Down the Memory Lane 2: Students' Creative Project

Last October 31, 2013 Alejandra Reuhel author of the book Stars Like Fish visited the University of Puerto Rico Humacao.  Students of  the courses INGL 3103 and 3221  participated of this activity coordinated by Dr. Aida Cáceres, Dr. Artemio Penalbert and Prof. Carmen Milagros Torres.

Students of the course INGL 3221 (Introduction to Literature) prepared videos inspired in texts of this book.  We will be sharing part of these creative projects in upcoming posts.  In today's post we will be sharing a video inspired in Reuhel's work that appears in her book.

English BA student Miguel A. De Jesús presented the creative video titled "A Video Project Called Sonzai".  Here is the video for your enjoyment.

After Almost a Year... "Coffee or Tea... and a Book"

     After almost a year without any posts, The Owl's Bookshelf is back sharing the activities that are held in the English Department at UPRH.  This academic year, the English Department Library Committee is composed of four members (Dr. Aida Cáceres, Dr. Larry Myers, Dr. Artemio Peñalbert and Prof. Carmen Milagros Torres)
     The first activity of this semester was Coffee or Tea.. and a Book.  This activity was held in the faulty lounge located in CEITICA on Thursday, September 25, 2014.  Dr. Giovanna Balaguer, Interim English Chair, Dr. Larry Myers, students Larissa Lopez and Megan Garcia, Prof. Evelyn Velazquez and Prof. Carmen Milagros Torres participated of this activity.  Guests enjoyed sharing the books that are memorable to them or were reading at that moment.  The activity had the pleasant surprise of having Prof. Luz I. Vega, former English professor of the English Department join us in the "tertulia".
     The English Library Committee is very grateful for the collaboration of CEITICA personnel Prof. Evelyn Velazquez and Dr. Alex Camacho.  Their support helped in the success of this first activity of the Library Committee.

PRTESOL 40th Annual Convention

    On November 1-2, 2013, the PRTESOL 40th Annual Convention was held in Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and Casino.  This year theme was “Meeting 21st Century Needs: Aligning Curriculum and Teacher Performance".
    I was able to attend Saturday’s convention and experienced an unforgettable and academic enriching experience.  The conferences and presentations fulfilled and went beyond my expectations while acquiring knowledge to apply in the courses I teach.  Saturday’s keynote speaker Dr. Rebecca Blum Martinez presented her conference on “Grappling with Language and Meaning in Complex Texts: The Common Core Standards and Bilingual Students”.  It was an outstanding presentation where Dr. Blum Martinez not only provided relevant information for English educators of the island, but provided examples to show how we must change our view on the way we teach our English courses to ESL learners.
     Thirty-one concurrent sessions were offered on Saturday which provided a range of fascinating topics making one wish to be able to attend simultaneously several of them.  Topics ranged from videogames in the English classroom, Shakespeare in the 21st century to ecological education.
    Presenters came from different institutions such as the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus, UPR Mayaguez,  UPR Aguadilla as well as from private universities of the island such as Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, Inter American University (San Germán and Guayama), and Metropolitan University.  There were also presenters from the Department of Education representing schools such as S.U. Rio Cañas Abajo Community School as well as private schools such as Colegio Puertorriqueño de Niñas.  Not only presenters came from our island, but we also had others from institutions such as Middlesex County College (New Jersey), Wheelock College (Boston, MA), King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Texas State University, and Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).
     But the highlight of attending this convention was having two colleagues from the English Department of UPRH give presentations to PR TESOL attendees.  Dr. Anibal Muñoz with Dr. María Irrizarry of UPR Río Piedras and Dr. Elsie Candelaria and Dr. Rosemary Morales gave a presentation titled “Aligning the ESL Curriculum through Art and Technology”.  Dr. Muñoz is currently collaborating in a project that is providing educators the opportunity to develop activities where technology is used as a medium to enhance the teaching of English while integrating the arts to the curriculum.  Dr. Muñoz’s workshops deal with creating documentaries in the English classroom as well as using radio programs in the acquisition of the English language just to mention some of the ones he is offering to participants of public and private schools.
     Dr. Artemio Peñalbert was also a presenter for this 40th Annual Convention and representing our faculty of UPRH.  His conference was titled “Using Cooperative Strategies to Enhance Students’ Writing Skills in a Business English course”.  His conference was based on his dissertation.  His work deals with how writing skills brings a new perspective in the teaching of Business English at undergraduate level.  These courses have been taught many times focused in lectures and individual performance when writing assignments were given.  Through his study, Dr. Peñalbert demonstrated how cooperative learning becomes an ideal form for students to acquire the writing skills so vital in the success of their field of studies.  His work demonstrates that Business Writing English courses must align to the needs of the 21st global society we live in; collaboration is the key to acquiring knowledge and for success in the professional world.
     As part of the English Department faculty at UPRH, I left the convention full of pride of being part of such an outstanding group of colleagues.  Both Dr. Muñoz and Dr. Peñalbert have contributed into the academia providing new insights to the teaching of English.  I congratulate them both and look forward to their upcoming presentations and workshops because our English teaching community benefits from the knowledge and contributions of professionals like them.
    I also want to thank the PRTESOL for organizing such an outstanding convention.  I left the activity feeling academically refreshed and with new energies to continue working with my students in meeting their academic needs.
    The Executive Board of Directors ensured that this PRTESOL 40th Annual convention is one to be remembered for years to come.  President Estella Martinez, Vice President Edward Torres, Executive Secretary Maureen Orama, Membership Secretary Janytsie Mora and Treasurer Myriam Caballero provided the academic and professional opportunity that fulfilled the needs of educators of English in Puerto Rico.

