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ISSUE
01 February
2014
QUARTERLY
NEWSLETTER
of
The Belize TESOL
In This Issue:
Launching of Belize TESOL P.2
Belize TESOL’s Progress P.3
Launching of Kaina OHS in Belize P.4
Registration Form P.5
Dr. Udz’s Doctoral Abstract P.6
Dr. Udz’s Professional Background P.7
Dr. Enriquez’s Doctoral Abstract P.8
Dr. Enriquez’s Professional Background P.9
A TESOL In-Class Writing Activity P. 10
Belize is a nation of
diverse cultures and
languages. English, Belize’s
official language and the
language of instruction is a
legacy left behind by British
colonizers. As a result, English
is mostly spoken in formal
settings. Kriol is the lingua
franca, but there are many
Spanish speakers, there are
various Mayan languages,
Garifuna, Mandarin, Low
German and others.
Consequently, over ninety-five
percent of our students are
ELLs. This phenomenon has
serious implications for our
students’ spoken and written
English at the pre-school,
primary, secondary, and even
tertiary levels. It is time
educators become sensitive to
this situation and take a
proactive approach to this
issue.
— Erica Aguilar
Exploring new ways to teaching English language learners (ELLs) ...
2
Launching of the Belize TESOL Association
Ms. Ethnelda Paulino and Mr. Amilcar
Umaña launching the Belize TESOL
Association at the UB Gymnasium.
I am pleased to announce that the Belize
TESOL Association was launched on Thursday,
March 24, 2013. This very important event took
place during the annual Education Week
sponsored by the University of Belize’s Faculty of
Education and Arts. The launching of Belize
TESOL coincided with the first ever University of
Belize Story Telling Festival (which I
organized). The launching was officially done by
Mr. Amilcar Umaña, the deputy mayor of
Belmopan, who is himself a teacher. Present at
this event was the Governor General of Belize,
Dr. Colville Young, a former educator, who would
have it no other way, as he wanted to be present
for this occasion.
I thank Dr. Priscilla Lopez, the interim Dean
of the Faculty of Education and Arts and the
University of Belize’s Office of Public Information
(OPI) for providing venues, and other expenses
for the launching and for the first meeting. Mr.
Emil Pulido and other colleagues have been avid
supporters and for that, I am grateful. That’s as
far as BelizeTESOL has gotten and as things
develop, I will keep you informed.
Yours in Education,
Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino
Story Telling Pictures Below...
3
The Belize TESOL Association’s
Progress Since the launch of the association, I convened a meeting on June 19, 2013. At the meeting, there
were representations from several key organizations. Among those present were Mrs. Gwen Nunez
Gonzales, education officer from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Mrs. Dativa Martinez from Young
Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Mr. Louis Wade from PLusTV and teachers from several schools
in the Belmopan Area, as well as some NOVA TESOL graduates.
The meeting was quite interactive. I spoke about ways the Belize TESOL and the Central American
and Caribbean Group (CA and CB Group) could impact the lives of Belizean teachers and students. Dr.
Alberita Enriquez used an activity to generate discussion on the effects of sheltered instruction on the
achievement of limited English proficiency students. Dr. Silvaana Udz, gave an overview of the
approaches (depending on a schools’ location and language community) that can be used in lieu of those
which we have been using, and are no longer effective. At that time 78 educators expressed interest in
this association. A twelve (12) member working committee was also formed. Since then, the following
officers have been elected: President, Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino; Vice President, Dr. Rita Enriquez;
Treasure, Mrs. Margaret Enriquez; Secretary, Mr. Emil Pulido; Zone Managers, Mrs. Tritia Stuart, Mr.
Armin Cowo, Dkta Silvaana Udz and Newsletter Editor/Organizer Mrs. Erica Aguilar. Because of the
geographical layout of Belize, we decided that in order to target the entire country, we will have a
northern, central, southern and western zone.
Some very important people have been instrumental in helping to make Belize TESOL get this far. I
am grateful for all the support I got from the following people: Mr. Ulrich (Uli) Schrader who shouldered the
responsibility of inviting me to interact with the TESOL community, and for inviting me to the MEXTESOL
Convention.
Yours in Education,
Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino
Ms. Ethnelda Paulino, Dr. Alberita Enriquez and Dr. Silvanna Udz at the first
Belize TESOL Association meeting (left to right).
First Belize TESOL Association meeting held at the UB Jaguar Building; over
thirty educators, at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, were present.
4
Launching of KAINA in Belize
Ms. Ethnelda Paulino founder of
Kaina
Dr. Alberita Enriquez cofounder of
Kaina
Kaina Online High School is the first online high school of Belize.
It is the brainchild of Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino. The name, Kaina is
the name of the founder’s mother. Dr. Rita Enriquez is the co-founder
of the Kaina Online High School.
Kaina Online High School will offer courses taught in regular high
schools. It requires internet access. It will, for example eliminate the
expenses of purchasing costly foot wear, uniforms, and providing
money for transportation, lunch, and books. It will offer the four years
of high School; upon successful completion, a person will earn a high
school diploma, thereby enabling that person to access college and
university education.
The school accepts persons who want to do four years of high
school and persons who wish to complete high school. For example, if
someone successfully completed 2nd form, then he /she will be
accepted into 3rd form and so on. Such a person needs to submit a
high school transcript. A prospective form one student needs to submit
his/her last report card or Primary School leaving Certificate.
KAINA will prepare students for CXC if they opt to take those examinations, and it will prepare the
students for ATLIB. Kaina Online will also offer electives like agriculture, clothing and textiles, as well as
non-traditional subjects like grooming (barbering, pedicure, manicure, hair processing).
There will be a Face to Face orientation in order to teach students how to work online. Teachers will
chat online, accept calls, text messages, and e-mails, as we progress. They will also require a few Face to
Face Sessions as the need arises and when students request it.
