American Perspectives on Civics and Society
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Exchange Program
Program Dates:
March 12 – 20, 2024
The TESOL Exchange Program is intended for international English language educators, administrators, and professionals from K-12 schools, higher education settings, non-profit organizations, and/or government.
Participants:
Romina Ariana Marazita
Izabela Do Nascimento Araújo
Ivelis Acosta Rodriguez
Amao Ramane Chitou
Bibata Dembele Sawadogo
Dalia Ali Maher Abbass Mohammed
Melkamu Alemu Bekele
Yathny Grabrielly Quintero Contreras
Gunay Zabil Qizi Akbarova
Denitsa Nikolaeva Nikiforova
Ketevan Barkhudanashvili
Zeljko Andrijanic
Activities
The New Neighbor Project
The New Neighbor Project supports education and our immigrant community through donation-based ESL and citizenship classes, as well as citizenship application assistance and scholarship opportunities to help provide a holistic pathway to citizenship for people in our community.
The Young Leadership Council’s Wednesday at the Square
Concert Series Lafayette Square
YLC Wednesday at the Square is a free concert series in the heart of New Orleans Central Business District. Proceeds from food and beverage sales benefit the Young Leadership Council’s community projects, designed not only to improve the quality of life in the Greater New Orleans area but also to foster leadership skills in young professionals. The performers on March 13th are the Brass-a-holics and Flagboy Giz, New Orleans' artists that reflect two hyper-local musical styles.
Las Sierras Academy : Walter Cohen High School
Las Sierras Academy is a one-year immersive program for scholars who are new to the country to develop their English language proficiency alongside content-knowledge to increase their success at their home schools. There are about 700 students who are newcomers in the city of New Orleans who need intensive support and programming in order to grow rapidly in English proficiency. This is the first Newcomer program in the city, and is absolutely essential for scholars in high school in order to provide them with the tools necessary to graduate on time and to access any postsecondary opportunity. Las Sierras will set scholars on a pathway to be successful academically and in their careers by supporting individualized education that meets specific proficiency needs related to assessment levels.
Catholic Charities
English as a Second Language (ESL), Citizenship, and Family Literacy classes serve hundreds of learners from over forty countries each year at sites in Orleans and Jefferson Parish. Both morning and evening classes are available. Their ESL and Citizenship classes are a valuable resource for immigrants and refugees who have recently arrived and those who have been in this country for years. Their program is run 100% by volunteers, who are invited to train with the organization for this role. This ESL program is largely targeted towards adults and families. Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans is an umbrella agency of health and community services throughout the Archdiocese. In 1924, Archbishop Alfred Shaw organized numerous Catholic service providers into 'Associated Catholic Charities' which was to function as a clearinghouse for children's charities. The organization was incorporated in 1938 and services expanded to include help for refugees, senior citizens, counseling, and more. In 2003 Catholic Charities merged with the Office of the Social Apostolate, a social service agency. As a result, Catholic Charities now offers 32 programs to poor and vulnerable communities.
Urban League of New Orleans
The Urban League assists underserved communities in securing economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights by focusing on programs to ensure quality education and access to information, employment, entrepreneurial and economic inclusion opportunities, and shared dignity under the law. This site visit will provide visitors opportunities to explore how promoting small businesses enhances the local economy and learn about initiatives and programs run by the WBRC that help level the playing field for Black and minority-owned entrepreneurs. The Urban League will discuss societal barriers facing these disadvantaged groups and best practices in overcoming these restrictions as well as the role of entrepreneurship in alleviating poverty worldwide. The Women’s Business Research Center (WBRC) supports minority and women-owned businesses as a pathway to secure economic parity for African Americans and other underserved populations, by providing small-business development services including business education workshops and interactive trainings, hands-on technical assistance, and access to resources relevant to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs throughout southeastern Louisiana. The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a statewide entrepreneurial development organization, which deploys deliberate, innovative, place-based programming and services to entrepreneurs in communities across Louisiana. The mission is to provide impactful support to women and minority entrepreneurs that wish to create and grow scalable, profitable and sustainable business ventures.
Rosine Pema Sanga, Director of International Relations, City of New Orleans
Born in Toucountouna, Benin, Ms. Rosine Pema Sanga worked as an Executive Assistant to Councilmember Latoya Cantrell, when Mayor Cantrell served as a Councilmember. Pema Sanga then went back to school to pursue a degree in Romance Languages and graduated in 2015 with a Masters in Spanish and a Masters in French in 2016. She went on to accept a position at Dillard University to teach both French and Spanish for the 2016-2017 academic year. In 2018 she joined the Mayor’s team where she has direct oversight of International Relations, including relationships from outside of the country and international entities within the city. She oversees relations with sister cities, including reactivating dormant sister cities, creating new relationships, and building links to keep partnerships active.
