggington, W.; Coombe, C. Conference Proposal Writing and Presentation Skills. Invited Session at TESOL 39th Annual Convention and Exposition. San Antonio, Texas, April 2005.

 

Dwyer, E. How to Generate Standards and Make Them Work. Invited Spotlight Session at TESOL 39th Annual Convention and Exposition. San Antonio, Texas, April 2005.

 

De Jong, E.; Coady, M.; Hruska, B.; Pˇrez-Prado, A.; Dwyer, E. Bilingual Education: Issues and Practices. Sunshine State TESOL Conference. Orlando, Florida. April 2005.  

 

Stack, L.; Huffman, C.L.; Witt, B.; Kuhlman, N.; Buchanan, K.; Dwyer, E.. The NCATE Program Report and Review Process. Workshop. Rhode Island College; Providence, Rhode Island. July 2005.

 

Dwyer, E. Using Forum. Invited workshop presenter. Egyptian Inspectors General Conference sponsored by Egyptian Ministry of Education and United States Embassy Cairo. December 2005.

 

Dwyer, E. The Art of Engaging. Invited plenary speaker. 2005 EgypTESOL Conference and Book Exhibition. Cairo, Egypt. December 2005.

 

Dwyer, E. Treating Students as Authors. Invited workshop presentation. 2005 EgypTESOL Conference and Book Exhibition. Cairo, Egypt. December 2005.

 

Stack, L.; Huffman, C.L.; Witt, B.; Kuhlman, N.; Buchanan, K.; Dwyer, E.. The NCATE Program Report and Review Process. Pre-convention Workshop. The 40th Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Tampa, Florida. March 2006.

 

Stack, L.; Huffman, C.L.; Witt, B.; Kuhlman, N.; Buchanan, K.; Dwyer, E.. TESOL/NCATE P-12 Teacher Standards. Board-sponsored invited session. The 40th Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Tampa, Florida. March 2006.

 

Dwyer, E. and Boynton, S. (organizers); ēlvarez, I.; Abedi, J.; Grefe, M.; Kuhlman, N.; Platero, A.; Stack, J. High-stakes Tests, States, Teachers, ESOLers, and Moms. Spotlight Session. The 40th Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Tampa, Florida. March 2006.

 

Coombe , C.; Algren, M.; Eggington, M.; Dwyer, E.; Witt, B.; Panferov, S. Tips for Successful Proposal Writing. Invited Special Session. The 40th Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Tampa, Florida. March 2006.

 

Dwyer, E. and Pe–a, J. The Academic Vocabulary List and Its Application to Content. Invited Energy Break. The 40th Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Tampa, Florida. March 2006.

 

Algren, M.; Dwyer, E., Islam, C., Witt, B.; Zemach, D. TESOL Idol. Event in conjunction with TESOL-By-Night Event. The 40th Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Tampa, Florida. March 2006.

 

Dwyer, E. Grigorescu, C., and Pe–a, J. Academic Word Lists in K-12 Classes. Peer reviewed session. The 40th Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Tampa, Florida. March 2006.

 

Dwyer, E. and Algren, M. Foreign Language Assessment Workshop. Invited Speaker from U.S. State Department. Aleppo, Syria. April 2006.

 

Dwyer, E. TESOL and the Role of Professional Associations. Invited speaker. Langahead School of Language. Johannesburg, South Africa. May 2006

 

Stack, L.; Huffman, C.L.; Witt, B.; Kuhlman, N.; Buchanan, K.; Dwyer, E.. The NCATE Program Report and Review Process. Workshop. Roosevelt University. Chicago, Illinois. October 2006.

 

Dwyer, E.  Invited workshops. One-week set of workshops on Pronunciation, Improvisational Drama Techniques, and Writing Conference Proposals. University of Limpopo. Polokwane, South Africa. June 2006.

 

Dwyer, E. Invited workshops. Angola English Language Teacher Association (ANELTA) two-week workshops. Luanda, Lubango, Huambo, Angola. January-February 2007.

 

Stack, L.; Huffman, C.L.; Witt, B.; Kuhlman, N.; Buchanan, K.; Dwyer, E.. The NCATE Program Report and Review Process. Pre-convention Workshop. The 41st Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Seattle, Washington. March 2007.

