October 13, 2007
Don Valley Bible Chapel
25 Axsmith Crescent, Willowdale, ON M2J 3K2, 416- 491-6421,
www.dvbc.com
8:15 Registration and Coffee
8:45 Devotional and Introduction
9:05 Getting Started in Teaching ESL (all day; led by Colin Brewster and others; see attached schedule)
This track is for people who are thinking of getting involved in an ESL Ministry in their Church. They do not need to have had any teacher training prior to this time. Willingness to learn and a heart for people are the only prerequisites. They will be introduced to such topics as: Language Teaching and Learning Principles, Helping People improve their Speaking, How to begin an ESL Ministry, and How to Lead a Conversation Lesson. Participants will be given access to over 150 different lessons that they can use with students to direct their English Conversation class ministry, and they will be trained how to use them.
9:05-10:30 Workshops
Workshop #1: Make your own ‘ESL Bible Studies’
An interactive workshop where we will briefly look at some sample structures for an ESL Bible Study. We will have a chance to actually create a simple, conversational ESL Bible Study together, and discuss some of the challenges of using the Bible to teach English learners.
Presenter: Stephen Mountney: Stephen is an elementary teacher for the Toronto District School Board in an ESL-rich neighbourhood. He has his specialist qualifications in teaching ESL, and also teaches French as a Second Language. He started leading an ESL Bible study at Don Valley Bible Chapel almost 5 years ago, after helping with a Bible Study for international students during his studies at York University.
Workshop #2: Connecting newcomers with Community Resources
Your ESL students are facing a whole complex of challenging issues of which language acquisition is but one—issues that frequently require far more support than the average church is capable of providing. This workshop will explore the various support structures available through publicly funded programs in your community. We will also consider the issues churches need to process in order to build a healthy relationship with the settlement sector, and brainstorm creative ways to plug your church’s ESL program into the wider community.
Presenter: Darcy McCallum. Darcy is the manager of the Settlement Workers in Schools program in Mississauga for Inter-Cultural Neighbourhood Social Services. His program employs 22 front-line workers covering 30 different languages. He has worked with SIM, is ordained with the Evangelical Free Church of Canada, speaks regularly in churches, and consults with churches seeking to engage the multicultural society which is urban Canada. He is currently pursuing a DMin through Trinity Western University.
Workshop #3: Great Grammar Review – Pronouns for you and I me’
This popular workshop returns, taking on a new grammatical topic: the pronoun. Come and enjoy exploring the wonderful English language. Your greater knowledge and greater love for English will be communicated to your students.
Presenter: Carol Blake: Carol loves language. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 1982 with a Masters in Linguistics and a TESL Certificate. Since then, she has taught ESL, EFL, TESOL, and Academic Writing classes. Carol is currently the Director of Distance Education at Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener and administrator at her home church.
Workshop #4: More Than Brainwork: The Five Dimensions of Learning a Language
Have your students ever said to you, “I understood every word; but I still didn’t get the meaning”? Have you wondered why some students are reluctant to change the way they pronounce a sound, even though they know it is wrong? Have you encountered resistance in learning, despite using what you think is the best method and level-appropriate material? If you are interested in any of these questions, then this workshop is for you. We will begin to explore how learning a language is more than acquiring knowledge of its systems, but shapes a person’s ways of being by requiring him/her to operate in a different culture. Implications in teaching will be an important component.
Presenter: Jennifer Tong: Jennifer has an interest in how language shapes or conditions one’s thoughts. This found expression in a PhD thesis she wrote quite some years ago entitled “Separate discourses: A Study of Performance and Analysis” for a musicological degree. Jennifer also has a TESL certificate and an MTS degree from Tyndale seminary. She taught ESL at her church, Agincourt Pentecostal and its satellite, and is currently employed by Durham Continuing Education as an ESL teacher. Jennifer will be presenting with Melissa Gratz.
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-11:45 Keynote Address: “Sharing Christ with Muslims”
Presenter: Benji Devadason. Born in Sri Lanka, Benji is a missionary in Canada with SIM’s Cultural ConneXions. Benji has broad experience with people of other religions and will be a resource person, helping us understand how better to related to people from other faiths.
11:45 – 1:00 LUNCH: There will be designated tables for regional gatherings and special interest groups.
1:00-2:00(+) Panel of Experienced Practitioners & Prayer Together
2:15-3:45 Workshops
Workshop #5: The Administrative Challenges of Running an ESL Ministry
Presenter: Mary Hogan: has BA in Latin and MSW, TESL certificate and a member of TESL Ontario; coordinator of Evening and Daytime ESL at Bayview Glen Church; Intermediate ESL teacher; taught ESL adult Sunday School; writes curriculum for Bayview Glen’s ESL ministry; supply teaches ESL (all levels) for York Region District School Board; tutors English privately; assists other churches in starting an ESL program.
Workshop #6: Warmups
Presenter: Lydia Mountney. Lydia completed her undergraduate degree in Linguistics at the University of Toronto and graduate diploma in ELT through the University of Cambridge in the UK. She has over 10 years experience teaching English in Canada, the UK and West Africa. Through Cambridge ESOL, she became certified as a teacher trainer in 1999 and trains teachers for the CELTA. She also trained teachers at Tyndale University College and Seminary for 5 years. Lydia is the founder and Academic Director of The Don Valley ESL Career Centre (a ministry of Don Valley Bible Chapel) and currently teaches at the Centre full time. She and her husband are actively involved in the ESL ministry at Don Valley
Workshop #7: “Speaking Clearly”, a guide for assisting with the pronunciation of English. This is based on a text with tapes prepared by the presenter which is available for purchase.
Presenter: Pamela Cousins. Pam holds the BRE, MTS, ESL Certification. Pam has been teaching ESL, including Pronunciation, for a number of years, and is currently teaching at Canada Christian College, Toronto.
3:45-4:00 Closing