Workshop in Curriculum Design Course





Dr. J. Encarnacion and students of EING 4028

On February 5 and 7, 2013,  Teacher Candidate students of Dr. Giovanna's Balaguer English elective course Curriculum Design (EING 4028) had the visit of Dr. José M. Encarnación.  Dr. Encarnación is a professor in the Education Department of the University of Puerto Rico Humacao.

Dr. Encarnación offered a workshop and "conversatorio" related to philosophical foundation in the curriculum titled "Los Fundamentos Filosóficos de los Componentes de la Educación.  Students of this course had the opportunity to obtain valuable information that is of great
 importance for their success as future English teachers.  

Dr. Alicia Pousada's Web Page

Dr. Alicia Pousada is a linguist who teaches at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.  Her language studies, many focused on bilingualism and acquisition of English in Puerto Rico, have been published in prestigious national and international journals.  Her works are cited and used as references in studies and in the classroom.

In our department, our students read many of her articles in their English BA courses.  Many times when teaching Children's Literature, we read Dr. Pousada's articles so students can better understand the linguistic reality of our Puerto Rican English language learners. 

Dr. Pousada has created a website that facilitates access to her studies by educators. This page, well-organized and beautifully presented in calm tones of green, is a linguistic treasure for those teachers who wish their students to learn more about language studies as well as for use in research conducted as part of graduate studies.

Her website is organized into articles, a blog, bookreviews, presentations, PowerPoint presentations, photographs, UPR EnglishDepartment, videos, and a contact page.  The article section provides twenty-six articles that Dr. Pousada has published in different journals and academic magazines.  Her blog Living in Two Worlds is a personal account of her experiences living three months a year in the United States and nine months a year in Puerto Rico.

Dr. Pousada also shares with us sixteen of her book reviews.  This is a great section in which to find other resources for completing research projects in language studies.  She also provides visitors with copies of the presentations she has given for universities and associations. . Her PowerPoint presentations deal with many different topics of great interest in both English and Spanish, ranging from language issues to Internet research and plagiarism.

The website also has a section where the visitor can enjoy beautifulpictures of natural tropical scenery as well  photos of winter in the United States.  She also provides a link to other information that appears on the website of the English Department of the College of Humanities, UPR Rio Piedras.  The videos ection provides two documentaries about language.

If you are conducting research in linguistics, you should visit Dr. Pousada's  web page.  It is a resource that is available right from the comfort of your home without need of multiple searches or traveling. 

Note: In the upcoming weeks, "The Owl's Bookshelf" will interview Dr. Alicia Pousada

Down the Memory Lane II- Save the Date Activity

Members of the Library Committee 2012-13

     On December 13, 2013 the English Department celebrated the activity Save the Date.  This day colleagues of our faculty shared the achievements obtained during the semester by the different committees.
    The strategy used to present the achievements is through a SWOT chart.  This chart divides the accomplishments and the pending tasks in the areas of strength, weakness, opportunities and threats.
     The Library Committee presented their SWOT chart in this activity. The following is a summary of what was discussed in this meeting:

• Strength- our committee has the support of the ADCO (Administración de Colección) professors of UPRH.  Also the committee members Dr. Aida Cáceres' as well as Prof. Artemio Peñalbert's compromise have always made possible the success of this committee.

Also another strength has been the completion of the surveys given to students and faculty members.  The information obtained from these surveys will be used in decision making in improving the services needed by our BA students.

•   Weakness- the Library Committee as a dynamic entity is in constant change and evolution which not only strengthens as time passes by, but encounters weaknesses that must be overcome.  Last semester this committee underwent some challenges that caused several weakness that the goal is to overcome them this semester.

Both weakness had to do with the chair who is in the research stage of her graduate studies.  The demands of this stage caused that the blog posts diminished considerably.  Only one post appeared up the last weeks of the semester.  At that moment the blog was almost nonexistent.

Also this caused that the meetings were mainly done by emails which still kept the members of the committee up to date with the situations related with the tasks, but it lacked a face to face communication.