 

Stack, L.; Huffman, C.L.; Witt, B.; Kuhlman, N.; Buchanan, K.; Dwyer, E.. TESOL/NCATE P-12 Teacher Standards. Board-sponsored invited session. The 41st Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Seattle, Washington. March 2007.

 

Dwyer, E. Refereed presentation. The Power of Social Studies. The 41st Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Seattle, Washington. March 2007.

 

Algren, M.; Coombe , C.; Dwyer, E.; Eggington, W.; Jakar, V.; Panferov, S, Witt, B. Tips for Successful Proposal Writing. Invited Special Session. The 41st Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Seattle, Washington. March 2007.

PowerPoint text of presentation available for viewing at http://www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/tesol2008prez.ppt

 

Dwyer, E. Keynote speaker. ELL Professional Development for Mainstream Teachers. Professional Development Workshops. The 41st Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Tukwila, Washington. March 2007.

 

Witt, B.; Algren, M.; Dwyer, E.; Eggington, W.; Coombe, C. So, You Wanna Be A Conference Chair, Huh? Invited presentation. Leadership Development Certificate Program. The 41st Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Seattle, Washington. March 2007.

 

Dwyer, E. Keynote Address. South Florida Association for Young Children Third Annual Early Childhood Conference. Miami, Florida. April 2007

 

Dwyer, E. Invited Luncheon Speaker. Florida International University College of Education Research Conference (COERC). Miami, Florida. April 2007.

Dwyer, E. Motivation and Language Learning. Invited Presentation. ELITE Õ08: Professional Development for Adult Educators. Miami-Dade County Public Schools. February 2008.

 

Dwyer, E.; Evans, L.; Harper, C.; Nutta, J. Florida Senate Bill 2512. National Association of Bilingual Education. February 2008. Tampa, Florida

 

Dwyer, E. and Weinstein, M. Invited conversationalist. Miami-Dade Public Public Schools Adult Basic Education monthly meeting. The English Center, Miami. February 2008.

 

Witt, B.; Algren, M.; Dwyer, E.; Eggington, W.; Panferov, S.; Coombe, C. So, You Wanna Be A Conference Chair, Huh? Invited presentation. Leadership Development Certificate Program. TESOL Arabia. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. March 2008.

 

Dwyer, E. ŅWhatÕs the Status of ESL/EFL Worldwide?Ó Invited Featured Speaker. TESOL Arabia 14th International Conference. March 2008. Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

 

Dwyer, E. and Baez, B. ŅSoweto, Proposition 227, and Resistance.Ó Refereed presentation. Comparitive & International Education Society 52nd Annual Conference. New York. March 2008

 

Dwyer, E.; Harper, C. Florida Senate Bill 2512. Refereed Presentation. The 42nd Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. New York. March 2007.

 

Witt, B.; Algren, M.; Dwyer, E.; Eggington, W.; Panferov, S.; Coombe, C. So, You Wanna Be A Conference Chair, Huh? Invited presentation. Leadership Development Certificate Program. The 42nd Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Seattle, Washington. March 2008.

 

Algren, M.; Coombe , C.; Dwyer, E.; Eggington, W.; Jakar, V.; Panferov, S, Witt, B. Tips for Successful Proposal Writing. Invited Special Session. The 42nd Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. New York. March 2008.

 

Carter, D., and Dwyer, E. Making ESL Cool! Invited Post-Convention Institute. The 42nd Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Seattle, Washington. March 2008.

 

Dwyer, E. Invited Speaker. POET Conference. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. July 2008.

 

Dwyer, E. Invited Presenter. American Corner. Mary, Turkmenistan. July 2008.

 

Dwyer, E. Invited Presenter. English Access Microscholarship Program workshops. Amman, Jordan. August 2008.

 

Dwyer, E. Invited Presenter. United Nations Relief and Works Agency workshop. Amman, Jordan. August 2008.

 

Dwyer, E. Invited Presenter. Ministry of Education two-day workshops for English Teacher supervisors. Ramallah, Palestine. August 2008.

