2005 Joint PSMLA / Millersville University Conference
Combined '05 Conference a Success in "Amish Country"
by Virginia Burke
On Friday and Saturday, October 28 and 29, 2005, the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center in Lancaster, PA was the site of the 2005 PSMLA/40th Annual Millersville University In-Service Conference. Over 150 attendees chose from 24 sessions over the two-day period. Friday also featured a special half hour session on Standards and Assessment hosted by PSMLA during which teachers were given a free copy of the PSMLA Standards and Guide to Assessment : What to Teach and How to Test It.
The conference theme, "World Languages: Promoting Peace for the Next Generation" was reflected in keynote speeches and several of the sessions. Friday's keynote speaker, Mr. Bruce Heckman, founder of"Immerge," a company which works with individuals preparing to live and work in Arab countries, shared his experiences from the 20 years he spent living and raising his family in the Middle East. He emphasized the importance of becoming an insider in order to understand another person's world view. He and his wife also presented a session in which attendees were able to ask specific questions about how he and his family integrated into the Arab culture.
Special activities available to teachers on Friday included a tour and demonstration of Millersville University's new Media Center ; a buffet dinner at Ten Thousand Villages, an enterprise which provides an outlet for crafts and products from underdeveloped countries ; and a dinner at an Amish farm. A wine and cheese reception gave participants an opportunity to network with colleagues and have a chance to win language related prizes in
a language Tombola. Practical teaching materials and treasures brought back from trips abroad were given away and one lucky teacher even won a trip to France!
Saturday's keynote speaker, Dr. Kirsten Bookmiller, Director of International Affairs at Millersville University, reminded the audience of the importance of the work language teachers do in the classroom every day and emphasized the need for World Languages in the curriculum in order to develop well rounded students. In her speech entitled "The Limits of my Language are the Limits of my World", Dr. Bookmiller highlighted secondary
school programs which are taking World Languages out of the classroom and opportunities for study abroad on the university level. The Children's Choir of Lancaster comprised of singers from 4th, 5th and 6th grades from
local schools, delighted the audience with 3 songs, one each in Hebrew, French, and Latin.
The following PSMLA Awards were given at Saturday's luncheon :
Merit Award to Manheim Township School District for their Spanish Immersion Program
Merit Award to the York Twinning Club for their long-running exchange programs with cities in France and Germany
Post Secondary Educator of the Year Award to Dr. Marilyn Conwell of Rosemont College.
In addition, Saturday featured a second round of the popular Tombola as well as the annual PSMLA Business Meeting conducted by President Thekla Fall. For details, see the Minutes of this meeting on the PSMLA website.
Attendees gave the '05 Conference Committee great feedback which will be kept in mind in planning future conferences. Among the many positive comments about the experience were:
"Powerful tools to take back to the school district reinforcing need for World Languages."
"Very interesting, useful, and an overall excellent conference!"
"Lots of ideas, good exhibits, connected with colleagues!"
"I learned a lot about the state organization and got great ideas."
"Thank you for all the work in planning such a nice event."
Make plans to be with us in Erie in October, 2006 and in King of Prussia in the Fall of 2007 to continue the great PSMLA Conference experience!