Conference Promotes Bilingual Education

The UTEP College of Education will welcome more than 1,000 educators, school administrators and parents from throughout the United States, Mexico and countries in South America to the 16th annual Bilingual Educators Emphasizing and Mastering Standards (BEEMS) Conference from March 26-28, 2009.

The event promotes multilingual education by highlighting the benefits of dual-language programs, which allow students to become literate in two languages.

“Some of the latest research shows that someone who speaks more than one language has a social and intellectual advantage over someone who doesn’t,” said Julieta Díaz Inman, Project BEEMS coordinator. “These programs allow students to share the language they know, and learn a new one.”

Participants will attend more than 60 concurrent sessions where administrators will receive policy updates on bilingual education; educators will have the opportunity to enhance their teaching skills; and parents will learn about ways to get involved in their children's education and success.

The event will feature a press conference and advocacy panel discussion at 2 p.m. Friday, March 27, in the Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 106.

Panelists will share their views on educational opportunities for English language learners and how supporters can promote multilingualism and multiculturalism as assets.

Panelists include John Joyner, parent advocate; Susie Byrd, El Paso city representative; Veronica Escobar, El Paso county commissioner; Stephen Krashen, Ph.D., University of Southern California professor emeritus; Joe Bernal, Ph.D., former member of the Texas State Board of Education; Josie Tinajero, Ed.D., dean of the UTEP College of Education; and Pauline Dow, Ed.D., Canutillo ISD associate superintendent.

The conference is an extension of Project BEEMS, which is a grant from the U.S. Department of Education that supports teachers pursuing a master’s degree in education with a specialization in bilingual education/dual language.

The cost of the event varies by participant. Conference sponsors include Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, UTEP and the UTEP College of Education, the Ysleta Independent School District and the Canutillo Independent School District.

Information: www.academics.utep.edu/beems