 

Dwyer, E. The State of ELT Worldwide. Invited Presentation. Quality English Teaching: First National Symosium. Birzeit University. Ramallah, Palestine. August 2008.

 

McCloskey, M.L. and Dwyer, E. Literacy, Teens, and Soccer. Peer-reviewed session. Southeast Regional TESOL Conference. Birmingham, Alabama. September 2008.

 

Dwyer, E. Lessons From ELT Worldwide. Invited Speaker. Miami-Dade TESOL Fall Symposium. Miami. October 2008.

 

 

 

 

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CONSULTING  

 

Review of bilingual and ESL programs.

Khipu International Institute. Cuzco. Peru. November 2001.  

 

Radio appearance: Radio Peace AM 840. Invited speaker. June 11, 2002.  

 

English Language Institute. A workshop series sponsored by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Education, the US State Department, and the British Council. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, August 7-24, 2002.

 

Education Training Project for English Language Teacher Supervisors. Sponsored by AmidEast and the US Embassy Riyadh. Washington, DC and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. September 26 through October 21, 2003.

 

Two courses in Bilingual Education: Dinˇ College; Tsaile, Arizona. Invited professor with Arizona State University extension. June 1 through July 9, 2004

 

Cross-cultural courses in Bilingual Education: Dinˇ College; Tsaile, Arizona. Invited professor with Arizona State University extension. June 20 through July 7, 2005

 

Invited to North Cyprus ELT Academic Advisory Board. May 2006

 

Dwyer, E.  Invited workshops. One-week set of workshops on Pronunciation, Improvisational Drama Techniques, and Writing Conference Proposals. University of Limpopo. Polokwane, South Africa. June 2006.

 

Invited to Applied Language Studies Editorial Board, November 2006

 

Invited to Sunshine State TESOL Editorial Board, April 2007

 

Dwyer, E. Invited workshops. Two-week set of workshops on Assessment of university bilingualism. Bir Zeit University. Ramallah, Palestine. August 2008.

 

 

AWARDS  

 

Outstanding TexTESOLer 1998. Texas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.  

 

University Excellence in Teaching Award 2004, Florida International University

 

Book on standards Elected to 2004 Associations Advance America Honor Roll

Stack, L, K Buchanan, E Dwyer, C Harper,  C L  Huffman, N Kuhlman, A H Mac’as, M L McCloskey, B Witt (2002). TESOL P-12 Teacher Education Standards. Alexandria, VA: TESOL Publications.

Text available for viewing at http://www.tesol.org/pdfs/aboutassoc/ncatestds.pdf and http://www.ncate.org/standard/new program standards/tesol.pdf

 

 

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PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS  

 

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages—TESOL                   

Board of Directors serving as 2004 Conference Chair

elected position—Apr 2002 through Mar 2005

 

National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education

TESOL representative serving on Board of Examiners

appointed position—current through 2007                  

 

NCATE/TESOL Teacher Education P-12 Standards Task Force member

Oct 1999 to Apr 2002; appointed position current through 2008   

 

Miami-Dade TESOL Chapter

First Vice-President—Mar 2002 to Mar 2003

2002 Fall Symposium Series organizer, September to November 2002 

          

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages—TESOL

Teacher Education Interest Section—list serv coordinator

Feb 2001 to April 2002

 

Texas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages—TexTESOL III

President—Feb 1997 to Feb 1998                  

Past president and national TESOL liaison—Feb to Aug 1998                  

State conference presenters coordinator—Nov 1997                  

Newsletter editor—Dec 1995 to Feb 1997  

 

Florida Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages—Sunshine TESOL  

 

Bilingual Association of Florida—BAF  

 

The Institute for Language and Education Policy

 

Periodic member of the following organizations:

American Council for Teachers of Foreign Language—ACTFL 

National Association for Bilingual Education—NABE  

California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages--CATESOL  

 

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DISSERTATION COMMITTEES  

 

Therese Piguet. Effects of Pronunciation Instruction on Literacy in French I Learners. Dissertation: Florida International University. Successfully defended March 2001.  

