Teaching of Writing: ESL in the College Level

The discussion will focus on ways to promote student success in academic writing throughout ESL and college-level Composition courses, including how to facilitate successful student transitions between levels. Topics will include cross training of ESL and Composition faculty, tutoring and support services, learning communities, co-teaching (Partners in Learning or similar initiatives), using OER resources, bridge programs, and any other successful practices in participants’ institutions. 

Room: TECH-128BC

Session Leaders: 

Andrew Tomko, Ph. D., Academic Department Chair, English, Bergen Community College

Olga Weston, Ed.D., Prof, ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

Moderator: Kelly Keane, Ph.D., Prof., English, Bergen Community College

Teaching Skills in Integration

This roundtable discussion will compare how different programs integrate the skills, and how grammar is handled in such programs. We will prioritize our goals and compare the needs and wants of teachers, students, and administration.

Room: TECH-206

Session Leaders: 

Carol Miele, Ed.D., Prof., ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

Irene Schoenberg, author of the academic series, "Focus on Grammar": email?

Moderator: Gemma Figaro, Ed. D., ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

NJ ESL Administrators' Council

Join us for a roundtable discussion on all things related to student success specifically regarding ESL programs.  Discussions will include (but are not limited to): supporting students at all levels both in person and online, scheduling programs to help students succeed, sharing activities that have been successful, and ESL certificates and The Seal of Biliteracy.

Room: TECH-203

Session Leaders: 

Synde Kaufman, ESL Administrator, Brookdale Community College

James Hart, Prof., Chairperson, Arts & Humanities, County College of Morris

Richard Roy, Prof., Acting Chair of ESL, Languages, and Cultures, Middlesex Community College

Moderator: Leah Carmona, Prof., ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

Use of Technology in the ESL Classroom   

AI-generated text is no longer a distant possibility. This session will explore the clear potential for it to be used for effective instructional practices and the challenges it presents when used for classroom instruction. During this session, participants will engage in a guided discussion, share ideas and experiences, and learn from one another about this emerging technology. 

Room: TECH-128BC

Session Leaders:

Amarjit Kaur, Ph.D., Managing Director, CITL, Bergen Community College

Leah Carmona, Prof., ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

Moderator: Carol Miele, Ed.D., Prof., ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

Teaching of Listening-Speaking

This discussion will focus on the progression of non-native speakers from ESL speaking/listening to college-level public speaking. Participants will talk about teaching academic presentation skills, facilitating students’ development of critical listening skills, and fostering the development of confidence in public speaking.

Room: TECH-206

Session Leaders:

Heidi Lieb, Academic Department Chair, ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

Susanna Lansangan-Sabangan, Ed.D., Prof., ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

Luciana Lew, Prof., ESL & World Languages, English Department, Bergen Community College

Moderator: Olga Weston, Ed.D., Prof., ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College

Engaging ESL Students in the classroom, program, and at institutional levels to increase program and student success 

Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) and Mercer County Community College (MCCC) will facilitate a roundtable discussion that explores how ESL leadership, both at the program and classroom level, creates tangible results. RVCC will share how its recent Program Review and Program Assessment findings show the outcomes of using evidence-based inclusive teaching practices. MCCC will show how engagement in the classroom starts by building community and how specifically composing poetry allows students not only to explore their emotions and relationships to modern day issues, but also motivates engagement that can be further amplified through service-learning opportunities. Both institutions will provide a springboard for a broader group discussion on how to engage ESL students in the classroom, program and at institutional levels to increase program and student success. 

Room: TECH-203

Session Leaders: 

Prof. Andrea Vaccaro, ESL Program and Adjunct Coordinator, Raritan Valley Community College

Lindsey Hageman, ESL Instructor, Raritan Valley Community College

Wan-Ning Yeh, Ph. D., Assistant Professor of ESL, Mercer County Community College

Daniel D'Arpa, Ph.D., Coordinator, Foreign Languages, Mercer County Community College

Nicole Hall, Assistant Professor of ESL, Mercer County Community College

Moderator: W. Brian Altano, Ed.D., Prof., ESL & World Languages, Bergen Community College