•  Opportunities- the weakness caused by the lack of posts has been transformed into opportunities.  Now, the blog will continue weekly posts and will integrate the "Down the Memory Lane" to update readers with the posts that were not published last semester.

Also the committee is working on a more structured process in data gathering so the data is obtained within the deadlines established.  Another related opportunity is that the committee plans to incorporate studies conducted by the members as part of the yearly tasks.

• Threat-  as I expressed in the meeting held last semester, the only threat perceived is related with the chair of the committee.  As the chair of the committee I have started to make the adjustments to be able to balance these responsibilities, my courses and the research of my graduate studies.  If this is accomplished, the committee will have no situation of great concern, just the everyday challenges that all committees face.

This exercise of looking at the committee's achievements and pending tasks through the eyes of the SWOT chart has been beneficial for the Library Committee.  As the presentation is being prepared, there is opportunity to reflect upon our academic journey as we continue the path of the goals set.

Dr. Nilsa Lugo's initiative to have this Save the Date activity and the inclusion of the SWOT analysis has helped faculty members share and learn about the accomplishments of our different committees in a dynamic form.

Down the Memory Lane I- Luz I. Vega Literary Legacy

UPRH English Department Professors and Luz I. Vega

     Last semester, the blog suffered from the lack of posts.  But while the blog was in silence, many things were happening in our Department that were not recorded in the due moment.  So during this semester in addition to the regular posts, there will be some titled Down the Memory Lane to share with you those unforgettable moments.  Our first post will be dedicated to Prof. Luz I. Vega who this past December retired from teaching English literature at the University of Puerto Rico Humacao.
     Prof. Luz I. Vega is not only an outstanding scholar who transformed her classes in ones full of literary love, but she is also an extraordinary person, always with a smile and in the best disposition to help other colleagues.
      I met Lucy as she is known to many of us, when I had the opportunity to participate of a proposal sponsored by the English Department for English teachers of the Department of Education.  Prof. Vega gave one of the workshops which was about literature.  All of the participants were impressed by her love for literature which she transmitted to all those present and left an unforgettable impression.
    Years afterwards when I started working as a professor at UPRH, Lucy welcomed me as part of the faculty and was always available to help me as when I taught Introduction to Literature I, Children's Literature and when assigned as the Academic Counselor of the English BA Program.  Her advice and support were an essential part of  successfully accomplishing the tasks and responsibilities this position required.
     Her love for literature, especially her love for the Shakespeare made  possible the success of many of the annual festivals that have been celebrated in our department.  Not only did she motivate students into participating in these festivals, but she adapted and wrote scripts for many of the Shakespeare Festivals.
     This semester begins a new stage in Prof. Luz I. Vega's life where she will pursue new dreams and goals. While we do celebrate that Prof. Vega will continue reaping new accomplishments, she is greatly missed by faculty and her students. As I began teaching those courses that Lucy had taught for so many years, I have felt how great is her legacy, one that will never be substituted and will always be remembered.
     Her love for literature, not only opened the doors of knowledge to all those whose lives she touched, but transformed the way they see the beauty of words and the magic literature brings into our lives.
     Thank you Luz I. Vega for your authentic dedication to teaching and literature.  And as the Irish saying states

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

It's February... A Friendship Book

  “Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.'
You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.”  