 

Sharon Humphries. The Performance of High Ability Black Upper Elementary Grade Students in an International Baccalaureate Program. Florida International University. Successfully defended April 2004.

 

Mar’a L—pez. Differential Outcomes of Two-way and Transitional Programs on LEP Students at Different Entry Levels. Successfully defended April 2005.

 

Marina Rodr’guez-Esquivel. An Investigation of Mathematics and Science Instruction in English and Spanish. Florida International University. Successfully defended November 2005.

 

 

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CONTINUING ACADEMIC INTERESTS  

 

Please see blogs and Podcasts at http://web.mac.com/eric.dwyer/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

 

contributing to the notion of applying theory to practice in teacher training due to the following problem:  teachers teach as they were taught, not how they were taught to teach.  How can this be fixed?  

 

a)    by looking at tailoring academic language input for students of bilingual education programs, two-way and mainstream.

 

b)    by establishing two-way cultural connections between language minority students and their native English speaking counterparts.

 

c)     development of a bilingual/ESL library designed with reading materials which strategically combine studentsÕ native culture and target-language culture; making these materials—both the actual text and lesson plan ideas—accessible to both students and teachers on the internet

 

d)    writing of a Japanese textbook series emphasizing a combination of pleasure reading  and structured kanji study; producing a reasonable program that guides language students to advanced proficiencies within four years  

 

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LANGUAGE  

 

native English, advanced Spanish and Japanese, intermediate French and Portuguese

additional study in Thai, Swahili, Italian, German, Greek and Mandarin

 

 

INTERESTS        

 

world travel, playing the piano, autobiographical writing, jazz/pop composition; having coffee with friends, sports, good health

 

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ERIC S DWYER, PhD  

October 2007

 

office address:

Modern Language Education and TESOL, ZEB 314    

Florida International University

Miami, Florida  33199 USA

office tel:  +1 305 348-2078

emaileric.dwyer@fiu.edu

 

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EDUCATION DETAIL            

 

degrees:           

PhD in Foreign Language Education (Japanese, ESL)                  

December 1997—The University of Texas at Austin         

 

MasterÕs in Foreign Language Education (ESL, Spanish)                  

May 1989—The University of Texas at Austin         

 

BachelorÕs in Spanish (minor in Radio Communications)                    

June 1984—Utah State University           

 

independent study:           

Graduate Apprenticeship in ESL teaching                  

June to August 1987—Harvard University         

 

study in music composition                  

3 semesters from August 1983 to May 1985—

Berklee College of Music, Boston       

  

intensive Spanish                  

one semester from January to March 1984—

Instituto Mexicano/Norteamericano de Relaciones Culturales,

Mexico City  

 

current mentors:           

 

Florida International University:                  

Kingsley Banya, Department Chair, Curriculum & Instruction           

 

principal instructors:           

 

The University of Texas at Austin:                  

Herman van Olphen, Asian Studies                  

Sian Yen, Asian Studies                  

Judith Lindfors, Curriculum and Instruction                  

Zena Moore, Foreign Language Education                  

Diane Schallert, Educational Psychology                  

Philip Gough, Psychology           

 

Harvard University:                  

Karen Price, English as a Second Language                  

Anne Dow, English as a Second Language                  

Carolyn Graham, ESL Apprenticeship Program           

 

Utah State University:                  

John E Lackstrom, Linguistics                    

Jerry Benbow, Spanish                  

Alfred Smith, French             

 

dissertation, Oct 1997                    

Getting Started the Right Way:  An Investigation into the Introduction of Kanji Learning to Neophyte Japanese Learners

                   

committee members:                           

Herman van Olphen, Asian Studies                           

Sian Yen, Asian Studies                           

Judith Lindfors, Curriculum and Instruction                           

Philip Gough, Psychology                           

Diane Schallert, Educational Psychology           

 

thesis, May 1989                    

A proposal of original songs for the advanced ESL classroom

 

committee members:                             

Judith Lindfors, Curriculum and Instruction                           

Gary Underwood, Linguistics      

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN DETAIL        

 

Associate Professor and Program Leader Modern Language Education and TESOL, Department of Curriculum & Instruction—Florida International University—Miami, Florida                  

 

Aug 2000 to present; tenure and promotion garnered in 2005 

 

Responsibilities include administration and advising of over 100 students in undergraduate and graduate levels of Modern Language Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); teaching Special Methods courses for majors of Foreign Language Education, as well as TESOL; participation on dissertation committees; development of new MasterÕs and Specialist programs; participation in the Doctoral Studies Committee for the College in its development of new programs and courses; supervision of student teachers in the field; and continued research.

