News from KATE

News from NOVELTA

Winter Methodology School "A Season for Progress in ELT" was held in Novosibirsk on February 26, 2010. More than 80 participants enjoyed listening to plenary presentations and gaining hands-on experience through workshops. Of particular interest were the presentations and workshops by Senior English Language Fellows John Mark King from Saint-Petersburg and John Silver from Rostov-on-Don. For the occasion the NOVELTA published NOVELTA Newsletter and the first issue of The NOVELTA Almanac which is the book of collective works  of the association members.

News from Blagoveschensk

News from Surgut ELTA

ELTA Conference in Surgut

“Modern Approaches to Teaching Foreign Languages”

Surgut-ELTA  as a part of Yugra-ELTA  founded last February  had its first conference  on May 28-29th. More than 90 teachers from different schools and colleges as well as students of Surgut State University took part in this two-day conference.
The highlights of the conference were the presentations made by the conference honorable guests Chris Istrati, the Public Affairs Officer serving at the U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg and Vino Reardon,  Senior English Language Fellow in  Yekaterinburg

The International conference “Modern Approaches to Teaching Foreign Languages” was aimed at discussing both theoretical and practical issues of language learning and teaching. The participants shared their professional ideas and experiences on the use of new technologies in ELT. The collection of the conference materials has been published - it  includes reports from Russia, Kazakhstan, Germany and the USA.

All the participants hope for the further interesting activities and collaboration within the  Regional and National  Associations.

We are looking forward to greeting you at our next Conference in the end of November 2010!

Summer Camp Open Days in Elista

Narn-Sun Summer Camp Open Days were held in Elista

on June 14-16, 2010

Summer Camp Open Days in Elista “Narn-Sun” Summer Camp Open Days were held in Elista Classical Gymnasium – the site of English Language Summer Camp within the Access Microscholarship Program of the US Department of State – on June 14-16, 2010. Forty teachers of English from secondary schools of the Republic of Kalmykia and Kalmyk State University took part in these Open Days. The teachers were invited to attend English classes taught by Elista Access School teachers – Kalmyk University professors, to take part in the Camp activities and to participate in the Professional Development Workshop “Moving Forward: the changing world of teaching EFL and professional development”. During these days the activity “The Camp President and Congress Members Election” was held which included the election campaign and inauguration of the Camp President and the Congress Members. The highlights of the workshop were the presentations of Joan Shin, the Director of TESOL Professional Training Programs at the English Language Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She talked on raising students’ cultural awareness through cross-cultural story building and using songs and chants in teaching English. Elena Lubnina, English Language Office Specialist, made the presentation on ELT site. The workshop program also included the presentations of Elista Access school teachers on approaches they use in teaching English at Access school. The participants of the Summer Camp Open Days have also attended Joan Shin’s classes with the Camp children where she demonstrated how to use songs, chants and cross-cultural stories to teach English to teenagers. In our opinion, both the children and the teachers enjoyed the Summer Camp Open Days though it was very hot in Elista, above 40. It was especially difficult for our guests to survive this temperature but they did their best!!!