The Festival features both fiction and non-fiction and convenes readings, panel discussions, symposia and keynote speeches. It also provides an opportunity for outlets, authors and readers to interact with each other in one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in the world. The festival supports the academic mission of Tulane and community engagement by providing a “Mardi Gras for the Mind” for the City of New Orleans and its literary community.
Tulane University
Rooted in New Orleans and connected to the world, Tulane University is addressing complex challenges through innovative research centers across campus and collaborations with communities around the world. Tulane uses the power of partnership to expand the impact and quality of their research and teaching. Through collaborations with partners in more than 70 countries, Tulane is at the forefront of cutting-edge research, culturally responsible and responsive teaching, and reimagined global awareness. The Center for Global Education (CGE) is the hub for global learning and engagement for undergraduate students. It advances equitable and robust opportunities for students to enhance their global awareness and intercultural learning. CGE provides logistical and academic support for undergraduate international students and support for the hundreds of NTC students who study abroad every year, preparing students for the life changing experience of study abroad and seeking to enhance the integration of academic inquiry and personal reflection with intercultural experiences. The English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP) department, located within Tulane’s CGE, is dedicated to fostering students' professional and academic excellence and promoting interaction and communication both within the Tulane University community and with the global community as a whole. This program is composed of two main branches: EAPP for international students, and TESL for current and future ESL teachers.
Presenters:
Charles A. Mignot, Senior Professor of Practice in French, Director of Linguistics, Director of French Language Program, earned in a PhD in French Linguistics at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on the syntax and semantics interface, and more particularly on French grammar, its acquisition by non-native speakers, and the methods to foster its teaching and learning.
Robert Connor, Director of English for Academic and Professional Purposes, is responsible for helping students learn and teach English. He's been here for 8 years and during that time has enjoyed seeing students develop in better ways when academic theories realize their full potential. Robert works hard to create a culture of learning and adaptation among all students through concrete applications of research. He's been a reviewer for the Commission on English Accreditation and the South African National Research Foundation as well as a chair of the English for Special Purposes at international TESOL. Originally from Tennessee, Robert has a B.A. from Vanderbilt, a M.A. in Teaching from American University and a Ph.D. in Linguistics and Educational Research from LSU.
John DePriest, PhD is an instructor of ESL who specializes in linguistics, with an emphasis on the phonetics, phonology, and syntax of English. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and German from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, before going on to earn both a Master’s and Doctorate in Linguistics from Tulane. His dissertation focused on phrase boundary perception in language and music, utilizing EEG and behavioral results to compare neurotypical and autistic individuals’ responses. In the English for Academic and Professional Purposes program, he teaches ENGL 1011 – Writing for Academic Purposes, TESL 3220 – Structure of English for Teaching, and SCEN7650 – ESL Speaking Skills as part of the regular curriculum, and Intensive English, two writing classes, and two speaking classes as part of the non-credit ESL program.
Isaac Muhando is an EAPP instructor with Newcomb Tulane College (NTC). He is a graduate of Tulane University with a doctorate degree in Linguistics. Isaac also holds a dual master's degree in TESOL and Linguistics from Ball State University, Muncie IN. His research interests include second language acquisition, ESL classroom teaching and learning, multilingualism and language contact, mixed languages, and creoles.
Honey Island Swamp tour
Louisiana's swamps are geographical and ecological habitats that are unlike any other in the United States. These swamps, characterized by their maze of waterways, cypress and tupelo trees draped in Spanish moss, and vibrant aquatic life, are home to diverse habitats and encompass flooded forests, open water areas, and dense vegetation, showcasing the remarkable biodiversity. Participants will learn from local guides about Louisiana’s unique geography and ecosystem, how important it is to the US seafood and oil/gas industries, and how climate change, natural disasters and capitalism are working in tandem to threaten the environment.
Honey Island Swamp earned its name because of the honeybees once seen on the nearby island. A tract of bottomland timber lying between the East Pearl and West Pearl rivers, Honey Island is between three and seven miles wide and 15 to 20 miles long. It is located 50 minutes from New Orleans in Southeast Louisiana.
Louisiana's Créole Heritage Site
2247 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090
https://www.lauraplantation.com/
A vast former sugar plantation, Laura Plantation takes a fact-focused look at the history behind its origins and name. With an unembellished representation of enslaved peoples, and following the history of the families who lived on its land, Laura Plantation has come to showcase the sensitive nature of nuanced histories and how to best represent those histories to diverse visitors. Laura Plantation underwent a reexamination of its narratives in the last few years, focusing on removing all barriers to history from its exhibitions.
Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall Jazz Show: Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street, the Preservation Hall venue presents intimate, acoustic New Orleans Jazz concerts over 360 nights a year featuring ensembles from a current collective of 50+ local master practitioners. On any given night, audiences bear joyful witness to the evolution of this venerable and living tradition.
