National Network for Early Language Learning

>> Participant Comments <<
	Participant Survey Comments
	Institute Evaluations: Reflection Sheets
	Return to Summer Institute Page

NNELL 2007 Summer Institute Evaluations: Reflection Sheets
1. New Ideas I Have Gotten:
How important “informal” advocacy is; finding out where people are before trying to change their ideas; moving one step at a time. Strategies to improve my mentoring skills Taking a step back to reflect and to look at things from a different perspective New technology that I can use now and newer ideas to look for in the future Ways to network Ways to think through ideas and to make changes More help on how to think about leadership and how to lead. More tech possibilities for leading and learning. I liked hearing about programs around the US. It is very interesting to see what other people do. Too many to list! Techonology, Leadership, Design NADSFL is an organization I should join for the direction in which my district is heading. Wikispaces. Techniques and skills for advocating, becoming an inspired leader and advocate for early language learning. Self-awareness of personal style and that of others. Syntax- Terry’s comments. Family survey from Ginny. Interactive Science notebook from Paula’s presentation. I have got so many great new ideas… I’m not sure where to start, but I will be reading the Wikispaces site. Technology, classroom implementations, leadership roles. Technology! Wikispaces! Better understanding of steps to take for advocacy in district, school as well as state. Ways to encourage others to advocate, also! How to reach more efficiently some reluctant parents/administrators. How to better organize my thoughts on what to teach and how to teach it… and MUCH MORE! Wikispaces- I think this will be even better than email for the teachers in my department. Use technology to network with colleagues to advocate for new members. Consider “perspective” in relationships, curriculum design and lesson implementation. Lots of technology that I can use immediately!
2. Questions That Have Been Raised In My Mind:
I need to role play more How can I be a better leader for change in my school? What are the BEST ways to communicate with parents, taxpayers, and others/ I have ideas and info, but I am searching for something.. I’m outside the box right now and I have not formed my idea completely, yet. I can’t really put it into words yet. How to use the above to bring about positive change for ELL in Ohio. How do I find enough parents to get a world language parent organization? I’m sure I will think of some soon! What procedural steps are necessary to increase membership in NNELL? How can we increase NNELL’s financial independence to assure ongoing professional development for state and regional reps? How can I share the information at my local level? I wonder if our Wikispaces will be actively visited by the outside community. This data will be interesting and would have an impact on the public’s perception of early language learning. I wonder how we can keep this great momentum we started here this weekend sustained over the coming years for NNELL and the public perception of NNELL. Is there any way to keep the amazing Terry down? I am amazed by her energy despite a leg injury and Lyme’s Disease diagnosis. How can I empower my students? How can I change my vision and view for my classroom? Check state organizations to see which one I can hook up with to have the state NNELL event/breakfast/swapshop. Do I really do all I can to promote and advocate for ELL in the most efficient ways? Do I really do my best as a French teacher in class? How can I better address the perspectives when I teach culture? How can I “modify” my color to meet the needs of others in my school? Am I going to be able to remember enough of this in order to implement it? What are my strengths as a leader?
3. Actions I Am Going to Take:
Will contact local pre-schools that offer world language and private/parochial schools and inform them about the benefits of NNELL. Review the Wikispaces site Get a minimum of 5 new members of NNELL for Terry! Better electronic communication and networking in state and US. Work on a parent support group. Offer a workshop in October with NNELL membership as a requirement to attend. Contact Ohio NNELL members and provide info about institute- ask for input into recruiting new members. Practice using the new technology and the NNELL Wikispaces and Delicious sites! Talk and meet with new WV Foreign Language State Coordinator and discuss future of world languages in WV Preparing session at WVFLTA 2007 and workshop for spring 2008 Explore using new technology. Too many to mention! Steps toward more fully answering the question, “What can NNELL do for me?” Contact NILA about fall conference; join NADSFL; contact State Dep’t of Ed for list of schools involved in I-NELL grant in state and try to get all to sign up for an institutional membership in NNELL. Advocate for ELL at MN and NELL State Fairs. Sponsor a NNELL breakfast and swapshop at MCTLC conference. Begin to use the Wikispace site to give ideas and post images. Send J. David Edwards examples of student work. Begin using Delicious. Hopefully, taking this back to MT and getting some things rolling! Use new resources that will push me out of the box more and use the research to enhance my teaching styles. Being more proactive in keeping in touch with IL NNELL members, now that I have a better understanding of resources available. Contact all local private/public schools that offer ELL. Contact personally all new members of NNELL. Encourage our cell to be one with NNELL again. I am going to reread the Lipman & Wellmen book on mentoring before I get a new mentee this fall. I will look into Wiki for advocacy opportunities. I am going to look through del.icio.us for mor information. Make effort to check NNELL and other collaborative sites on a regular basis. Complete the action plan; gather list of contacts for increased NNELL membership; pledge to contribute to the joint body of knowledge; write up the “What’s New” in Colorado.