 

Research projects include a look into the language facing English language learners as they work through mainstream courses and making that language accessible to them. Future responsibilities will include the development of web based interactive sites that allow principals, teachers, and graduates of the program to provide feedback to the program, permit students to have access to their own records and take courses on line, and provide resources for students and teachers for their own classroom use. Emphases for rejuvenating the MLE program include a foundation for study, an emphasis on both student and teacher creativity, an emphasis on the culture of all participating students in a classroom, promotion of two-way bilingualism as a strong model for general education, attention to art and music as a foundation for literacy development, and placing emphasis on pedagogy before administration. Emphases for TESOL include a new orientation toward technology, professionalism, and multiculturalism.

 

Visiting Instructor—Department of Educational Foundations and Professional Studies, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages—Florida International University, Miami         

 

Aug 1998 to Aug 2000           

 

The primary duties as a visiting scholar are my development and carrying out of two courses—Curriculum Development and Special Methods of TESOL. I have been teaching each of the courses twice per semester.          The Curriculum Development course represents the eliciting of strategies and skills teachers must have in order to work with LEP students effectively. The course is designed for content teachers who will be working with students developing English. In the development of this course, I have helped teachers understand the CALLA scheme for teaching, designed by Anna Uhl Chamot and J Michael OÕMalley. However, in the implementation of the course the first semester, two issues were clear: 1) that prospective teachers have difficulty making their directions understood, and 2) that bilingual students in South Florida have little or no access to texts they can relate to. As a result, in the Spring Semester, the Curriculum Development course will additionally focus on teachersÕ abilities to convey culturally relevant materials and directions in language accessible to their LEP students.  Students in this course now design their own culturally relevant literature and lesson plans, and place this information on the internet.         

As for the Special Methods of TESOL course, the focus is on 12 principles designed by H Douglas Brown. In an effort for students to understand the language learning and language teaching experience, I designed a course in which the prospective teachers must engage in actual language learning activities in class and then teach several activities themselves in the classroom. Most students tend to design engaging activities well; however, many still have trouble concentrating on the language detail that is involved in the tasks. Therefore, in the spring, a greater concentration on language and its particularly troublesome concepts has been added.         

 

In summer 2000, I taught a course in Linguistic issues for ESL teachers.  This course is designed to key teachers in on the linguistic issues they may face, namely those dealing with phonology and grammar.         

 

In Fall 1999, I started teaching a course called Developing Language and Literacy.  In essence, itÕs a survey course concerning first and second oral and reading skill acquisition.  The course is designed to help students understand specific linguistic issues all language acquirers face, while leading them through theory and literature that can help them make sound decisions in their ESL teaching.         

 

In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I also serve on two committees. First a regularly meeting committee for the College of Education Doctoral Studies Committee. Second, I participate in the College of EducationÕs Continuous Improvement Committee, relating issues of curriculum as well as my experience with program and unit standards at both state and national levels.

.         

 

Extension Instructor—ESL Services—The University of Texas at Austin

 

Jun 1993 to Aug 1998           

 

While I have experience teaching all the courses offered in the intensive Academic English Program for incoming graduate students, my primary duty was the development of a grammar curriculum.  In concert with my studies at UT, I was able to develop and implement a holistic geometric syllabus, which has ensured a means for well-rounded curriculum structure as well as a reduction of confusion often found in such classes.  It was a experience that permitted me chances to incorporate music, fun games, and computer-assisted instruction into daily activities, be a counselor and supporter of students in their strange and challenging environment, and play piano at social functions.        

In addition, since my dissertation research focused on reading development, I was given the responsibility of starting a curriculum for a beginning ESL reading course—a class the university had never offered before.   

