Innovative Language Experiences Award
Have great teaching ideas but a limited budget? We can help!
2024-2025 ILE Award
Beverlyn Villanueva from R. Max Abbott Middle School in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Beverlyn Villanueva is a dedicated educator with a Doctor of Education in Educational Management from President Ramon Magsaysay State University in Iba, Zambales, Philippines and a Master of Arts in Education with a Major in English. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education, Major in English, from the University of Baguio in Baguio, Philippines, where she graduated with honors. With 13 years of experience in education, Beverlyn has committed herself to empowering multilingual learners and promoting bilingual education.
Currently serving as an EL Teacher at Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina, she has been recognized for her innovative teaching methods and student engagement initiatives. Her accolades include multiple winnings in the Carolina Canvas Awards and presentations at the Regional SETESOL Conference in 2023. Beverlyn also received a complimentary registration to the 2023 WIDA Annual Conference and has had her proposal accepted for the upcoming 2024 WIDA Annual Conference. Her previous roles in the Philippines include Head Teacher positions, where she led academic programs and student development initiatives. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys music, arts, video editing, and digital layout.
Beverlyn’s project is entitled, “Language Fusion: Multilingual Marvels.” This is an innovative initiative aimed at fostering confidence, cultural pride, and language proficiency among multilingual learners. As an international teacher and cultural ambassador, she recognizes the importance of celebrating students' diverse backgrounds and talents. This project seeks to bring their language experiences to the forefront, showcasing their skills, cultural heritage, and linguistic abilities through engaging activities.
Through a series of creative learning projects, students will immerse themselves in activities that enhance their listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. From storytelling workshops to cultural art exhibitions and heritage presentations, students will collaboratively create products or presentations that reflect their unique talents and cultural backgrounds. The ultimate goal of Language Fusion is to create a school-wide cultural event where students can proudly display their work and share their experiences with the entire school community. By doing so, we aim to raise awareness, foster acceptance, and celebrate the rich diversity within our school.
Julianna Lux at Dorman Freshman Campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Julianna Lux has been teaching 9th grade ELA at Dorman Freshman Campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina for over 20 years. After earning her PhD in literacy from St. John's University in Queens, NYC, she began co-teaching an English I class for newcomer MLs. She is excited to continue working and growing with her MLs for years to come.
Julianna’s project is entitled, “Cross-Cultural Chronicles: Exploring the World Through Each Others’ Eyes.” Her students will be partnered with a student from a country other than their home country. Efforts will be made to pair the students with someone who speaks a different language than their home language. The students then interview each other about their home countries and towns, educational experiences, favorite holidays and experiences, journey to the United States, experiences since coming to the United States, and goals for the future. These interviews will be then used to generate research questions to help the students learn even more about their partners and their home country and culture. All of this information is then organized into a short book and presentation, which will be presented to the class and invited guests, including parents, classmates, teachers, and administrators. Students will receive a copy of their book combined with their partner’s books.
DESCRIPTION:
Carolina TESOL offers two awards to current members to fund proposals for implementing innovative language experiences with multilingual learners.
An innovative language experience is one in which students are engaged in creative learning projects that incorporate the four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The goal of these experiences is for students to create a product or presentation for others while expanding their language abilities.
Two recipients will be awarded up to $1000 each to be used to facilitate innovative language experiences with multilingual learners. An additional $500 will be made available to support the teacher’s ability to attend the Carolina TESOL conference and can be used towards expenses incurred in conjunction with conference attendance such as registration, lodging, meals, and transportation. The $500 will be paid as a reimbursement upon verification of conference attendance.
CRITERIA:
Applicants must be Carolina TESOL members in good standing in an educational role that directly impacts multilingual learners in North Carolina and/or South Carolina. The application for the award must address all the prompts provided on the application.
IMPORTANT DATES:
December 15, 2023: ILE Award Applications 2024-2025 Open
April 1, 2024 ILE Award Applications Close at midnight EST
May 1, 2024 ILE Award Winners notified
Summer Newsletter or Email- Award winners announced (need to provide a picture of yourself)
Planning April-August; Implementation Fall 2024 semester
Activities need to be completed between August-December 2024
All items needed to be purchased by December 1, 2024 for reimbursement.
Fall 2024: Carolina TESOL Conference- Implementation of the award, including student products, are required to be presented in person or virtually at the Fall 2024 Carolina TESOL Conference. Award recipients will also be required to submit a written (500 words) or video summary (no more than 5 minutes) of the award implementation to the Carolina TESOL Board before the 2024 Conference. These summaries will be distributed across Carolina TESOL platforms and should follow all district guidelines for student privacy.
Questions & Answers:
Q: What are some potential ideas for the ILE Award?
