Staff Language and
Culture Services
News and Updates
June 2009
Well, it’s been a long time, but we’ve been busy! Here is what is coming up for Staff Language and Culture Services:
- Check out our spring/summer newsletter! (Newsletter)
Highlights of this issue:
How to practice to improve English pronunciation,
Reasons why you may not be learning a language as fast as you would like, and
Resources for raising bilingual children.
- Do you need to practice your English conversation skills? If so, please join us for our Staff English Conversation Group!
East side: Second floor of the IMU, 1-2 pm on July 8, July 22, August 5, August 19, September 2.
West side: UIHC’s Atrium Conference Room E (take Elevator F to the 7th floor), 12:30-1:30 pm on June 30, July 14, July 21. - We are pleased to announce a new English or Spanish Achievement Certificate program for staff to start September 1, 2009!
- Make a 6-month commitment to work on your English or Spanish, both in classes and on your own schedule.
- Work on the skills you choose, such as: pronunciation, grammar, writing, workplace vocabulary, spelling, reading, and more.
- Decide when and how you will practice: Sign up for Learning & Development classes that fit your schedule, arrange for free private tutoring from our language teachers, or work with our staff to plan projects and practice that you can submit for hours of credit.
- Receive a free evaluation of your language level at the beginning and end of each 6-month study period.
- Attend an awards ceremony just for you!
- Get credit for how much you study! Certificates will be awarded to participants for:
- Copper level achievement—completion of 90 hours of approved practice in six months,
- Bronze level—115 practice hours in six months,
- Silver level—140 practice hours in six months,
- Gold level—165 practice hours in six months, or
- Platinum level—190 or more practice hours in six months.
- Upcoming cultural training with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity: “Accents in the Workplace and Education (AWE)”
A preliminary training for a select audience will be held: July 16th from 1-4 pm in 112 USB (AWE Program). To request attendance, please contact Jane Gressang at 335-5822 or jane-gressang@uiowa.edu or Doty Simpson-Taylor. The three trainings in the full AWE series will be held over the course of the 2009-2010 school year. Contact Jane Gressang or Doty Simpson-Taylor if you have questions, but more details will be released soon.
January 2009
January 1st is New Year’s Day in the solar/international calendar, and January 25th is New Year’s Day in the Lunar Calendar. So, what’s new with us in the New Year?
- A NEW NAME: Welcome to Staff Language and Culture Services (SLCS)! You may already know us as Cultural Linguistic Services, but we have recently changed our name to Staff Language and Culture Services. To better serve the UI community, our new name more accurately reflects who we serve and what we do.
- A NEW LIST-SERV: Also new this year is our listserv. Sign up to receive SLCS updates, cultural tips, newsletters, and information about upcoming events! Subscribe at http://list.uiowa.edu , select the CULTURE-LANGUAGE-SERVICES listserv, and click “Join.” You can also subscribe by emailing listserv@list.uiowa.edu and including the body text, “subscribe CULTURE-LANGUAGE-SERVICES yourfirstname yourlastname.”
- A NEW ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUP: We will host English Conversation Groups on the following Tuesdays in the UIHC Atrium Conference Room E from 12:30 to 1:30 pm: Feb. 24th, March 10th, March 24th, April 7th and April 21st. This event is open to all English Language Learning (ELL) staff looking to improve their English speaking and listening skills. Native-English speaking staff are encouraged to attend for an hour of conversation to get to know their ELL coworkers. Be sure to bring a sack lunch, or purchase one from the hospital dining room. Directions to UIHC Atrium Conference Room E: Take Elevator F to the 7th floor.
- A NEWSLETTER: Check out our first issue for more news, cultural tips, and communication advice! Download/View The Language & Culture Courier (pdf file)