By attending a show here, participants are exposed to the rich history of jazz, a quintessentially American art form. They can witness live jazz performances, often played by seasoned musicians who have inherited this musical tradition from previous generations. This firsthand experience allows participants to connect with a vital element of US culture that is unique to Louisiana. In addition, Preservation Hall is a historical landmark and participants can explore the hall's unique architecture and learn about its history, highlighting the significance of preserving cultural heritage in the city.
Saint Paul’s Episcopal School
6249 Canal Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70124
St. Paul's Episcopal School is dedicated to instilling in children strength of intellect and strength of character that is positive, respectful, and familial. Governed by an elected Board of Trustees, the school is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Education and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest and the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools. The school serves children of all socio-economic groups, races, and religions because they want children to see and recognize the beauty inherent in a richly varied and diverse world. St. Paul's Episcopal School commits to embrace a global understanding of the social, economic, and environmental impact of the use of resources as they relate to the sustainability of water, food, environment, and energy, and the reduction of waste.
Heather Farnsworth is a Spanish and music teacher at St. Paul's Episcopal School. She was an exchange student in Greece, Costa Rica, Spain, Austria and Mexico and studied politics and history of Eastern Europe. She taught in the American school in Amman, Jordan, and traveled throughout the Middle East. She has a Master’s degree in Spanish.
Committee for a Better New Orleans
The Committee for a Better New Orleans (CBNO) was formed to explore critical issues facing New Orleans and to develop a wide-ranging blueprint of specific objectives to define a great future for the city. As a diverse community organization, CBNO realizes that vision by working to bring all voices to the table to effect systemic changes that will build a better future for all New Orleanians. One of CBNO's projects is the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum (BBMLF), to identify emerging community leaders and stimulate their interest and involvement in community service. Drawing from all sectors of the community – business, faith, nonprofit, neighborhood and civic groups – the purpose is to provide information about, analysis of and opportunities to explore key metropolitan issues and needs. Since its inception, the Forum has graduated nearly 2500 individuals, including elected officials. They have developed major policy initiatives including Citizen Participation Program, Police Recruitment and Retention Paper, Asset-Building-Based Employee Benefits Model, Rental Property Codes and Inspection System, Orleans Public Education Network, and New Orleans Micro-Loan Program, among others. This workshop will give participants a greater understanding of the community-driven local action network present in New Orleans.
Louisiana State Legislative Session
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is a bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana State Senate with 39 senators. Members of each house are elected from single-member districts of roughly equal populations.
The Louisiana State Legislature meets in the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge. In March 2023, Republicans gained a supermajority of the Louisiana legislature for the first in the history of Louisiana. Members of both houses of the legislature serve a four-year term, with a term limit of three terms (twelve years).
The legislature is required to convene in the state capitol in Baton Rouge for regular annual sessions. In even-numbered years, a general session convenes at noon on the second Monday in March to extend for no longer than 60 legislative days during a period of 85 days. The legislature also may convene for extraordinary sessions and for veto sessions. The 2024 legislative session commences on March 11, 2024 and will adjourn no later than June 3, 2024.
Representative Willard will welcome our group and speak with us briefly.
Matthew Willard is a lifelong resident of Gentilly, raised in a family that values faith, community service, education and altruism. Matthew attended elementary school at Corpus Christi, Stuart Hall for middle school, and is a graduate of Jesuit High School. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of New Orleans.
As a child, he developed an early love for baseball. He grew up in the NORD system, playing for Milne and the Lakeshore Allstars, where his teams won several state and regional championships. He spent his teenage years painting houses for his father’s company, and Matthew credits his dad, Dominic, for instilling in him personal values of selflessness, hard work and service.
Matthew is an elected member of Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee for City Council District D and serves as a Board Member for Jason’s House, a nonprofit organization working to finance low-cost housing for men following rehabilitation for chemical dependency. Matthew is a homeowner, President of the Seabrook Neighborhood Association, and Board Member for the Seabrook Neighborhood Improvement and Security District. He is a parishioner of St. Raymond / St. Leo the Great Catholic Church.
Louisiana State Capitol Tour
The Louisiana State Capitol is one of the most interesting and the most visited state capitols in the United States. The State Capitol is one of the foremost examples of the art deco design, which was popular in the 1930s. The building stands 450 feet tall (34 floors,) making it the tallest capitol in the United States. It is one of only four skyscraper capitols in the country and one of only nine capitol buildings that does not have a dome. The building contains 249,000 square feet and sits on 27 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds.The capitol houses the chambers for the Louisiana State Legislature, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the office of the Governor of Louisiana. The 27th floor provides a spectacular panoramic view of the Mississippi River.
