Faculty Meeting and Workshop Minutes

Meeting Date and Time:  November 7, 2015, 10 am to 1:00 pm

Present:   Faculty and Staff

Last	First	Last	First
Argarkova	Anna	Mitrovic	Kristina
Arbai	Jenny	Dolina-Ruck	Loreen
Armyakov	Andrey	Sanchez	Veronica
Azoidou	Evdokia	Schiffman	Paul
Brazhnikova	Olesya	Tagnan	Benjamin
Bush	F. Ann	Ulmasov	Sukhrob
Davis	Caryn	Vargas	Carmen
Diaz	Anna	Zatulovski	Irina
Dimitrova	Iliyana
Engulatova	Dilyara
Fathima	Yasmeen
German	Oana
Gogin	Ilya
Kyrychuk	Diana
Machado	Maria A.
Mere-Mere	Semen

Minutes – Topics Discussed

General Housekeeping: Reviewed the following items –

• New faculty and staff members were introduced: Yasmin Fathima, Oana Gerkin, Andrey Armyakov, Kristina Mitrovic and Veronica Sanchez
• Faculty and staff were encouraged to continue to seek out Dr. Engulatova’s assistance in creating a Language Through the Arts event with their classes. Mr. Ferraro commended Dr. Engulatova’s 2015 Language Through the Arts report, and noted that approximately 20 workshops were delivered to students in the Center for the Arts in 2015.
• The no cell phone policy in classes was emphasized, and teachers were asked to remind students to use cell phones in the student lounges.
• Bicycle trips are a valuable way to assist students in their orientation to Spanish American Institute and New York City. Faculty and staff interested in being a bike captain for a 2-3 hour weekend bike trip should speak to Mr. Ferraro.
• In order to ensure all equipment in classrooms work properly, promptly notify Mr. Ferraro if there are any problems.
• In order to ensure the facility is always up to par, contact Mr. Ferraro immediately at any signs of problems such as bathroom leaks, etc.
• Committees will be formed to work together to prepare for the ACICS and CEA site visits in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
• Spanish American Institute has been housed on West 43^rd Street since 1968 and will be moving to 35^th near 8^th Avenue spring 2016.

2015 Annual Professional Development Plans and Inspiration from Teaching Faculty

Dean Davis distributed a menu of PD options to faculty and staff and reminded them to engage in independent professional development activities discussed during their Professional Development Plan meetings. All submissions are due by December 31 and to be emailed to Caryn.davis@sai2000.org.

Oana Gherman, a new SAI teacher, and seasoned teachers, Ilya Gogin and Siemen Mere-Mere described the ways in which they have been involved in their own professional development in 2015, using on-line webinairs and attending NYC ESOL conferences. Each teacher spoke about the value of pursuing professional development activities. They encouraged all faculty and staff to become involved in their own learning.

Department Chair Report:

Ms. Freddie Ann Bush provided an update on the Intensive English Language Division

Workshop on Intercultural Communication

Dean Davis provided a workshop that included a PowerPoint presentation, interactive activities based on listening and sharing significant facts about one’s own culture, and a TedX talk by Pelligrino Riccardi. Sharing information about one’s own culture provides a foundation for learning to be open minded and non-judgmental of other’s cultures. Since Spanish American Institute’s faculty and staff are diverse, as well as the students we serve, developing competencies in intercultural communication is a critical element in providing English language learning effectively. A TedX talk was included in the presentation to further illustrate how learning historical and social frameworks of a given culture, as well as valuing one’s own culture, are the ways in which faculty and staff can expand their skills, knowledge and effectiveness in delivering language teaching and services to SAI international students.

At 1:00 pm the meeting was adjourned to a luncheon gathering at ------------------ where informal discussions of the day’s topics continued until dusk.