Presentation on "Connections through Writing". NECTFL, BALTIMORE, MD, April 2012

1. BY MóNICA MULHOLLAND!
Baltimore Marriott !
april 21, 2012!
Connections through
writing!

2. Overview
 Warm up
 Intro onWriting & Creativity
 Putting it in Action:Show &Tell
 Writing in theTimes of the Internet:Blogging
 Samples:Compositions,Poetry & Art
 How? Handout with guidelines
 Recap.Q & A’s

5.  Writing is a very complex activity.
 Dr. Seuss,“Every word is a struggle –every
sentence like a pang of birth”.
 Most writers produce several drafts.
 Writing in a foreign language is particularly
difficult.
 GRAMMAR +VOCAB = ???

6.  The writer reveals his/her personality, strengths and
weaknesses ------ IDENTITY
 Writing helps build IDENTITY ------- reflection,
introspection, taking it out of our chest, sharing.

7. Goal for this Session: How can we
make it easier or, at least, more
pleasurable?
MAKE IT
MEANINGFUL
& AS STRESS-
FREE AS
POSSIBLE
EMPHASIZETHE
POWER OF CREATIVITY
WE ALL HAVEWITHIN
OURSELVES
PROVIDE
STIMULATING
AND FLEXIBLE
PROMPTS

8. CREATIVITY
A SKILL
STEPS
POWERFUL
SELF-
CONFIDENCE
Edward de Bono’s
Lateral thinking

10. SHOW & TELL

11. REALLY LISTEN TO YOUR PARTNER

12. Writing in the Times of the Internet
Acknowledge its existence
and power
Look at the advantages as
well as the disadvantages
Find a way of making the
most of the advantages

13. Writing in the Times of the Internet
 Use technology to empower students, to allow
them to find their voice in the foreign language
through technology.
 “Internet brings the vernacular (home) not only
to speaking but also to writing”. Daniel Cassany,
2010.
 Build bridges between theVERNACULAR and
the ACADEMIC (or standard)

14.  IT IS MEANINGFUL &
PURPOSEFUL
 IT PROVIDES AN AUDIENCE
 IT BRINGS SOCIAL
INTERACTIONTOTHE
CLASSROOM
 REAL-LIFE LEARNING

15.  ENGAGING (sts’ feedback)
 INCORPORATESTHE 5 C’S OF
LANGUAGE LEARNING
 BACKWARDS PLANNING

16. Nuestro blog
Theme 1: Show & Tell

17. Theme 2: Lit
Inspirations “Canción de otoño en
primavera” (1905)
Juventud, divino tesoro,
Ya te vas para no volver.
Cuando quiero llorar, no lloro,
y a veces lloro sin querer….
Era una dulce niña, en este
mundo de duelo y aflicción.
Miraba como el alba pura;
sonreía como una flor.
Era su cabellera oscura
hecha de noche y de dolor.
Yo era tímido como un niño...

21. Nuestro blog: www.nuestroblog.info
Theme 3: Intercultural exchange
Family Roots
Chile: Earthquake

22. I appreciated the extra practice and it was cool
using some form of technology to write our
compositions. I think I enjoyed responding to my
fellow classmates’ post rather than coming up with
my own because I felt it was more conversational
and not a “report”.
What are the Students’ Views?

23.  I felt I was exposed to more than just the textbook; that
something was actually tangibly within my reach when we
attended the symposium on El Salvador.The panel of experts
that was provided and the questions brought up from the
audience were great. It woke me up to what was going on
outside of the U.S.– I felt more engaged in my composition.
 I enjoy interacting with the other students more than
anything else we do in class. Learning a language is about
communicating and sometimes I don’t feel comfortable
communicating with a professor who is grading my every
word but with fellow classmates who are learning the
language like I am, it makes for a more relaxed and enjoyable
experience when doing activities.

24.  This type of activities challenges you to think, form an
opinion and then to express that opinion in another language.
 I really enjoyed the movie and working with my group to be
able to develop different ideas and profound concepts from
that film. Recording the message was awkward because that
part was individual but it was an ok project. I would do it
again.
 I really like Nuestro Blog because it allows me to see the way
that other students write, and how I can improve on my
writing skills. It also allows me to get to know my classmates
on a more personal level; most college courses aren’t very
personal so it’s a nice change.

25.  I think the process is very helpful because we get a lot of
feedback on our writing and it shows us ways to improve.
 The process was a bit unusual, and at first I did not like the
idea of making my stuff public but then I really liked it and it
allowed me to see in what areas of my writing I need to work
on.
 I think the process is very helpful because we get a lot of
feedback on our writing and it shows us ways to improve.
 The interaction was great because everybody took it
seriously.

26.  This is a nice way to learn about your classmates and also
allows students to share their feelings openly.
 The process is very effective because if you are going to post
something on the web, it has to look professional with a
minimum amount of errors.
 I liked it because I learned through reviewing and because it
gave me a chance to just write freely and write better.

27. POETRY & THE VISUAL ARTS INSPIRED BY “COLOR DE ESPERANZA”
DE DIEGO TORRES

28. Volunteer Student Contributor

29. Volunteer Student
Contributor
Topics of her choice:
 Family life
 Pets
 Visits to the museum
and theater
 Poem to her lost puppy
 New puppies
 Her first trip to Spain

30. Participants
 George Mason University
(Intermediate-advanced levels)
 Catholic Univ.of Am.(Basic Spanish Program)
 NVCC Basic Spanish Program
 University of MaryWashington: Basic Spanish
Program
 Universidad Union.Lima,Perú

31. Participants
 MontvilleTownship High School,Montville,NJ.AP
Spanish
 Instituto Superior de Publicidad,Buenos Aires,
Argentina:Prof.Sandra Goronas
 TeacherTraining Institute,Posadas,Misiones,
Argentina
 Spanish 4 Foreigners,Salta,Argentina
 Instituto Politécnico,Santa Fe,Argentina
Contributor from Buenos Aires,
Argentina since 2007x

32. Recap & feedback
Session Description !
 Connections through Writing!
 Real-World Communication!
 Engaged & Meaningful Learning!
 Interaction beyond the classroom
Questions or comments?