E-Center Updated News
1. A Proposed Plan of B2- Level Exam for E-TESOL Learners Approved by the Executive Manager, English 2010 Project, MoET, Vietnam
In March, 2012, our proposed plan of B2- level exam for E-TESOL learners was approved by the Executive Manager, English 2010 Project, Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam.
Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Executive Manager, English 2010 Project, Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam (on the right) attending our E-TESOL Opening Ceremony.
Accordingly, our learners will take the exam after they complete the E-TESOL program in September, 2012. The exam will be conducted in different locations in Vietnam so that E-TESOL learners can take it at their convenience. All the testing fees will be covered by the English 2010 Project, Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam.
2. E-center for Professional Development at SIUC’s Ninth Annual Research Town Meeting and Fair
On April 2012, Lan Vu and Phu Vu, administrative members of the E-center for Professional Development, also doctoral students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, presented the E-TESOL program at the Ninth Annual Research Town Meeting and Fair at Southern Illinois University.
The poster of the E-TESOL program
According to the SIU’s website, about 300 studies and projects on different topics were introduced in this event this year. In this showcase, Lan Vu and Phu Vu introduced the E-TESOL program and our initial evaluation of the first course, Listening and Speaking 1 to the audience who were mainly faculty and graduate students.
3. Guest Speaker and Conversational Partner Initiative
Along with our qualified E-TESOL training program, since last month we have started running the Guest Speaker and Conversational Partner Initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to provide our E-TESOL learners with more opportunities to communicate with native speakers of English language and learn experiences from successful ESL instructors around the world. Our guest speakers and conversational partners come from almost around the world from different background. They can be native speakers, experienced instructors or even ESL learners from another country.
Screenshot of a guest speaker session
If you are interested in exploring how our learners interacted in this initiative, please click this link to watch the recording among them.
4. When to Talk, When to Text: Student Interactions in a Live Virtual Classroom
In February 2012, Dr. Peter Fadde presented this study at the Midwest Education Technology Conference in St. Louis, USA. This study was co-authored in 2011 by Phu Vu, the executive manager of the E-center for Professional Development (also doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction, SIUC) and Dr. Peter Fadde, Associate Professor in Curriculum and Instruction, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Picture of the research poster
This study broadened our understanding on how online learners interacted in the environment of live virtual classroom (LVC) and laid the foundation to establish the E-TESOL program, in which LVC was used to promote learners live interactions with each other and with their instructors.
5. Perceptual Judgments of Accented English by Native Speakers and Non-native Speakers of English
That is the topic Ms. Vo Thanh Son Ca will present at the Australian Council of TESOL Associations International TESOL Conference from July 2 – 5, 2012. Ms. Vo Thanh Son Ca is one of our Administrative members and lecturer of Danang College of Foreign Languages. This conference will host participants from early childhood, primary, secondary, ELICOS, TEFL, adult migrant and tertiary sectors, including teachers/scholars who work with indigenous language learners at all levels.