“A New Direction in Working
with Native Speakers”

Friday, 9:30am to 10:30am

Keith Folse is professor of TESOL at the University of Central Florida. He is the author of the successful GREATs writing series by Cengage and has taught all skill areas in the US and abroad for many years and is currently involved in establishing a new TEFL program for undergraduate students who want to see the world through TESOL.

“Refugee Students: Hopes and Challenges”

Saturday 10:00am to 11:15am
River City Brunch in the Port & Windward

Hiram Ruiz is the Director of Refugee Services in the Florida Department of Children and Families. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Ruiz holds a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University.  He worked as a social worker in both England and Scotland, as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Somalia and the Sudan. He spent 16 years as a senior policy analyst with the U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), a private, Washington, D.C.-based refugee advocacy and public information group. He was a staff writer for USCR’s World Refugee Survey and Refugee Reports, has written more than 20 publications, spoken at numerous national and international conferences and testified before Congressional Committees.

“Building the Bridge from Accuracy to Fluency”

Saturday 1:30pm to 2:45pm

Rob Jenkins is an associate professor of ESL at Santa Ana College’s Centennial Education Center. He holds an MS in TESOL from California State University at Fullerton, which is supported by more than 20 years in the English language classroom. Rob is the Professional Development Coordinator of his school. He is one of the two authors of Stand Out: Standards –based English, Grammar Challenge, and Reading and Writing Challenge published by Heinle ELT, Cengage.  His other publications include the Heinle Picture Dictionary Lesson Planner and ELT Advantage online course entitled Practical Ideas for the Adult ESL/EFL Classroom. Rob has also worked closely with TESOL and helped develop the publication introducing the Standards for Teachers of ESL/EFL Teachers of Adults.  Rob has won several awards including the Distinguished Faculty Award for Santa Ana College in 2008.

“Building the Bridge from Accuracy to Fluency”

Saturday 1:30pm to 2:45pm

Staci Johnson has taught all levels of adult ESL, including credit, non-credit, and workplace English.    She holds an MA in Linguistics with a Teaching ESL Certificate from California State University at Long Beach, which is supported by more than 12 years in the English language classroom. She is one of the two authors of Stand Out: Standards –based English, Grammar Challenge, and Reading and Writing Challenge published by Heinle ELT, Cengage.  Her passions are teacher training and curriculum development, both of which she does on a continual basis.