Description
July 31-August 2nd, 2020
Post-conference workshops on Monday, August 3rd (“Low Prep-High Success with Justin Slocum Bailey and Elementary strategies with Allison Litten and Elissa McLean. More info coming soon).
Brattleboro, Vermont
At Express Fluency’s classroom at 12 Flat Street and also 118 Elliot Street
Over the course of these three days you will:
♦ Observe master teachers teaching language classes. You also have the option in being a student in these classes.
♦ Engage in hands-on workshops in the afternoons. (Options for beginner and experienced comprehensible-input based teachers.)
♦ Gain confidence in your ability to teach delightfully engaging classes that get your students understanding and speaking your language with ease (with limited planning time required of you!)
♦ Connect with a new group of friends and colleagues to support you in your coming school year and beyond.
Our presenters:
We are delighted to be working with an another amazing group of presenters this summer!
La Maestra Loca, AKA Annabelle Williamson, will be joining us from New Orleans, LA
Justin Slocum Bailey of Indwelling Language joins us from Ann Arbor, MI
Allison Litten, 2019 Vermont Teacher of the Year joins us from Norwich, VT
and
Elissa McLean, founder of Express Fluency
Get graduate-level credit
Graduate-level credit is available through the University of the Pacific for an additional fee of $62/credit and writing 3-page paper per credit. We will provide you with the credit forms at the conference. For University credit questions/information please contact Dr. Lifson, University of the Pacific , Program Coordinator, 800 479 1995. See below for course titles you can choose from. Get more info here.
Visiting from out of town?
The Latchis hotel is right around the corner from the workshop and we will reserve a block of rooms. Please call them directly to book a room (802) 254-6300. There are also many AirBnB options in town. No car? You can take the train to Brattleboro and from there everything conference-related is walking distance.
Looking for a roommate? We can send you a link to a Google Doc after you register to help you connect with others looking to share a room or local teachers happy to host you.
Airport: The closest airport is Bradley near Hartford, CT.
Brattleboro is a great small town in southern Vermont. Great restaurants, trails, and an overall fun atmosphere.
Please note: The conference this year is being held in different buildings in the neighborhood. Ideally participants will enjoy walking, or will plan to have a vehicle to drive back and forth when necessary.
Testimonials
Read what past teacher participants from have to say.
Pricing:
$350- Early Bird!!! Register by April 1st!
$375- Register by June 1st
$395-Register after June 1st
Post-conference workshops with Justin Slocum Bailey and Allison Litten and Elissa McLean: $75 for teachers participating in the 4-day workshop. $125 for post-conference workshops only.
We accept Purchase Orders from schools.
Cancelation Policy: If you cancel for any reason, you will be assessed a cancellation fee based on the date when you cancel: On or before July 1, 2019 – $50 per person. No refunds after July 1.
For more information:
Contact Express Fluency
Elissa McLean, [email protected]
Or call 802-275-2694
Watch our 5-minute video compilation from our 2017 teacher workshop.
University of the Pacific courses you can get credit for:
- P EDU 9000: Practicum for Development of Instructional Activities (1-3)
- P EDU 9001: Developing New Learning Activities Practicum (1-3)
- P EDU 9002: Developing Hands-On Activities to Enhance Learning Strategies (1-3)
- P EDU 9003: Learning Activities and Environment Practicum (1-3)
- P EDU 9004: New Curriculum Idea/Materials Development Practicum (1-3)
- P EDU 9005: Developing Learning Activities Through Hands-On Learning (1-3)
- P EDU 9006: Curriculum Development Through Special Projects(1-3)
- P EDU 9007: Curriculum Enhancement Through Special Projects (1-3)
- P EDU 9008: Developing New Ideas in Education Practicum (1-3)
- P EDU 9009: Activities to Accelerate Learning (1-3)
- P EDU 9010: Curriculum Enrichment Activities (1-3)
- P EDU 9011: Creative Projects for the Classroom (1-3)
- P EDU 9012: Teaching Objectives with Hands-On Activities (1-3)
- P EDU 9013: Hands-On Activities to Strengthen Learning (1-3)
- P EDU 9014: Creating Practical Strategies and Ideas (1-3)
- P EDU 9289: Focus with Topics to Accelerate Learning (1-6)
- P EDU 9401: Developing Motivating Instructional Projects (1-3)
- P EDU 9085: Enhancing Curriculum with Learning Activities (1-3)
- P EDU 9087: Expanding Today’s Curriculum with Teacher Made Activities (1-3)
- P EDU 9199: Multi-Sensory Activities & Development (1-3)
- P EDU 9088: Adapting Curriculum Through Teacher-made Projects/Activities (1-3)
- P EDU 9467: Language Arts Creativity Practicum (1-3)
Carmen –
I learned so much about TPR and TPRS in three days thanks to Express Fluency. By participating in the classes as a student and then as an observer, I was able to witness firsthand the language learning process and later reflect on the method with other language educators. All three teachers were phenomenal: clear, organized, and engaging. I also appreciated the warm classroom environment, especially when participants were given the opportunity to try out the method on each other. Thank you!
Claire Lefferts –
I am so glad I attended Express Fluency’s Latin teacher training and stayed an extra day to participate as a student in the French class! Justin ignited his Latin class and demonstrated so many TPRS skills for us to learn. During teacher debriefs it was wonderful to discuss with other teachers the application of this method to our beloved ‘dead’ language, with all the expectations that are placed on Latin teachers. During the French class, I was able to get a taste of being on the other said as Sabrina utilized the same techniques with her own personal variations. Being able to both watch and then participate was crucial, because I now understand not only the techniques being employed but what it feels like to be the student. This will affect how I interact with my students and make sure I’m maintaining comprehensibility. I must also add that Elissa was a great facilitator, available for questions and offering resources to us. For three days I was in a great community. I hope to be able to attend next year to continue to develop my CI and TPRS skills.
