Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Felis Anu Nuebu Feliz Ano Nuevo





HAPPY NEW YEAR!












Felis Anu Nuebu (Cham0rro)
Feliz Ano Nuevo (Spanish)
Parakapw Mwahu (Pohnpei)
Ungil Becheserrak (Palau)
Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu (Japanese)
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (Hawaiian)
Sut dal kum mum (Korean)
Gung Hay Fat Choy (Chinese)
Chúc Mung Nam Moi (Vietnamese)

May the year 2009 bring you many blessings filled with much love, joy, peace, and happiness!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Using Graphic Organizers to Empower English Language Learners

ESL Presentation: Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera presented an ESL workshop titled, "Using Graphic Organizers to Empower English Language Learners," during the International Reading Association’s “Engaging English Language Learners in Literacy” Professional Development Day on October 11, 2008 at the Guam Marriott Resort and Spa. She received a certificate of appreciation from the organization in recognition of service and valuable contribution.

GPSS ELL/ESL Standards Cadre 2008 Presents at UOG's 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference

Members of the GPSS ELL/ESL Standards Cadre 2008 presented the Guam English Language Proficiency Standards at the University of Guam’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The cadre’s presentation titled Guam English Language Proficiency Standards (GELPS) introduced the English Language Standards that were developed for social, intercultural, and instructional purposes; language arts; mathematics; science; and social studies. The standards were developed to address the needs of GPSS English Language Learners, close the achievement gap for ELLs, and help ELLs attain English proficiency, or do the same for CHamoru Language Standards. An introduction of the Enhanced Assessment Grant (EAG) Project was also introduced to demonstrate the close relationship between the Standards and the EAG.

Cadre members who presented were Rosa Salas Palomo, Project Director/Coordinator of the Guam ESL Certification Plus Project; Zander David Refilong, Program Coordinator; Gene Dydasco, Education Specialist with the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL); Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, ESL Teacher/Coordinator with the Guam Public School System (GPSS) & adjunct professor for the Language and Literacy, TESOL, and Instructional Technology Programs & Department of English and Applied Linguistics at the University of Guam; Keith Juarez, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) teacher with GPSS; and Guadalupe (Faye) Camacho Kaible, school program consultant with GPSS. Among the audience members who attended the presentation were Maydelene C. Ganan-Flores and Risa Jade S. Miguel, administrative staff of the Micronesian Language Institute; Menang Diaz, GPSS State Program Officer; GPSS teachers Bobbie Manibusan, Dawn Maka, Cynthia Manibusan & Vina Johnson. Cadre members not pictured are Dr. Margo Gottlieb, LN494/G Instructor & Illinois Resource Center; Lucia C. Leon Guerrero, GPSS School Administrator; Chamoru teachers Teresita C. Flores, Cecilia C. Bermudes, Marilyn R. Perez, Roy M. Leon Guerrero, Jocelyn T.Santos, Rufina F. Mendiola; June E. Taitano from GPSS Special Education; Kirk S. Drygas from Project Hatsa; Dr. Jose Q. Cruz from the Guam Education Policy Board; GPSS ESL teachers, Lois Taitano Gumataotao, Lorena M. Montague, Priscilla C.T. Perez, Melissa R. Pablo, and Marife G. Fernandez.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Jumpstarting Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners


University of Guam School of Education professors presented at the university’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The professors’ presentation titled Jumpstarting Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners introduced the reader’s schema and its importance in comprehending, learning, and remembering ideas in stories and text.


Pictured L-R: Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds, conference keynote speaker and associate professor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in the departments of foreign languages and curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Dr. Catherine Stoicovy, Dr. Kelle Murphy, and Professor Julie Fee (sitting) from the University of Guam.

Using Internet Tools to Enhance ESL Instruction

Graduate students enrolled in ED638: Teaching with the Internet presented at the University of Guam’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The students’ presentation titled Using Internet Tools to Enhance ESL Instruction explored web sites aimed at enhancing ESL and content area instruction, writing, collaboration, professional development, instructional technology, website designing, blogging, and assessment.

Pictured L-R: Paul Sekine; Ceferino Duarosan Jr.; Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds, conference keynote speaker and associate professor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in the departments of foreign languages and curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; Kate Pappano; and Gregory Mamay.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

20th Annual Regional Language Arts Conference

Pictured L-R: International Reading Association officers Elizabeth Hamilton, Sandy Liberty and Tina Buendicho; Dr. Catherine Stoicovy and Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Language Arts Conference (LAC) Chairs. Not pictured is Dr. Clarisa Quan, LAC Chair.


The 20th Annual Regional Language Arts Conference was held last November 16 and 17, 2007 at the University of Guam and the Guam Marriott Resort and Spa. Its theme was “Enhancing Teacher Quality and Literacy in Multiple Ways.” The keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Underwood. The plenary speakers were Dr. John Sanchez and Dr. Chris Schreiner. The LAC was co-sponsored by the International Reading Association, Guam Council.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Preserving Guam’s Culture through Literature

Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera and Lois Taitano Gumataotao have written their cultural anthology titled Our Native Daughters' Reflection of Guam and Its People based on their personal experiences and research on Guam’s rich history. Pictured L-R: Gumataotao and Rivera.

