TESL NIAGARA Blog

Whoa! World Teacher Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:48:00 +0000

Thanks to Rita for letting me know that October 5th was world teacher day. Give yourselves a pat on the back for all your hard work.

Windsor Affiliate

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:52:00 +0000

Thanks to the Windsor Affiliate for inviting the former president of TESL Niagara to come down to present. We had a great time sharing stories. Windsor and Niagara have a lot in common and it was cool to discuss those common areas. Thanks again for all of your hospitality. Pictures to come.

Book Bursary Award and Party

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:27:00 +0000

I had a great time visiting St. Ann today. Melanie, who was finishing up her practicum, won our TESL Niagara book prize for new teacher. Tassos picked up a cake and invited all of her students and we gave her a little surprise. . .and boy was she surprised! The outpouring of support and encouragement from her students and fellow teachers was really touching. Here are a couple of pictures of the party.

Handing out the Book Prize

Melanie's class

Awards dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 08 May 2011 16:02:00 +0000

It was a great night last night at Chang Noi's. We celebrated our five winners and their accomplishments. Dr. Sivell won our Lifetime Service Award forhis years ofdedicated service to TESL Niagara, Ontario, and Canada. David Atherton won our Member of Distinction award for supporting local research. We also awarded 3 book prizes to students in the community.

2011 Award Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:50:00 +0000

Here is a screen shot of the Award Winners at this year's dinner. Look for more information on our winners and the night at our webpage, blog, and upcoming newsletter.

In SNAP

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:50:00 +0000

Check out TESL Niagara in this month's issue of SNAP. We are featured near the backpages of SNAP with an explanation of the good work we do. Pictured is the TESL Niagara President and Councilman Matthew Siscoe, who attended our annual spring conference.

TESL London

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 01:54:00 +0000

TESL London was this weekend and as an affiliate rep I got to go to the conference. Starting this year, the affiliate reps decided to go on an away trip for one of our 4 meetings a year. This year we went to Fanshawe for TESL London's full day conference. Thanks to TESL Lonon for looking after us at our first 'away' meeting.

Our purpose for meeting was to gain insight into conference planning. We also exchanged information about each affiliate's conference and discussed governance issues as well. Our meeting started the conference, so I am afraid I missed the first set of workshops. However, I did stay for the other two and took pretty good notes. There was a lot to chose from but I decided to watch a presentation on students with exceptionalities and another on using the academic wordlist. Before lunch I also checked out the plenary, a former writer on the Canadian Oxford dictionary, who gave us a thumbnail sketch of the history of English and the etymology (not entymology) of words associated with pigs. A special thanks to Jo-elle for hosting all of us. Here's a photo of the group:

Conference Update for Frank

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:24:00 +0000

Frank had a great time and wanted to give everybody a chance to see his presentation material on Prezi. Click on Frank's Prezi to see it.

Conference Follow-up

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:13:00 +0000

Thanks again to Jowi for coming out to our conference. Even took the time to blog about us at his site. Check out what he had to say here six string nation.com

Post conference

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:34:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, displayed, or volunteered! Hope you had a great time.

Six String Nation

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 01:46:00 +0000

Registration forms have gone out

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:54:00 +0000

The registration forms for our conference have gone out. You should recieve them in the mail within a day or two. Please return them before March 21st. Space is limited, so please reserve your space today.

If you need registration forms for your school or business--let us know and we will drop them off.

Member of Distinction

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:10:00 +0000

TESL Niagara is once again having its Member of Distinction award. Last year was our first year and our first winner was Dr. Hedy McGarrell.

Start thinking now about who you would like to nominate. Nomination forms will be available in our next newsletter and at the conference. The requirements for winning is that you be a member in good standing and have contributed to the TESL community.

TESL Niagara cracks 100!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:54:00 +0000

This year has seen TESL Niagara grow to its largest size ever. We currently have a whopping 104 members. Thank you to everyone who joined and if you are a new member, please send TESL Niagara an email to welcome you!

Canadian Newcomer Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:14:00 +0000

I just heard about Canadian Newcomer Magazine and I was quite impressed with the latest issue.

Conference Poster

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:16:00 +0000

Here is our conference poster for this year. Thanks to Adrianna for designing it! If you would like to put one up at your place of work, please email us at teslniagara.info@gmail.com and tell us how many you would like and we will send them to you.

Book Prizes

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:12:00 +0000

TESL Niagara will again have the book prizes for students this year. With the recession, students now more than ever need to be encouraged to build on their language skills. Each of our $50 awards will be given to students who have excelled in their studies. Look for the forms in opur next newsletter and in our conference package.

Conference Location

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:14:00 +0000

This year's conference will be held at the St. John Center in St. Catharines. Thanks to Mr. Wilson for allowing TESL to use the St. John facilities and for standing behind professional development. We look forward to putting on a great conference at a great site!

Food at the conference

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:19:00 +0000

Thanks once again to Tassos and Brandie for designing the menu for this year's conference. THe main dish featured at this year's conference will be chicken cordon bleu. If you have special dietary needs you can let us know on our registration form.

Prizes

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:20:00 +0000

If you or another TESL Niagara member have any prizes you would like to donate to the conference, please let us know at teslniagara.info@gmail.com. Last year we gave away nearly 20 prizes to our members and we would like to do the same again this year.

Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:05:00 +0000

TESL Niagara gave a workshop on accreditation to the ESL Services department at Brock last Thursday. Thank you to everyone who attended. Remember if you need more information on accreditation to TESL Ontario, make sure to talk to the accreditation coordinator.

101 Members Woo ho!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:03:00 +0000

TESL Niagara has just crossed over the 100 mark. We now have 101 members. I had a chance to meet our two newest members at our last conference planning meeting.

Joint Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:02:00 +0000

Just got back from the joint meeting with TESL Ontario. Had a great time with all the affiliate reps and I'm looking forward to our meeting in April at the TESL London conference.

Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:07:00 +0000

Next Wednesday (November 10th) will be an intimate workshop entitled "getting the most out of your practicum." The workshop is intended for new teachers to share best practices. The workshop will take place at Coffee Culture downtown at 4pm.

Everyone who attends can qualify for a PD credit. You can also come out and win a great prize!

Social

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:05:00 +0000

Tomorrow is TESL Niagara's Social at the Merchant Ale House. Come out for some great food and meet some of the executive and have fun! See you soon.