The second annual English Language Learner Symposium will be held at Brigham Young University’s Wilkinson Student Center Thursday and Friday, June 10–11.
The symposium was organized to address issues that are facing communities and schools because of the growing population of English language learners. Participants can register for the symposium by visiting ce.byu.edu/cw/ell/or by calling (801) 422-8925.
“Utah has a large and growing population of English learners,” said Carol Solomon, director of the English as a Second Language Program. “This brings a new language, news ways of interacting and understanding and new ways of being together as a community. Yet, because of language and culture differences, some Utah citizens see English learners only in terms of challenges rather than in terms of hope and promise.”
Three national experts will present at the symposium:
• Norma Gonzalez from the University of Arizona is the incoming president of the Council of Anthropology and Education. She conducts research on language processes in the U.S./ Mexico borderlands, immigration and education.
• Jodi Crandell is a professor of education at the University of Maryland and teaches courses in immigration, teaching English as a second language and the languages of learning. She also conducts research in second language literacy, language teacher education and second language writing.
• Catherine Amanti, from the Tucson United School District in Tucson, Ariz., is an ESL administrator and middle school assistant principal. Hispanics make up 41 percent of the Tucson population.
The symposium will also feature a question-and-answer session with a panel of ELL experts, focus groups and several breakout sessions. For a full schedule, visit education.byu.edu/ellsymposium/2010/schedule/funds_of_knowledge.html.
This event is hosted jointly by the BYU-Public School Partnership, the David O. McKay School of Education, the School of Humanities and the Wheatley Institution.
For more information, visit education.byu.edu/ellsymposium/2010 or contact Winn Egan at (801) 422-7680.