Preserving Guam’s Culture through Literature

In an effort to preserve ideas, thoughts, and personal reflections of the island’s Chamorro culture, Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera and Lois Taitano Gumataotao formed the Korasón Organization to carry out cultural projects that they hold dear to their korasón, (Chamorro word for “heart”). With the support of the Guam Humanities Council, they were awarded a grant to complete their cultural anthology titled, Our Native Daughters’ Reflection of Guam and Its People.

They hope that you will enjoy their cultural anthology composed of poems they have written based on their personal experiences and research relative to the island’s history and its connection with the Guam community. A common identity we share with our Pacific Islanders is our rich oral society filled with plentiful stories, legends, and other important values shared throughout generations. This anthology will continue to preserve such stories. It is a resource one can read to learn more about Guam and its people, including its rich culture and the traditions that give us a better understanding, in creatively woven lines of poetry, ultimately resulting to meaningful connections fellow islanders share.

There are fifty seven cultural topics explored in the anthology, such as familia, fiesta, fishing, flores, funerals, Guahan, kelaguen, lancho, Latte stones, manamko, nana, tata, typhoons, weaving, and so much more.

Rivera, an ESL teacher/coordinator in the Guam Public School System and adjunct for the University of Guam, is the project director and co-author of the anthology. Gumataotao, who is also a GPSS ESL teacher/coordinator, serves as the traditional teacher and co-author for the project. The anthology project’s scholars include local authors Joaquin Nangauta Naputi and Marilyn Camacho Salas. Naputi, who is also an agriculturalist, has written books dating back to the 1970’s, including the Island of Guam Coloring Book and Island of Guam Cookbook. Salas has written books such as, Lepblo Para Tane’ Famagu’on I Isla: A Chamorro Interactive Book for Island Children and Chamorro Word Book.

The Korason Organization, in conjunction with the Guam Humanities Council, held a cultural exhibit on December 11, 2004 to showcase the anthology at the Hagåtña Public Library. Copies of the anthology were also provided to the Guam Humanities Council, Guam Public Library System, Micronesian Area Research Center, and the University of Guam’s RFK Library. The poems can also be viewed on Rivera’s PDN blog.

Rivera and Gumataotao hope that by reading their poems, you can grasp cultural identity from within yourself and be enlightened. They have reflected on their personal experiences, researched, and interviewed family and friends, to enable the people of Guam to better understand the island’s history, its cultural significance, and its social environments, through their eyes. Hence, the project’s title, Our Native Daughters’ Reflection of Guam and Its People. This anthology project is certainly a labor of love that they have committed themselves to, but it is well worth the time invested, especially knowing that it will serve as a cultural resource for generations to come.

Language and Literacy Book Fair

Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera and her ED642 students from the University of Guam's School of Education are pictured participating in the Language and Literacy Book Fair, with the theme, "Literature Around the World," held April 17 at the Guam Marriott Resort & Spa. From left: Brigida Agustin; Xylina Torres; R-Lynn Layson; Gemee-Lynn Escuadra; Dr. Rivera; Tressa Rose Cundiff; Rosemarie Castro; and Jennifer Concepcion. Not pictured is Amanda Quan.

Language and Literacy

Presentation: University of Guam Master's of Education students enrolled in the ED647 Special Topics in Language & Literacy and ED661 Second Language Theory and Development courses completed the semester on Dec. 1 with a presentation of their online LiveText portfolios and final self-reflections at the UOG Computer Center. The courses focus on literacy instruction, including selection of existing second language materials, adaptation of materials and development of original materials for use in a second language or bilingual classroom. From left: Vito Calvo; Mary Nolte; Dawn Maka; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; Lois Gumataotao; and Shuichi Ema.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

The Importance of Language

Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera speaks about the importance of language development at the University of Guam’s Annual Regional Language Arts Conference.



Language is Essential

By

Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera

Early language begins at birth. Children gradually gain proficiency in language at different stages. These stages are critical to language development, and are inclusive of specific domains. These domains -- listening, speaking, reading, and writing -- are essential, because it allows us to communicate ideas from one person to another.

As we enter the technology age, communication can also be done using e-mail, discussion boards, blogs, Listserv, video conferencing, and more. In fact, I’m using this blog tool to communicate with you, so that I can share ideas dealing with language.

In particular, I’d like to focus on the languages spoken in the Asian Pacific region. Asian Pacific Americans represent many different ethnic groups, each with their own language and culture. More specifically, here are some ways to say "Hello" in the respective different languages and locations:

LANGUAGE

WHERE THIS LANGUAGE

IS OFFICIALLY SPOKEN

HELLO GREETING

Chamorro

Guam, Saipan, Rota, Tinian

Hafa Adai

Tagalog

Philippines

Kumusta

Pohnpein

Pohnpei

Kaselehlie

Chuukese

Chuuk

Ran Annim

Kosraean

Kosrae

Tuwoh

Yapese

Yap

Mogethin

Palauan

Palau

Alii

Majel

Marshall Islands

Yokwe

Hawaiian

Hawaii

Aloha

Japanese

Japan

Konnichiwa

Korean

Korea

Anyounghaseyo

Mandarin

China

Ni hao

Taiwanese

Taiwan

Pengan

Thai

Thailand

Sawatdee

Vietnamese

Vietnam

Xin chao

Malaysian

Malaysia

Helo

Indonesian

Indonesia

Halo

Hindi

India

Namaste