SOUTHERN INITIATIVE FOR LANGUAGE LEADERSHIP
The highly successful WILL Program (Western Initiative for Language Leadership—sponsored through the Center for Applied Second Language Studies at the University of Oregon and supported by the Pacific Northwest Council for Languages) has branched out into SILL (Southern Institute for Language Leadership) supported by SCOLT. This program addresses the challenges facing language teachers every day: physical isolation, lack of resources, and minimal collaboration with others. This outreach professional development program is designed for teachers in their first five years who are at a high risk of leaving the profession. SILL offers teachers a chance to improve their teaching and leadership skills with the goal of enhancing student achievement.
World language teachers come together for two summer institutes in June (2008 and 2009) during which time they have the opportunity to learn from WILL mentors who have completed the program as well as other guest speakers. Central to the program is learning more about action research to apply knowledge of design attributes to a real-world problem in a world language classroom. Participants will identify a classroom practice or concern that could be addressed through an action research design. Participants then plan how to carry out the action research including activities and target dates. The teachers implement their action research plan during the school year following the initial induction in 2008. The teachers return in the summer of 2009 to share the results of their action research project and participate in additional sessions. Another focus of this professional development is collaboration with fellow world language teachers in the SCOLT region and with the SILL team. Participants remain connected to each other, their mentors, and the CASLS/SCOLT Staff through online activities. SCOLT will also host special sessions at the 2009 and 2010 SCOLT conferences for participants to continue sharing and growth opportunities.
If you think you would benefit from this challenging and motivational program, apply by March 5, 2008. You may complete on-line and download the application form at www.scolt.org and forward the completed application form to:
Lynn Fulton-Archer, Director of Advocacy
Southern Conference on Language Teaching
Phone: 803-985-8806
FAX: 803-981-1929
Email: lfulton@rock-hill.k12.sc.us
2008 Dates:
Sunday June 15, 2008……………..arrive by 5 pm
Friday, June 20, 2008……………..depart by 1 pm
Location of SILL Professional Development:
Summer 08
June 15-20: Summer Institute
Taking Action in the Language Classroom
Fall 08-Spring 09
Classroom Research Project
Ongoing networking
Summer 09
Dates TBA: Summer Institute
Developing Leadership Roles
Fall 09-Spring 10
Leadership Project
Ongoing networking
Financial Arrangements:
The SILL Project Participants will have the following financial support:
- Meals and Accommodations at Simpsonwood are completely covered
- Financial assistance to help defray the transportation costs will be provided
- SILL materials will be supplied free of charge
Click here for the application form. NOTE: You may complete the application form on-line, and then download to printer. The completed form may be mailed or faxed to Lynn Fulton-Archer.