A film director/ artist/ writer is invited to the classroom to share his/her work and answer questions about the process. Students plan and create their own documentary / artwork / article / letter / story about a topic of concern in their community. Student work is shared one evening at the school. Parents and community members are invited. Students write reflections about the experience. (Student product: documentary/ artwork / article / letter / story and pictures from presentation night)
Students read about other immigrants’ journeys to the U.S. such as in Enrique's Journey (The Young Adult Adaptation): The True Story of a Boy Determined to Reunite with His Mother by Sonia Nazario or Refugee by Alan Gratz. They write about and talk about the experiences of the characters in these non-fiction stories. Then, they write about and illustrate stories from their own immigration experiences (or those of a friend, neighbor, historical figure). Stories are shared during a multicultural evening at school and on display in the school main office. (Student product: stories with illustrations, pictures from the multicultural evening)
Students read children’s books. They write their own children’s books to share with younger students at their school. Then, they create puppets to go along with the story. They perform the books by visiting other classrooms in the school. (Student product: children’s book and puppets; pictures from reading the books aloud to children)
Students participate in a Global Networking Project - connect with other classrooms in the state, US, or world to solve a real-world problem and then connect it to their community. What could they create, solve, accomplish through collaboration? This would be very inquiry-based and student-lead, but extremely authentic and language building. Look at https://www.iearn.org/ for ideas and connections/opportunities to collaborate.
Q: What if I don’t need the entire $1000?
That’s ok! You can spend up to $1000. You will submit a list of proposed items to purchase in your application. If you prefer, the Carolina TESOL treasurer can purchase the items you have listed and have them shipped to your school address. Please keep in mind that this may increase shipping costs.
Q: What are some examples of possible supplies to purchase?
Funds for museums, exhibits, cultural experiences
Funds or supplies needed for community service
Funds for refreshments for a performance night/ celebration night
Art supplies
STEM supplies
Manipulatives
Puppet creation kit
Book creation kit
Printing costs of students’ work compiled in a book
Classroom library including bilingual or L1 books
Digital cameras
Recording equipment- microphones, video recorders
Soil, seeds, gardening equipment
Culinary supplies
Q: How do I purchase items that I need for this project?
You have a few options for purchasing items. You can purchase them directly and ask for reimbursement from the treasurer of Carolina TESOL by submitting receipts or you can send a specific list of items to be purchased by the treasurer of Carolina TESOL (please try to order the bulk of items from one or two places) if you prefer not to purchase the items yourself.
All items needed to be purchased by December 1, 2024 for reimbursement.
Q: How do I submit receipts for items that I purchase for use?
You will submit a google document with a list of itemized expenses with their prices along with a receipt. It is recommended that you try to buy all your products from one or two places (example: Home Depot and Amazon) to facilitate your turning in of receipts. You will send this document to the Carolina TESOL Treasurer at: treasurer@carolinatesol.com
Q: When will I be reimbursed for my expenses?
Reimbursement typically takes 2-3 weeks. You will be mailed a check to your home address that you provide.
Q: Can I see an example of a proposal that was awarded the ILE Award?
Yes! Here are the award winning proposals of 2022-2023. Click here.
Contact Dr. Alison Turner Secretary@CarolinaTESOL.com for questions about the ILE Award.
Past Winners of the Innovative Language Experiences Award
2023-2024 ILE Award Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023-2024 Innovative Language Experiences Award!
Fall 2023 Winners
Shannon Cruz - Dorchester School District Two
Emily Golightly - Newport Elementary, NC
Past Winners of the Innovate to Accelerate Language Learning Grant (a previous version of the ILE)
Fall 2020 Grant Recipient
Lisa Brooks Summey - Anderson Mill Elementary, Spartanburg, SC
Spring 2020 Grant Recipients
Heather Lindsay - Catawba Trail Elementary School, Elgin, SC
Tacardra Rountree - Mid-Carolina Middle School, Prosperity, SC follow-up report
LouAnn Mitchell - North Newton Elementary School, Newton, NC
Cynthia Stewart - Deyton Elementary School, Spruce Pine, NC
Fall 2019 Grant Recipients
Janet Covington - Sugarloaf Elementary, Hendersonville, NC
Lori Holguin - Millers Creek Elementary, Millers Creek, NC
Jamie Stokes - Walker Gamble Elementary, Turbeville, SC
Andrea Thompson - Pinecrest Elementary, Greenwood, SC
Spring 2019 Grant Recipients
Lisa Allen - Grove Elementary School, Piedmont, SC
Stacey Westberry - Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School, Batesburg-Leesville, SC
*Only SC applications were submitted for the Spring 2019 Grant.
Fall 2018 Grant Recipients
Marcie Enlow - Saluda Elementary School, Saluda, SC
Jennifer Gooding - Gilbert High School, Gilbert, SC
Mabel Lamprea - Southern Wayne High School, Dudley, NC
Lynn Plummer - Central Elementary School, Albemarle, NC