The month of February arrived and everywhere we are surrounded by hearts, chocolates and plush toys and other trinkets created to represent the love and friendship we feel for others.  But these are emotions that a material gift can never encompass its true meaning.   Henry David Thoreau stated that "The language of friendship is not words but meanings."  
     When I think about the books that show true friendship, the one that comes into my mind is the modern classic Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.  This novel  won the Newbery Honor Award in 1953.  While the winner of that year award Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark, is mostly forgotten by contemporary readers, Charlotte's Web has withstood the test of time and is still enjoyed by children and adults.
     Movies have been made based on this heartwarming classic being my favorite the Hannah Barbera's animated version of 1973.  To me it is the best for it followed very closely the plot of the story.
    This novel presents the friendship of two very unlikely pair- a spider and a pig.  Charlotte is a very secure spider with an extraordinary linguistic ability who befriends Wilbur,  a very insecure and scared pig who has been separated from Fern who he had considered his protector and friend.  It is Charlotte who teaches Wilbur the true meaning of life and even saves him from death.
     Charlotte never abandoned Wilbur and kept her promise to save his life. And when her cycle of life was near an end, she never faltered or lamented her fate teaching children and adult as well to accept  life and value what we have.  It also teaches that true friendship doesn't end in death, for still after years of Charlotte's physical absence, she was still greatly remembered by Wilbur.
    My favorite lines are the closing which summarizes the essence of true friendship within these unforgettable characters.  The novel ends “It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer." And Charlotte was both.to Wilbur
     I received a copy of this novel after I completed by undergraduate studies.  It was a gift from a very special friend.  A friend who like Charlotte has helped me in times of need, quietly, but always keeping her promises.  It has been a friendship that has grown throughout the years into a sisterhood where our children are seen as family members and not the children of two good friends.
     Many books written for children and young adults present the different facets of friendship.  So instead of eating chocolates or placing plush toys in a long forgotten place after the 14th and even after the flowers have withered, a good book will withstand the trials of time.  This month read a book that reflects the beauty of friendship or love.
     What book would you read in this month of friendship and love?

Epigram- UPR Ponce Newsletter

     The English Department of the University of Puerto Rico Ponce has just launched its newsletter titled Epigram.  This newsletter includes the work of faulty and students and others members from this institution.

    It was a great pleasure reading this newsletter that includes articles of professors' academic experience with their courses such as ' "Take What You Need Experiment' " which focused on what values the UPR Ponce community believe are the ones they most need.  Other colleagues shared their experiences with their courses and Service Learning in ecology and animal rescue.

     Also an article presenting Prof. Hannia Y. Lao and Prof. Puer Angeli LeCompte educational trip to Ghana appears in this newsletter.  I have had the the pleasure of sharing with these colleagues first in the NUY summer Network in 2007 and recently at UPR Rio Piedras where both pursue graduate studies in Caribbean studies.

     Students collaborated with original poems, essays and creative writing.  Even the Laboratory Technician shared her artistic talent with a beautiful painting titled "Senderos".

    Reading the newsletter was a gratifying experience.  Just today I shared with my students of Introduction to Literature II the poetry section with Langston Hughes poem " The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and the interesting analysis done by a student of UPR Ponce.  

     I congratulate the English faculty of the University of Puerto Rico Ponce for this first issue of Epigram and will look forward to reading the following issues.  Those that have received copies of this newsletter through their  upr.edu email should read this newsletter that has shown how faculty, students and all members of the UPR Ponce campus have joined together to share their talents, creativity and accomplishments.

Library Committee 2013 Resolution

     After months without any post, "The Owl's Bookshelf" has opened a new chapter in the blog.  We have returned with many goals that we wish to accomplish.  And our first priority is the continue posting  again the committee's activities as well as relevant information about library services and my favorite topic- books.

     Before presenting our 2013 resolution, I want to thank the committee members Dr. Aida Caceres and Prof. Artemio Peñalbert for their support in accomplishing the goals of this committee.

     And here is our list of the 2013 resolution:

• Continue weekly posts in the blog
• Continue conducting surveys related to the library services our BA students benefit from as well as those used by our faculty
• Conduct a formal research of the resources available and needed for a BA course.
• Develop activities where the community can benefit of the library services and activities developed by the library committee
• Provide updated bibliography of the resources that faculty members can use in their courses.
• Create activities that promote the enjoyment of reading books.

I know these and many other goals will be reached for the chair has the priviledge of having excellent team of committee members.
     In the following days before the year 2013 is celebrated, "The Owl's Bookshelf" will have special posts of past activities that occurred this semester that had not been shared.  Beginning next week we will be walking down the memory lane.
     In the meantime, the Library Committee wishes you a very special season full of blessings, health and joy to you and your loved ones.