 

ESL Instructor—Texas Intensive English Program—Austin, Texas         

 

Jun 1992 to Dec 1994           

 

IÕve taught a variety of courses including advanced reading and writing classes, conversation courses, and two-week intensive courses for Japanese high school students.  In addition, I have substituted for almost every class offered in the program.  Perhaps my favorite experiences at this program occurred during a neophyte level reading course where through an experimental program that included a heavy combination of pleasure reading and list learning, students were able to successfully complete a 15-week course in eight weeks.         

 

Japanese Teaching Assistant—The University of Texas at Austin

 

Aug 1992 to May 1993           

 

For two semesters, I taught first-year Japanese to university students.  It was an exciting year in which I attempted to incorporate ESL techniques into Japanese language curricula.  The most successful projects included those in which I created supplementary materials using songs I wrote, video projects using authentic materials, videos I made in Japan, and grammar games—a combination which resulted in positive evaluations from the students.  

 

English and Spanish Conversation Teacher—Four Seasons Language School and Cultural Center—Hamamatsu, Japan

 

Sept 1989 to Nov 1991                 

 

I worked as a conversation teacher at a private language school. Unlike subsequent teaching experiences where I was in primarily an academic atmosphere, I was at the demand of a diverse clientele.  Teaching as many as 24 classes in a week at 20 different sites, I was able to create conversation classes for people throughout a medium-sized Japanese city.  Customers ranged from five-year old children to presidents of companies, from weekly neighborhood club gatherers to community college students.  My schedule required that I travel daily to private companies such as Honda and Suzuki, hotels, muffler factories, private homes, neighborhood clubs, and a junior high school.  I was also given the task to design and implement a childrenÕs program which at the time was based on pronunciation issues, and I worked for two years with a dermatologist by assisting him in his presentation and publishing of his new medical techniques.  While working to be a good language teacher, I spent a great deal of energy and money, attempting to become a good Japanese speaker, ultimately reaching a high intermediate proficiency.

 

Apprentice ESL Teacher—Harvard University

         

June 1987 to Aug 1987           

 

Summer 1987, I worked in my first teaching situation as a participant in the Harvard summer apprenticeship program.  Under rather strict supervision, I taught three TOEFL preparation courses—each of a different level—while attending ESL methodology courses.  The course lasted for eight weeks, and I left the program noted for including music and rhythm in my classes.    

 

BIOGRAPHY  

 

born September 10, 1963 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA                 

 

Though I was born in Oklahoma, I spent most of my growing up years in Utah and New Mexico.  I grew up in an academic atmosphere with my father as a professor and my mother as a MasterÕs degree recipient and painter.  While it seems that my happiest moments during childhood involved my learning piano, clarinet, and saxophone, I was always inclined to travel.  When not practicing music, I was often listening to language records and studied Spanish and French on my own until I was in high school.  In high school, I was rewarded with two collegiate scholarships due to my success in language learning.          

 

I finally started traveling when I was 16, and have since successfully been to 36 countries on five continents, attempting to learn as much of every language encountered as possible.  In all, IÕve studied ten languages, five with some success and advance: English, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Portuguese. 

Due to some strange scheduling coincidences, I was able to attend high school in the morning and take university language courses in the afternoon when I was 16.  With the accumulation of credits, I was able to graduate at age 20.  However, I still desired to try my hand at music school, so I continued for three more semestersÕ undergraduate work in Boston at Berklee College of Music, pursuing an interest in music composition and arranging.  I even made a record.

 

I was able to use my musical training on my thesis in my graduate work.  I wrote nine songs for adaptation in grammar and TOEFL preparation courses.  Some of the songs were developed with my work with Carolyn Graham during a Harvard summer apprenticeship in 1987.  In the past years, I have been able to incorporate all the songs into my teaching and have presented them at local teaching conferences.  In addition, I have a piano in my apartment and continue to compose for personal pleasure and play at an occasional party.         

