ETAS presentations

Carol has a BA in Language Studies (Oxford Polytechnic), a CTEFLA  (RSA London), a DTEFLA (Sydney, Australia), MA in Applied Linguistics (TESOL) (Sydney University), a MEdAdmin from (University of NSW, Sydney), and a PhD in Education from UNSW.  She has taught English and administered modern language programmes in Spain, England, Australia and Switzerland.

2009 in Chur

Title of presentation:  How to use an internet platform with intermediate to advanced learners to help them become more autonomous and advance more quickly at their pace

Brief abstract (max. 100 words): Students learning English at the United Nations in Geneva come from varied national and educational backgrounds.  All share a burning motivation to move ahead quickly with their English skills, which they need to interact with their international colleagues and for their careers.

The teachers enable them to progress quickly by giving students access to English outside the classroom in their daily lives.   Carol will show how she blends classroom learning with an internet platform, Blackboard, to help students become more autonomous.  She will also demonstrate a free platform http://www.nicenet.org/, which is simple to use with all levels.  

2008 in Lugano

Title of presentation:  Giving feedback on students’ written work

Abstract:  When students submit written work, various approaches to giving feedback can be used.  The ones students seem to find most useful are those which involve them in reflecting, researching and correcting their own work. 

This talk will present correction techniques which can be modified to suit any level of student.  The techniques combine correction codes with comments from the teacher and pointers to useful internet assistance.

The talk will also include tips on adapting the same model to give feedback to very advanced writers or native speakers writing in a professional context.

Presenter’s bio:  Dr Carol Waites is currently an English and Writing Skills teacher at the United Nations Staff Development and Learning Section in Geneva. 


2007 
Joint presentation with Sarah Jordan

Teaching advanced writing skills to report writers and administrative writers in the United Nations and other international organizations.

 

Abstract:

International civil servants write reports, minutes of meetings, expert briefing papers, chapters of books, emails, memoranda, letters, press releases and brochures. 

Our role is to help them with clarity and style.  To do this, we use workshops we analyse their own writing.  We will demonstrate both aspects of the course:

Workshop resources include: 

• A list of ‘red flags’ or ‘editors’ nightmares’
• Internet sites dealing with effective writing
• Flesch’s readability score in MSWord
• Analysis of authentic samples

Feedback on assignments is given through ‘track changes’ and ‘comments’ in MSWord. 

2004  ETAS in Sierre

Title of presentation:  Using a ‘blended learning’ approach to teaching advanced writing skills 

Abstract

At the United Nations Language Training Section, writing skills used to be taught through seminars.  Recently, this course has been adapted to provide a ‘blended learning’ approach, using a web-based platform to provide the weekly program, coaching, seminars and ongoing writing practice through drafting and redrafting after feedback from the tutor.   Specializations offered include administrative writing and report writing.

This presentation will demonstrate the type of material which has been developed, will discuss the pedagogical reasons for having this type of program, and will point out the advantages and some of the pitfalls involved in the ‘blended approach’ used.   

2003 Appenzell

Title of presentation:  Using a web-based platform (Blackboard) as a pedagogical tool and integral part of a general English course.

Abstract

At the United Nations Language Training Section, the Distance Learning Team has been involved over the last 18 months in developing and conducting a Web-based support program for its regular English courses, particularly at the advanced level.  The long-term aim is to use Web-based support as an integral part of the general English programs at all levels.  This presentation will demonstrate the type of material which has been developed, will discuss the pedagogical reasons for having this type of program, and will point out the advantages and some of the pitfalls involved in the process of designing Web-based support programs.