The registration fee is a non-refundable 25BZD per year and the fees are $300 per semester. A
student can pay the 300.00 in full or pay $350.00 in installments. Each year, there will be two semesters.
This is the plan. We decided that we need at least 10 students per class. So, you are free to invite
others to apply. Although we intend to start later this month we may even begin a little later since it takes a
while for new ideas to catch on. The good thing about online is that we can begin anytime.
Yours in Education,
Ethnelda Ramirez Paulino
5
Belize TESOL Association’s
Registration Form
6
Belizean Doctoral
Abstracts
7
Dr. Silvaana Udz’s
Professional Background
Silvaana Udz is an Assistant Professor at the
University of Belize (UB) and an active promoter of the
Belize Kriol language and culture.
She lectures in English, Kriol Studies, Education, and
Communication courses at UB, at the Belize City campus.
She also has served in the past as the university’s Public
Information Office.
Silvaana completed her doctoral degree with Nova
Southeastern University in May, 2012. Her Ed.D. in Higher
Education was attained via a blended online and onsite
instruction. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Language
Education from Indiana University (1987) and a Bachelor’s
Degree in English from Biscayne College (1981), as well
as diplomas and certificates in Mass Communication,
Radio Production, and Television Production from several
regional and international media training institutes and
organizations (1986 – 2004), including CARIMAC, at UWI
in Jamaica; CIESPAL in Ecuador; the International Institute
for the Training of Journalists in Budapest, Hungary; and
in Taipei, Taiwan.
Silvaana began her media career as a producer of a
radio show for children in the late 1970s in Belize and her
teaching career at the high school level in the early 1980s.
Today, she lecturers at the tertiary level and conducts
training for diverse audiences, also serving as a consultant
on various projects.
Directly complementing her work at the University of Belize, Silvaana conducts training workshops
and seminars in public relations, communication skills, English-as-a-Second Language methodology, and
Kriol language studies, the latter being her primary research interest.
She is a founding member of the National Kriol Council of Belize and has served as the secretary of
its literacy arm, the Belize Kriol Project, since its formation in the early 1993.
Dr. Silvaana Udz,
Assistant Professor at the University
of Belize (UB) and an active
promoter of the Belize Kriol
language
8
Belizean Doctoral
Abstracts
9
Dr. Alberita Enriquez’s
Professional Background
Dr. Alberita Enriquez, Educator
and Co-founder of Kaina Online
High School.
Rita Frances Enriquez nee Avila, formally known as
Alberita Frances Enriquez is an educator who hails from Punta
Gorda Town, Toledo District. Rita entered the teaching
profession in 1967 at the age of 16. She first began teaching in
Barranco and was later transferred to Punta Gorda. She
became a trained teacher in 1972 after graduating from the
then Belize Teachers’ College. However, her family,
including her husband, Lloyd Enriquez and three sons has
resided in Belmopan for at least thirty-eight years. During all
this time, she and her family through frequent trips have not
severed ties with her home district.
In Belmopan, She served as class teacher, and assistant
principal at Belmopan Junior School (now United Evergreen
Primary), and principal at the Belmopan Upper School, and
then Garden City Government Primary School. She has had
the privilege of serving in various professional organizations
including the National Teachers’ Union, Cayo Association of
Primary School Principals (CAPPS), Cayo District Educational
Council, and the National Garifuna Council-Belmopan Branch.
In 1995, she acquired a Bachelor’s Degree from the
University of the West Indies. In 2003, she was awarded a
Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a cognate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other
Languages (TESOL) from the University of North Florida.
Rita Enriquez is founder of the Lan Barangu Luban Garifunaduau translated, Barranco House of
Culture/Museum, in the Toledo District. It was established in November 15, 2005. The purpose of the
Barranco House of Culture Museum, is to educate young Garifuna youth of Barranco, and other interested
persons in Belize and abroad, about the vibrant Garifuna culture of Belize. In 2006, she was employed as
a lecturer at the University of Belize where she taught English courses including Advanced TESOL, and at
times supervised teachers on internship. In 2007, she became a doctoral candidate at the Nova South-
eastern University. She attained a doctoral degree in Education with concentrations in Higher Education
and Organizational Leadership in July, 2013. Alberita Enriquez is now co - founder of the first online high
school in Belize, Kaina Online High School and Vice President of BelizeTESOL, where she plans to offer
professional and dedicated service, as usual.
10
A TESOL In-Class Writing Activity As teachers, we need to find ways of ensuring success for our culturally and linguistically diverse students
and ensure that all of our students experience equal opportunities to learn. One such way is to encourage
students to write about topics that connect the students’ knowledge and experiences to the classroom.
Below is an example of a Geo Poem the students can be asked to write. It can be group work or
individually done, followed by recitation. This exercise can be adapted for all levels.
Geo Poem
(Name of country)
(Four adjectives – words or statements that describe the country)
Home of . . . (something that distinguishes it from other countries)
Neighbor of . . . (name at least three neighboring countries)
Who exports . . . (three items)
Who imports . . . (three items)
Who is proud of . . . (people, places, or characteristics)
Who celebrates . . . (name three holidays)
Whose flag is . . . (name the colors of the flag)
Member of . . . (continent in which it is found)
(Local name of country and a phrase to describe the origin of the name)
Reference: Scarborough Arzu, H. (Ed.). (2001). Writing across the curriculum in secondary schools:
Teaching from a diverse perspective. New Jersey, Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
Belize TESOL Association
QUARTERLY
NEWSLETTER
Issue 01, February 2014
Newsletter Editor/Organizer:
Erica Aguilar (hi.aguilar@hotmail.com)
To contact the Belize TESOL Association please call:
501-601-8081
501-632-2488