 

My interest in language has always been profound, but never deeper than when I started work in Japan in 1989.  I spent three hours each week with a private tutor and purchased dictionaries and a personal word processor to help me learn Japanese.  I was quite obsessed with learning and spent hours on my tatami floor turning over flash cards, looking up news vocabulary in my thick character dictionaries, and practicing karaoke songs to be sung at local clubs on Saturday evenings.  In June 1995, I was given an ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and was rated Intermediate High—a rating commensurate to the 1500 kanji characters I have acquired.

 

During a six-month hiatus between completing my work in Japan and returning to school in Texas, I pursued the idea of writing a new Japanese textbook.  One of the problems I discovered in learning Japanese was that I was asked to learn the characters one at a time.  I then developed a syllabus such that characters and grammar points were presented in groups and at strategically nonconfusing intervals.  Such work led to graduate study, the ultimate development of my dissertation, and the continuing development of curricula in my own ESL work and continual language study.  The result has been successful classes and a good foundation into language and reading research.           

 

In 1997, I served as president of the Central Texas affiliate of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TexTESOL III). The experience of being president brought to light the issues of language learning outside the university environment.  Issues in Texas included immigration, bilingual education, and adult ESL students who are illiterate in their first language.  My responsibilities as president included my working to develop conferences and workshops for our members and keeping members aware of the issues that affect our jobs and our studentsÕ lives.  It was my goal to also be a public relations officer with non-ESL people in the Central Texas community.  My dream was, and continues to be, that local people can understand the hardships of non-native speakers.         

 

Following my PhD, I embarked on teacher training at Florida International University in Miami. I find the student body to be particularly interesting in their cultural and linguistic background. Of greatest interest to me is the accessing of cultural and linguistically relevant materials for minority students in South Florida.

 

For a while, I researched  Japanese reading, both at native-speaker and foreign language learner levels. I refined my computer program from my dissertation and have asked students from FIU to come in and have a go at learning some Chinese characters. Additionally, IÕm looking deeper into the development of phonological strategies in Japanese reading from a native speaker standpoint. The foundation for this activity is that I feel that native Japanese teachers are not yet aware of how much they use phonology in their own reading. I would like to chronicle that experience by conducting with people of a variety of ages an experiment that demands phonological coding in order to have successful reading.  I went to Japan to conduct some research on this subject in May 1999         

 

In October 1999, I began a two-year commitment to working with International TESOL on an eight-person committee for establish teacher-training standards for ESL teachers.  Together we have put together a document that should serve as a set of standards for language education programs across the country for teachers in the public schools. This set of standards will be co-authorized by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) was completed in early 2002. The task force has continued beyond its commitment and has developed into an on-going workshop committee for university programs wishing to go through program reviews.

 

In an effort to familiarize myself with teaching children, I worked with Nina Zaragoza for a year in assembling data and information on a means of teaching inner city kindergartners literacy skills through their own developing, writing, and publishing of their own stories. The result of the project is the Peter Lang Publication of Look, I Made a Book.   

 

TESOL responsibilities augmented as I become the list-serv manager for the Teacher Education interest section for TESOL for 2001-2002. However, I had to give up the listserv and the task force responsibilities as I was elected to be TESOL Conference Chair. As a result, IÕm currently serving on the TESOL Board of Directors and headed the program planning for the 2004 International Conference held in Long Beach, California. Approximately 6,500 people attended the event.

 

In September 2003, my work on Standards projects was re-instigated as I worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the Ministry of Education on establishing standards and supervisor documents for English Language Teacher Supervisors.

Similarly, as I phase out work on TESOL Conventions in the final year, I have returned to standards work. First, IÕm the TESOL Board liaison to the TESOL Standards Committee. Further, I am to become the TESOL representative for the NCATE Board of Examiners starts at the end of the 2004.

 

Back in Miami, I have since become program leader for both Modern Language Education and TESOL programs. Through the support of the College of Education, TESOL and Modern Language Education have been able to combine forces and cross-pollenate. I found this extremely important in that I wanted the TESOL folks, who have little exposure to the immigrant experience, could share class with immigrants, who often have little exposure to majority folks.  WeÕre a small faculty now, just three people, all with research ambitions, a dedication to bilingual education, and a passion for public presentation regarding TESOL, bilingual education issues, and multilingualism. We have been able to put several courses on line and have incorporated technology and professionalism issues into the curriculum.

