1. EARCOS Weekend Workshop
Hosted by St. Mary’s International School, Tokyo, Japan
Building International English Learners' Identities of Competence
September 22 & 23, 2012
Workshop Description:
Building International English Learners' Identities of Competence
The origins of traditional ESL programs grew from a deficit model where English learners were
perceived as 'problems' needing to be fixed by specialists in order to function in mainstream
classrooms. Rethinking and redefining this orientation is leading international schools to figure out
ways to design high-challenge, high support learning environments in which English learners gain a
sense of their own competence through academic literacy and achievement.
Outcomes include:
 the development of a professional knowledge base on language and learning issues in K-12
settings, including an understanding of the role of English learners' mother tongue proficiency and
usage;
 an understanding of how to use evidence-centered design (i.e. standards-based and assessment-
driven backwards planning) to design high challenge, high support learning environments in K-12
classrooms;
 practice in how to use an array of 'best' instructional strategies so English learners CAN DO with
support what teachers want them to know and do; and
 how classroom and ESL specialists can seamlessly work together to differentiate instruction and
assessment equitably.
Consultant
Dr. Virginia P. Rojas, Language Education Specialist, ASCD Faculty
Dr. Rojas conducts professional training on effective programs and strategies for English learners
from pre-school through grade 12 for ESL and classroom teachers alike. As an ASCD faculty member
(www.ascd.org) Dr. Rojas uses the backwards design curriculum model to work help teachers design
high-challenge, high-support learning experiences for strengthening English learners' second
language proficiency and academic achievement. She provides professional development trainings,
job-embedded coaching and demonstration lessons, and conducts linguistic audits of EAL (English as
an Additional Language) program.
She has worked in over 200 international schools throughout the world as well as with school districts
in the US and Canada. Dr. Rojas is the author of Strategies for Success with English Language
Learners: An Action Toolkit for Classroom and ESL Teachers published by ASCD (2007) and of
Educating English Language Learners: Connecting Language, Literacy, and Culture (2010), ASCD
DVD Series.
Dr. Rojas teaches summer the graduate course EAL for Mainstream Teachers for the Teacher's
Training Center in Miami and London and Translating Brian Research into Effective Language
Education for the Association for the Advancement of International Education.

2. Workshop Details and Registration
Dates and Times:
Saturday, September 22nd ~ 8:30 - 4:30
Sunday, September 23rd ~ 9:00 - 3:00
Workshop Registration Fee:
The registration fee is 9,000 yen and includes lunches, snacks and materials.
Fees to be paid on the first day of the workshop.
Registration Form
Please register using the form provided and return by fax or email.
Hotel
The estimated hotel cost is 9,000 yen/night. Hotel reservations must be made through the hotel
website as early as possible. See Hotel Info attachment for further information.
TOKYU STAY YOGA HOTEL
Website: http://www.tokyustay.co.jp/e/hotel/YO/
Address: Tokyu Stay Yoga, Yoga 4-4-1, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0097.
Phone: (81) 3-5716-1090
Fax: (81) 3-5716-1099
Further Information
To register and for further information, please contact:
Linda Wayne, SMIS Curriculum Coordinator
St. Mary’s International School
1-6-19 Seta, Setagaya-ku
Tokyo 158-8668
JAPAN
Tel.: (81) 3-3709-3411
Fax: (81) 3-3707-1950
Email: waynel@smis.ac.jp