4. Feelings I Have Experienced:
That I indeed can become a leader! Leadership comes with personal change.” I am a little anxious and excited at the same time. Excitement over helpful info, resources, and connections Training for a new person in NNELL leadership Energized- a bit overwhelmed with all the new tech possibilities. Happy to network with colleagues. Glad to be a part of this vibrant organization. Happy face! Overwhelmed, excited Validation, challenge, renewed vision Overwhelmed at all that needs to be done. Joy for the opportunity to spend time getting to know leaders in the field of early language learning. Empowerment; excitement over the possibilities of all the new technology we may be able to integrate into our teaching. Support of dedicated colleagues. Comraderie with NNELL membership- priceless! WOW! This has been great. Now I just need to sift through all of the info I have received! Great! What a treat to see others doing the same things and having the opportunity to share. Empowerment! Excited about the energy at the institute. Excitement, curiosity, feeling of being among people who actually understand and share what it means to be a foreign language teacher. VERY SATISFYING AND ENCOURAGING! Wow! I was inspired not only by Cherice but by my fellow participants. Great encouragement as I hear about the triumphs and challenges of others’ programs. Excitement, anticipation, appreciation, welcome, expectation, and challenge.
COMMENTS:
This workshop has completely changed how I feel about assuming a leadership role and advocating for languages. I feel much more confident and know what topics I need to familiarize myself with to fulfill these tasks properly. Thank you so much for everything! This was a wonderful conference! The information was incredible and coincides with what we are trying to do in our new school building! Gracias, gracias y gracias for this opportunity that you have afforded me! Cherice, thank you for your encouragement and invaluable information! WOW! Thanks for all! Thanks! The workshop focused a lot on mentoring, but I feel that the leadership part was too traditional and short. Some technology parts were not really connected to the topic. The “What’s New in Your State?” part could be longer (it was 2 hours in length). I feel that the evaluation form could be improved and maybe anonymous. Great workshop! Danke! Cherice responded professionally and collegially to every demand placed upon her from NNELL regarding this institute. I am delighted at the response of our state and regional reps to her presentation. This has been a wonderful opportunity to network. I have enjoyed meeting and exchanging ideas with everyone. I have been in need of a mentor, being the only one in my district involved in early language learning. I feel that now I have a huge group of mentors I can rely on. This workshop was an inspiration! It was so well crafted and the technology so carefully integrated throughout the three days. It was so gratifying that our requests from last year’s institute were acknowledged and implemented. I can’t wait to implement the new ideas (technology, advocacy and mentoring) I gleaned. Muchas gracias por todo! Thanks so much for the opportunity of this great conference! This was a great chance to meet new people and collect new ideas. I feel I didn’t get as much time to swap ideas with everyone. Glad to be a part of NNELL! Thank you for all that was done to make this so successful! This is my first time, and I LOVED IT! I feel that I am coming back to Indiana much more prepared and energized. THANK YOU! So much information in so little time! I think the Wiki page will help us carry on with what we started. I believe both this and the action plan will keep the momentum going. How can we make sure that the plans are carried out? Can the state reps’ plans be shared with the regional reps so that they can touch base later to encourage the continued work on those plans? Jean can touch base with the regional reps on theirs. This would give another opportunity for support and connection through the network. We received great chunks of information that will take time to analyze and process. Saturday was almost overwhelming. Not every presenter was well-prepared on Sunday. On mentoring, leadership and change, we received so many dots that at times, connecions were fuzzy. I am sorry that I have missed the institute in the past- I’ve enjoyed it and found it tremendously rewarding. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Overall Institute Rating: (17 evaluation forms received)
Superior			Poor
5	4.5	4	3	2	1
14	1	2