2009 Language Coach Workshops

Topic: Learner Assessment

• Are you involved in working with new and veteran language and culture learners?
  
  
• Do you need help in designing, using, and interpreting appropriate assessment procedures that will motivate learners, keep them on track, and improve learning?
  
  
• Do you need to make learner assessment a positive experience rather than something everyone dreads?

The workshop will help you to:

• understand how appropriate assessment can encourage learners and enhance learning

• develop an effective learner assessment plan

• assess more accurately and appropriately

• design a variety of assessment tools

• make sound decisions based on assessment results

• provide relevant feedback to learners

Selected List of Topics

• What is the ideal relationship between learning and assessment?

• How can assessment be a positive experience that contributes to improved learning?

• What does a well-rounded assessment program look like for language schools? For tutoring based programs? For independent learners?

• Assessment of learner readiness (e.g., learning styles, strategies for independent learning)

• Self-assessment (e.g., checklists, rating scales, journals, self-report forms) and portfolio assessment
  
  
• Oral proficiency assessment, including including the Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview (SOPI)
  
  
• Performance assessment to determine readiness for work-related language use
  
  
• Assessment via Skype
  
  
• Assessment for languages you don't speak

This workshop will overlap very little with the 2008 workshops on Designing an Effective Program. We anticipate about a 50 - 60% overlap with the 2005 workshop on learner assessment.

RECEIVE 250 pages of workshop materials and three CD-ROMs with a total of more than 8000 pages of articles, learning materials, bibliographies, lists of Web sites, and information on topics related to coaching on-field language and culture learners.

NETWORK with other coaches and meet individually with workshop leaders.

Extra Day of Pre-Workshop Sessions

Primarily for coaches who have not attended one of our 2002 - 2008 workshops, the six hours of pre-workshop sessions will provide a basic foundation so that you will be ready to participate fully in the 2009 workshop. The only additional cost to those attending the entire workshop will be for extra meals and nights at the hotel.

Pre-Workshop Topics

• Principles for effective language learning
  
  
• What does it mean to "know" a language?
  
  
• Understanding language learning methods
  
  
• Using proficiency guidelines
  
  
• Developing communicative competence
  

Locations, Dates, Costs

• Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Pre-Workshop Sessions: Saturday, February 28
  • Workshop Sessions: Sunday evening, March 1 - Friday afternoon, March 6, 2009
    
    $345 plus $50 registration fee (total $395) for registration by Jan. 1, 2009; $345 plus $75 registration fee (total $420) for registration after Jan. 1, 2009
  
  
• Budapest, Hungary
  • Pre-Workshop Sessions: Monday, March 9
  • Workshop Sessions: Monday evening, March 9 - Saturday noon, March 14, 2009
    
    325 Euros plus $50 registration fee for registration by Jan. 1, 2009; 325 Euros plus $75 registration fee after Jan. 1, 2009

Costs cover non-credit workshop fee, materials, housing (usually two per room), and meals. (Two meals per day day for Thailand; three meals for Budapest). Single rooms available for an extra charge.

If you do not need housing and meals, contact ICCT for a reduced price for the workshop.

If you wish to earn credit, please contact us for registration procedures and exact costs as well as credit requirements.

Family members are welcome to accompany workshop participants, provided advanced
arrangements are made through ICCT. However, there is no reduction in workshop fees for a spouse who also attends the sessions.

Send questions and registration correspondence to: : Lonna.J.Dickerson@wheaton.edu

To register: Print out the form below and mail it with your registration fee to ICCT, or you may
e-mail the registration information and have your organization send a check for the registration fee.

CLICK HERE for a brochure in PDF format. (brochure has some additional information)

REGISTRATION FORM

Name _____________________________________________________________

Country ____________________________________________________________

E-mail Address _______________________________________________________

Language(s) your learners are studying _____________________________________

___ For the Thailand workshop, enclosed is my non-refundable registration fee of $50. (After January 1, 2009, the registration fee is $75.)


___ For the Hungary workshop, enclosed is my non-refundable registration fee of $50. (After January 1, 2009, the registration fee is $75.)

Please list your questions and felt needs on a separate piece of paper.