UABC VII Encuentro Centros de Autoacceso in Mexicali

[Leigh Thelmadatter]

Greetings from Mexicali. Not liveblogging but Ill do the best I can. Im here in Mexicali, (remembering all I forgot about desert life - used to live in southern Arizona once upon a time) at the self access center conference here. Fair amount of technology focused workshops... sometimes they forget the self access center part! ja ja ja got nice idea about using wordpress for online, electronic portfolios. Need to include that in one of my upcoming workshops at my school. Im on break but Ill be back later on today with more.

[Leigh Thelmadatter]

Thanks for the kind words Semiramis... We are making progress in establishing the SAC here at my school, getting about 120 student/visits a day and this is the first semester that we have one lab fully dedicated to self access. I think that once the powers-that-be see that it works, things will really move! I dont have problems convincing students its worthwhile!

I, too, was pleasantly surprised at how widespread the concept is here in Mexico. My initial Internet searches all came up with schools in Asia. I wouldnt be so down on Mexican culture...Mexican culture is resistant to change but when it does decide to do so.. it does. (kind of like pushing a heavy desk, once it starts moving, it moves)

[soldier_of_fortune]

(Legal disclaimer: I'm Set OK?)
As Javier said, here in Mexico we have a lot of issues when it comes to language learning. Even if the method in which lessons are conveyed is obsolete there is another more devastating factor that halves student’s growth, red tape and bureaucracy in public education. Moreover the level you end up having is not so great. I think that SACs are a great and innovative way to learn and avoid needless worries as the ones mentioned before. Also to think of it as a library in where you can have access at any time, where no one will be over your shoulder and you can learn, research or study at your own rate.

As a “self-learner” myself I totally support this step towards improvement, but as Leigh stated it will be a long and slow process before the boneheads up top start to move the desk... so it’s up to us, students and teachers or whoever that is interested, the potential and great value SACs have.

[Leigh Thelmadatter]

Dont forget a lot of the resistance comes from the idea that teaching=learning. For administrators, they have to do something (or look like they are doing something) when students dont do well. For many teachers, the idea that students might improve their English by doing something other than sitting in a classroom is scary... they are worried about their jobs. Many are very invested in what they do in the classroom and how they relate to students (the students like me) to justify their jobs, esp. if they are not qualified.

[Krishna Maira Díaz Rendón]

I think this is a really helpful sourse for students, teachers of English, due to the fact that you can find all you need to improve your English education and get other perspective of different people experiences in English teaching and learning. It´s really surprising the way people get in touch with others and keep track of the very good points and tips that are exposed here. you can learn about how to deal with a portfolio, about programs for teachers and students, and how to use technology sourses to make your English class much better.

[Barbara Natalia Rojas Villanueva]

Well, been honest this is something new for me, and I think that it's a great idea to have this kind of resource to learn a second language because the environment of these sites (SAC'S) is complete English, this is an opportunity to get involved with the language thanks to all the materials you can find and use at these places.
It's a shame that here in Mexico most of the students don't have the culture of self learning that's why I think when the SAC'S open up, at the beginning there wasn't many students so maybe the best way to promote these centers is by make it mandatory after that for who ever that results interesting they will pass the voice and even go back themselves, plus for those who had a full time job and don't have the time to go to classes sounds perfect because who can spend as many time you want and manage your progress the way you like.

By the way I would like to thank you Leigh to share with us this information that is going to be very useful for all of us.