 

In 2005, my stint on the TESOL Board of Directors ended, and I returned to the NCATE/TESOL P-12 Teacher Education Task Force. As a member of this task force, we began revisions for a second edition of the standards and we started conducting program reviews, looking to honor effective programs with national recognition. My time on this committee ended in Summer 2007.

 

In the meantime, travel remains my joy and love. I have presented, consulted, and conducted workshop series in Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Brazil, Guatemala, Egypt, Syria, South Africa, Angola, Turkmenistan, Jordan, and Palestine. I once had invited presentations in Hong Kong. I spent two summers on the Navajo Nation in Arizona, working with the Arizona State University Bilingual Education Programs housed on Dinˇ College. I also spent a month in France studying French by reading Harry Potter daily in a Biarritz coffee shop and chatting with local people.

 

Finally, I have led advocacy efforts in Florida with respect to legislative issues with respect to English language learners and bilingual education. I have had numerous blogs, including some on my own web site, put together with respect to these national issues.

 

On campus, I was the Faculty Assembly chair for the 2006-07 year, leading the FIU College of Education faculty through numerous key issues pertaining to the advancement of the college and advocacy efforts on campus. This yearÕs work has led to a recent appointment by the dean to represent the College and the Faculty on the Florida prerequisites committee and at state meetings.

 

Life remains wonderful.      

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS  

 

Instead of pursuing text writing, my studies in my PhD were a concentration on how language presentation should be approached.  My research has indicated that timing and order of presentation can have a great deal to do with reducing student confusion and anxiety.  With these ideas in mind, future research includes the following concerns:

 

The notion of applying theory to practice in teacher training due to the following problem: teachers teach as they were taught, not how they were taught to teach.  How can this be fixed?  

 

by looking at tailoring academic language input for students

of bilingual education programs, both mainstream and two-way;

 

by establishing two-way cultural connections between language minority students and their native English speaking counterparts;  

 

development of a bilingual/ESL library designed with reading materials which strategically combine studentsÕ native culture and target-language culture; making these materials—both the actual text and lesson plan ideas—accessible to both students and teachers on the internet.

 

The writing of a Japanese textbook series emphasizing a combination of pleasure reading  and structured kanji study. Such a project comes in hopes of producing a reasonable program that guides language students to advanced proficiencies within four years. Research in developing the book could bring about facilitation of a greater understanding of the role of writing system development in second language literacy—kanji development for Japanese learners and Roman character development for ESL learners who are illiterate in their first language

 

by examining standards and seeing how they both positively and negatively affect our work as educators

 

by being a general practitioner in terms of keeping up to date with practical teaching methods, including those incorporating latest technology.

 

REFERENCES       

 

Teaching           

 

Dr Mohammed Farouk         

Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education

Florida International University         

Miami, Florida 33199 USA           

 

Dr Mary Lou Price         

ESL Services         

University of Texas at Austin         

Austin, Texas  78703  USA           

 

William Anton         

Four Seasons Language School and Cultural Center         

Sanarudai 4-32-11-2F                            

Hamamatsu 432  JAPAN                             

 

Academic           

 

Dr Eleni Pappamihiel         

Secondary Education

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 USA

 

Dr Herman van Olphen         

Asian Studies         

The University of Texas at Austin         

Austin, Texas  78712  USA           

 

Dr Zena Moore         

Foreign Language Education         

The University of Texas at Austin         

Austin, Texas  78712  USA           

 

Dr Judith Lindfors         

Curriculum and Instruction         

The University of Texas at Austin         

Austin, Texas  78712  USA           

 

Dr John E Lackstrom         

Languages and Philosophy         

Utah State University         

Logan, Utah  84322  USA            

 

Dr Sylvia Celed—n-Pattichis         

College of Education         

University of New Mexico         

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1231 USA        

 

professional organization           

 

Dr Mary Lou McCloskey         

Georgia State University         

1958 Starfire Drive, NE         

Atlanta, Georgia 30345  USA           

 

Dr John Schmidt         

Texas International Education Consortium         

1103 West 24th Street         

Austin, Texas  78705  USA      

 

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