Meeting the Needs of Your Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE)

We have created a survey to gather your feedback as we plan for effective professional development offerings for you next year.

Please, take a moment to fill out this survey by clicking here: [Survey]

Return it to the BETAC office via email, fax or mail.  Thank you!

Survey Says...

BETAC wants to know what you think! Please take a few minutes to answer our brief educator survey. Your input will help us design professional development offerings suited to your needs and the needs of your LEP/ELL students. Thank you for your time and cooperation!

Take the survey

Upcoming BETAC Conferences:

Please see our events page for information on our events.

Submissions Wanted for Idiom

NYSTESOL is accepting submissions from practitioners for upcoming issues of Idiom. The following are scheduled themes and deadlines:

• Summer 2009 - Workplace Issues  (Deadline is May 15, 2009)
• Fall 2009 - Student Success (Deadline is August 15, 2009)
• Winter 2009-10 - Annual Conference (Submissions to this issue will be based on presentations given at the annual conference. The deadline for this issue is December 1, 2009)

For more information, contact:

Julie Dziewisz, Editor, NYS TESOL Idiom
1017 Myrtle Ave.
Watertown, NY 13601
Idiom@nystesol.org

George Washington University to Offer Bilingual Special Education Online Distance Program

The George Washington University’s bilingual special education online distance program is now accepting applications for the 18-credit graduate Certificate and 45-credit M.A. in Bilingual Special Education for the Fall 2009 semester.

This program is eligible for FAFSA financial aid, and individuals who qualify can apply for funding through the TEACH grant.

For more information, please contact Tara Courchaine at taratez@gwu.edu or call (719) 660-7564.

FLIP (Foreign Language Immersion Program) for High School Students

July 12 – 18, 2009 (Spanish) at SUNY Oswego
July 19 – 25, 2009 (French) at LeMoyne College

The FLIP Program at SUNY Oswego is still accepting applications for its 2009 summer sessions. This immersion program is open to high school students who have completed at least Level II of foreign language study. Students attend classes and participate in sports, hands-on projects, and other activities under the supervision of master teachers certified in the specific foreign language offered.

For more information, please visit http://www.oswegoboces.org/profservices/artsined/Summerflip.asp or email mwheeler@oswegoboces.org.

39th Annual NYSTESOL Conference – Call for Proposals

The 39th Annual NYSTESOL Conference will be held on November 13-14, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains, NY. This year’s theme is Critical Literacy: Opening Words and Worlds to English Language Learners. A call for proposals has been announced. ESL practitioners are encouraged to submit proposals for presentations related to this theme and instructional practice, although proposals related to other themes may also be considered.

For more information, please see the attached flyer or visit www.nystesol.org/annualconf.html.

The deadline for submissions is June 15, 2009.

NYSTESOL Call for Student Essays

NYS TESOL is calling for submissions to its 4th Annual Essay Contest. This year's topic is "How Does Knowing Two Languages Open the World to You?" Winners will have their essays published in the fall conference booklet, the quarterly publication Idiom, and will receive a gift certificate to a bookstore.

Submissions must be postmarked by May 16, 2009 via U.S. mail or May 31, 2009 via email.

For submission guidelines visit www.nystesol.org.

NYSESLAT 2009

The 2009 New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test School Administrator's Manual is now available on the NYSED OSA web page (http://emsc.nysed.gov/osa/nyseslat/home.shtml).

Instructions for ordering the NYSESLAT may be found here. (Downloadable form) Please call the Pearson Support Center at (800) 763-2306 with any questions.

Apply for NAHJ Scholarships Now!

Applications are now available for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists scholarships, which are awarded annually to aspiring Latino journalists and other students committed to journalism. All applications are to be completed online and the deadline is April 6, 2009.

NAHJ scholarships are awarded through the Rubén Salazar Scholarship Fund, established in honor of the Latino journalism pioneer who was killed while covering an anti-Vietnam War demonstration in 1970.

Scholarships are open to a range of students depending on the guidelines and criteria for each category or the donor of the scholarship. For more information about the scholarships, criteria, and the application, please go to http://www.nahj.org/educationalprograms/nahjscholarships.shtml

You may also contact Virginia Galindo at (202) 662-7145 or via email at vgalindo@nahj.org.

2009 Law School Summer Boot Camp for Students of Color

• Early Application: Completed by April 1
• Late Application: After May 7
• Applications Accepted until May 24

Having more lawyers of color is essential to the well-being of the nation and of communities of color. The JD Project (http://thejdproject.org/) is committed to assuring that entering law students of color do well in law school, particularly their first year. This is important so that they can maximize their career options and be prepared to give back to their community with legal knowledge, skills and support.

The 2009 Summer Boot Camp is an online distance learning program designed to provide intense preparation for law school. The Boot Camp teaches students to study effectively; introduces students to the writing, thinking and test-taking skills needed to excel on law school exams; and builds a network of academic support that crosses school boundaries.

This is a 150 hour online program which costs $750. Materials are included.

Admission is on a rolling basis until the program is filled.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Brenda Randall, Volunteer Administrator, at admin@thejdproject.org.

NYSED Office of Bilingual Education/Foreign Language Studies Adds FAQ Section to Website

In an effort to respond to the needs of practitioners in the field, the Office of Bilingual Education & Foreign Language Studies has added a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page to its website. This document represents a collection of the most common questions gathered by OBE-FLS from constituents in the field. A more extensive and detailed version of this document, entitled "Guidelines for Programs for Limited English Proficient/English Language Learners (LEP/ELLs)," will be available at the beginning of 2009.

If you cannot find the specific answer to your question, or if you would like further clarification of the information contained in this FAQ document, please contact BETAC office at (518) 477-8771. Any additional questions or suggestions may be forwarded to: OBEFLS@mail.nysed.gov. Please write "FAQ" in the subject line of the e-mail.

The FAQ page can be found at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/biling/faq_000.htm. There is also a link to the site at www.betac.org.