My Inspiration- Creative Project by an English BA Student

My name is Samantha Rodriguez and I belong to the English BA Program Elementary level at the UPRH. This semester, I enrolled in an elective education course called Art for the Primary grades in order to gain more knowledge and experience with students of Kindergarten through third grade.  As soon as I began taking class, my professor gave us an assignment. The topic for this project was “Our Place of Inspiration”.  We were told that we had to think of a place that inspired us and make it into something that would represent and epitomize why we were so inspired by it.  The very first place that I thought of was a classroom because I had completed my Practice Teaching course last semester and it ended up being an amazing experience that allowed me to grow as a future educator and as a person.

            For me, the elementary classroom represents the opportunity to be creative with the content of classes and environment so that student’s academic experience may be most effective.  It makes me so happy to think about students genuinely enjoying entering a classroom because it feels like a wonderful “escape”.  My goal throughout my Practice Teaching course was to make learning fun and educational for my students. I also wanted to create an unbreakable and loving bond between us so that their perception of successfully learning a second language would be more positive and unquestionably attainable.  With that said, my plan for this art project was to make it as realistic as possible with furniture and learning materials that I would place in my own classroom once I start teaching in the working field.

            The end result of my school house turned out to be exactly what I had envisioned; I was very happy and satisfied with it.  However, what I was so eager to witness was my professor’s reaction to it.  She expressed that she thought it was very beautiful and told me that she knew that a lot of work was put into it, the fact that she enjoyed it made me so proud.

           

ESA and Reconocimiento de las Organizaciones Estudiantiles

On Thursday, October 17, 2014 the English Students Association (ESA) participated of the activity Reconocimiento a las Organizaciones Estudiantiles de la UPRH.  This activity was organized by the Students Dean Office.  The activity was held at the UPRH Theater from 10:30-12:00. 

    The ESA Board of Directors (Orlando Mercado, Frances Mangual, Melanie Quintana and Iris Medina) and Larissa L. Lopez represented the English Students Association.  Dr. Artemio Peñalbert, English BA Coordinator attended this activity as well as Ms. Elizabeth Morales “Oficial de Orientación”of our English BA Program.

    We want to congratulate the English Students Association for the acknowledgement received as part of those associations that will be present this year to enhance our university life.  We look forward to continue enjoying of the academic and cultural activities that the English Students Association organize for the benefit and enjoyment of the English BA students, faculty and university community.

Linguistics...What's in It for Me?

    On Thursday, October 10, 2013, Sally Delgado graduate student of Caribbean Linguistics of UPR Rio Piedras presented a conference about the opportunities English majors have when pursuing graduate studies in this field.  Her conference was titled "Linguistics...What's in It for Me?".
     This activity was organized by the English BA Coordinator Dr. Artemio Penalbert. This is the first of a series of conferences he is in process of organizing where graduate students, universities professors and other professionals shared how English is a major component in the success of pursing their field of studies or work.  Up to the moment, it has been planned that representatives of the fields of English Literature, Translations and Curriculum will also join UPRH BA students in these talks.
    Twenty-nine persons, mostly BA students attended this conference.  This activity was evaluated as a complete success by those present.  Prof. Delgado's gave an outstanding presentation about research as well as career opportunities.  Many students expressed their interest in Linguistics while others did not imagine how many possibilities this field provides for their academic and professional development.
     The Library Committee wishes to congratulate Dr. Penalbert for organizing such an outstanding activity.  Students are looking forward to the upcoming activities which we know will also be successful academic experiences.

Summer Pre-Basic Video

     Last summer Dr. Artemio Peñalbert and Prof. Carmen Milagros Torres coordinated the "Meet the Author" activity. Students not only participated actively in the Questions and Answer session after Dr. Anibal Muñoz's presentation ended, but some of the students collaborated in a video that Dr. Muñoz as well as the audience enjoyed.
     Here is the video for your enjoyment...