Johnny Lee Conroy –
The teacher training was an exciting introduction to TPRS and a community of learners and teachers. Being able to experience it as a student, and then review that experience with other teachers was a brilliant way to internalize the theory and practice. Shortly after the training I had the chance to try out the methodology in a week-long language class that I taught. My students knew something new and exciting was going on and they were engaged and energized. We all had a great time, and learned some Irish to boot.
Learning the methodology works regardless of the language you teach. In my case it’s Irish (one of the Gaelic tongues) and it has proven to be immediately applicable, even though most of the literature, examples and other written resources are demonstrated using Spanish, French or Mandarin.
I am fortunate to live in Brattleboro where I have easy access to the Express Fluency gang. I’m very much looking forward to where we go with this.
Joy Wilson –
This past spring, I observed another language teacher use TPRS/CI and instantly wanted to use it in my classroom, but didn’t know where to begin. Luckily, I found Express Fluency! I attended the August teacher training and was astounded at how much Spanish I knew after the first day. The method is fun, engaging, and teaches you without actually realizing you are learning. All the trainers were wonderful and so helpful. I also thoroughly enjoyed the methodology part of the training. It gave me the confidence to integrate TPRS on day 1 of the new school year. I highly recommend Express Fluency for teachers and students alike!
Victoria Heflin –
I had seen and read about the TPRS and comprehensible input method of foreign language teaching, and was interested in the weekend program. It was incredible to me how much Spanish I learned and was actually able to use on just day one! Our classroom was filled with people from all different backgrounds, all ages, together in one comfortable learning community. All of the teachers at Express Fluency are amazing and it is obvious from the first minute that they love what they do. During the teacher training portion of the program, they practiced with us and answered all of our questions. There is no doubt that they are excited to bring the TPRS/CI method to as many teachers as possible!
The weekend was so energizing for me as a French teacher! I have been able to share this enthusiasm with my students and have been using TPRS/CI ever since. My students report that they are having fun, look forward to more stories and that I should “keep it up!” I will definitely be looking into more training at Express Fluency.
Viviana Hardy –
I learned about CI/TPRS last summer when I was desperately looking for a different way to teach Spanish to my 8th grade students. I read all I could find but needed some face-to-face training. That’s when I came across Express Fluency and Elissa. What a find! I participated in the weekend program in August and the Follow-Up Workshop in the fall. The teacher training allowed me to experience firsthand what my students must feel when confronted with a new language, when I was a student in Sabrina’s French class. And I had the chance to observe Elissa and Laurie using the same techniques (movie-talk, readers-theater, etc) with their own personal touches in their Spanish classes. The Follow-Up Workshop was an excellent opportunity to learn and share experiences with other language teachers as well as to learn and practice new and known techniques. Both experiences were awesome and left me feeling energized and if not ready (lots of trepidation as to “will I be able to pull it off”) to try it out on my students.
I can report that this school year has been a totally different experience for me and my students. They are spontaneously trying to speak Spanish both in class and outside. They are having fun and acquiring the language without even realizing they are doing so.
I highly recommend Express Fluency teacher training.
Heather Way –
WOW. What a productive and invigorating week! This is one of the best teacher trainings I’ve done and I would highly recommend it. I’ve never been so excited to get back into the classroom in the fall so I can start implementing some of the techniques I gleaned during this training week. To see master teachers in action was a privilege. I hope I can attend this workshop in the future.
Jeronimo Garrigues –
What a wonderful experience was to participate in this teachers training! Being able to observe a real classroom situation and then being able to talk about the different techniques was very enriching and, one week later, I am still trying to absorb/learn all that I experienced during this workshop. The presenters showed a clear understanding and gave clear steps about how to teach a language using Comprehensible Input. Beyond that, they showed a deep commitment to excel in what they do and a deep respect and care for the students. Very inspiring! I encourage all language teacher to attend a workshop. There is so much to assimilate that I am planning to be there next time! THANK YOU!
Megan Hughes –
I had a tremendous time at the teacher training last week. It was inspiring. I really appreciate the time and effort that was put into organizing such a well run conference and I especially appreciate the speakers you recruited to present. I attended Dustin, Annabelle and Justin’s sessions. all were beyond inspiring as well as generous and smart. and my daughter loved the language classes. I am excited to start my school year after such a great training provided by Express Fluency.
Adriana C. –
I have been practicing Ci for a while but I still found so many useful things this week, from how to organize my classes to become better at PQA, slowing down and teaching CI to upper levels. Also, what it was more relevant to me to me was that this conference was small enough that you could ask many questions to the presenters and you will run into them in the dining hall so it felt very cozy and that you connect to them. The sample classes in the morning gave you a true glimpse and what the flow of a real classroom could be. I brushed up on my French and learn some Latin. Papae!!!
Rachel Kirtley –
This conference is wonderful! It is small enough to feel like a real community, but large enough to attract truly masterful teachers. I feel so lucky to have been able to observe and learn from some of the best language teachers in the country at this conference. I have attended this conference twice now (once in 2017, and this year in 2019), and both times I have returned home reinvigorated for a new school year, and confident in my skills as a language teacher. Thank you!