elaine bacon literacy program...elaine bacon literacy program •(beth) • the program aims to...
TRANSCRIPT
• Presentation by the board of the Elaine Bacon Literacy Program to the women’s group of the First
United Methodist Church of Hancock May 1, 2019
Thanks!
• (Beth and Denise)
• Thanks to the women of the First United Methodist Church of Hancock for inviting us! Special thanks to Karen Snyder for arranging the visit.
• To Portage Lake United Church for providing us tutoring space, meeting space, and storage space.
• To donors Hancock Home Study, Houghton Rotary, and Hancock Rotary, and Elvi Routsala.
• To Jerry Huffman for creating our website, www.elainebaconliteracyprogram.wordpress.com.
Tutoring Session in Frann’s Class
Friends
Elaine Bacon Literacy Program
• (Beth)
• The program aims to improve the reading, writing, and speaking abilities of international adults in the community.
• Students sometimes volunteer in local schools or usher at cultural events.
• Students are generally not enrolled at Tech. Rather, they are visiting scholars or parents or spouses of Tech graduate students or faculty. Many stay for only a year or two.
• At any given time, we have about 20 tutees.
• The program often serves as an outlet for frustrations and anxieties that result from living in an unfamiliar culture.
Board
• (Denise)
• Elizabeth Flynn, Director• Denise Heikinen, Director• Mary Brunet, Treasurer, newsletter• Linda Dresch• Frann Grossman• Andrea Hauge-Bacon, Director Emerita• Lucky Li, Secretary• Patti Lund, Secretary Emerita
Tutors
• (Beth)
• Linda Dresch• Marianna Ewert• Elizabeth Flynn• Frann Grossman• Andrea Hauge-Bacon• Denise Heikinen• Jerry Huffman• Patti Lund
Tutoring Schedule
• Monday 10-12, Linda Dresch, PLUC
• Tuesday 11:30-1, Beth Flynn, PLUC
• Wednesday 10:30-12, Frann Grossman, PLUC
• Friday Marianna Ewert 1-3, Community Room, Daniell Heights, MTU
• Individual tutoring at arranged times
Andrea tutoring
Linda tutoring
Beth tutoring
Marianna tutoring
Denise tutoring
Students (Frann)
Dilka, Priyanka, Manuela
Instruction—Teacher Perspective
• (Frann)
• News for You
• Conversation and adjustment to US culture
• Structure of language and grammar
Instruction—Student Perspective
• (Lucky)
• Why We LOVE EBLP• My story (LiRong Li “Lucky”)
• My colleagues such as Irina, Pichai, Dilka, Khoshbakht and Reza, Manuela
• To make friends
• To learn English
• To learn the culture
Financial needs
• (Denise)
• Materials (News for You, books, maps, etc.)
• Newsletter
• Donations to PLUC
• Professional development
• Membership in Professional organizations
Promotion of the Program
• Daily Mining Gazette (Denise)
• Tech Today (Beth)
• Facebook page and Website (Denise and Beth): www.elainebaconliteracyprogram.wordpress.com
Selected Successes
• Dhananjani Eriyagama from Sri Lanka is now a PhD student at MTU, and Vanessa Kamdoumfrom Cameroon is now a graduate student at Wayne State.
• Lianen Li, a visiting scholar, who was chair of his computer science department in China, was reading The New York Times daily at the end of his year-long stay in the U.S.
• Bina Kim, originally from South Korea, now has a part-time position in International Programs and Services at Michigan Tech.
Testimonial—”Mike”
Testimonial--Ling
I enjoyed your writing class very much and very pleased to share my learning English experience with other friends.
Although this is my thirteenth year living in Houghton, I am still struggling studying English daily. I've been always greatly appreciated the language help that I received and still receiving from Rachel, Marianna Evert, Denise Heikinen in your program.
When I look back, the hard beginning UP life seems just happened yesterday. What caused my hard feelings were mostly form English: I barely understood people's talk at that time. Although I have International Neighbor friends, I still feel being islated by a well of language! In 2007, I began language class with Marianna Evert and eventully gained some confidence. As my oldest daughter Julia came in 2009, I had to stop my learning and I never got back since more children came to our family. But Marianna still kept sending me homework for a year after I left.
Your program is vital for our community, especially for new International families. With more support, your program would help much more people who need help.
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History of the Program
• (Denise)
• Elaine Bacon started the Laubach Literacy Program in 1969. She said, “The program was originally started to help area adults having trouble reading and writing to have a better understanding of the English language. Now the biggest demand is for English as a second language for foreign students and their families.”
• A grant from the Library of Michigan funded teaching materials, books, and tapes. After Bacon died in 1989, the library was named after her.
• Early leaders of the program were Barb Anible, Eileen Haas, Rosemary Remington, Ruth Shetron, Bea Thornton, Vi Brown, and Karen Bell-Hanson.
Beth tutoring group at MTU library
Huda teaching cooking
Lucky hiking
Manuela’s baby shower group
Susan and her dish
Bo and Chen gardening
Frann and Nisa
Interactive Activity
• (Frann)
Questions?
• (Denise)