My latest project

I am working on a new framework for second language acquisition. This new model will include the latest research on brain learning, the philosophy and theories of second language acquisition, the proper place of applied linguistics and the introduction of native language speakers into the second language acquisition paradigm. I am aiming to compile the most comprehensive model using all of the means that are at our disposal today. I will attempt to compile all of the models that are presently used - not only in the USA but elsewhere as well - and look for a way to harmonize them into one concrete structure.
I am working on this in German, my mother tongue. I am not interested in ESOL only. English's role in the world is seeing numbered days. In the future, other languages are going to be assuming an importance that today's teachers can barely understand. The time when the United States and the United Kingdom (where they ever really united or where they forced into submission?) ruled the world are over. Students in other countries are going to be looking for newer solutions to the world's language challenges.
I am surprised at the resurgance that Esperanto is experiencing online, especially on Youtube.
All the better!

Sweet America

Here is an interesting view of American politics via candy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF6-RBTAs60

Update 30 June 2008

Florida Atlantic University has given me a non-tenured contract as a Visiting Assistant Professor. My colleagues are not happy with this because they would like to keep me at FAU for good. The state legislature has, however, cut funding to the point that there is not enough money to hire a tenured professor. This is unfortunate, indeed, but it is the reality of our times.
I am working on a paper concerning teaching deep-culture in the Second Language classroom. I am also turning my attention to the acquisition of vocabulary. The main question in vocabualry acquisition: Should teaching vocabulary of a language such as Chinese, German, Islandic, Esperanto, i.e. languages that rely heavily on compounding, derivation, and meaning extensions to increase vocabulary, and teaching vocabulary of a language such as English, that relies heavily on loan words, be the same? Thinking in a Venn diagram, what are the similarities and what are the differences?

Robb's Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitæ
For
Dr. Robert Kvasnak

E-mail: rkvasnak@fau.edu / robbkvasnak@hotmail.com

Education

2007: Doctor in Education (Ed. D.) second language acquisition with minor in linguistics at Florida Atlantic University/College of Education www.fau.edu Boca Raton, Florida.

Dissertation Title: Belongingness and Integrative Motivation in Second Language Acquisition

Link to dissertation: http://purl.fcla.edu/fau/47403

2004: M.Ed. Education (Curriculum and Instruction) with emphasis on Second Language Acquisition at Florida Atlantic University/College of Education Boca Raton, Florida www.fau.edu

1968: B.A. In Cultural Anthropology (with minor in German at University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA.

2004: Florida Teaching Certificate in German, French and Spanish.

1994: Nova Southeastern University, School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Miami FL: Fundamentals of Financial Planning.

1994: American Institute of Banking, University of Miami, Miami FL: International Banking (Grade: 94% = A).

1994: Florida International University, Miami FL: International letters of Credit (non-credit course).

1990: Ankara University, Tömer Institute in Izmir, Turkey: Diploma in Turkish (Grade: 99%).

1970-1975: Johann-Wolfgang von Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany: Chinese Philology, Social Linguistics, Scandinavian Studies.

Languages:
German (read, speak and write very well)
English (read, speak and write very well)
French (read, speak and write very well)
Nowergian (read, speak and write very well)
Spanish (read, speak and write very well)
Esperanto (readspeak and write very well)
Italian (read well, speak well and write some)
Portuguese (read well, speak well and write some)
Turkish (read well, speak some and write some)
Hawaiian (read wel, speak and write some)
Chinese (read some, speak some and write some, Note: presently studying Mandarin)


Computer Literacy:
Microsoft word, Power Point, Excel, E-mail, Basic Programs and Internet Research (academic articles and On-line Libraries)


AREAS OF RESEARCH
Second Language Acquisition, Instruction of foreign language, Educating ESL and other minority students, Teacher education, Inclusive curriculum for a classroom of diversity, African American studies


WORK / TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1/08 to present: Visiting Assistant Professor in TESOL and teaching how to teach foreign language at Florida Atlantic University (College of Education)

4/05 to 12/07: Adjunct Professor teaching TESOL to teachers, College of Education at FAU; also

Research Assistant to Dr. Hani Zainuddin and Dr. Angela Rhone in the College of Education at FAU

9/05 to 12/05: teaching ESOL at Broward Community College 4/05 to 8/05: teaching ESOL at Nova Southeast University

6/03 to 4/05: Wilton Manors Elementary. I taught Spanish and ESOL in kindergarten through 5th grade.

8/02 to 6/03: Western High School, 9th Grade Annex, Davie FL. (954-370-1600) French and Spanish in 9th grade

03/02 to 08/02 Transition to Teaching, FAU and Broward School Board New Educators Program under the auspices of Marge Sasse and Dr. Bob Parks [954-236-1623], including a 2-month internship at Horizon Elementary, 4th grade Apr – June 2002

1/00 to 1/02 Director of Executive Training Department, C.E.S. Embassy, 301 Las Olas Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale FL [954-522-8810]: Headed department teaching foreign executives English as a second language and concepts of American business and banking and also coordinator of the ‘English in the Working World’ program, which places students in internships.

11/97 to 01/00 Language Consultant at academia linguistica, Inc., 572 NE 34th Street, Oakland Park FL 33334 [954-821-6317]: Language Consultant, translator, teacher [English, Spanish, German, French, Turkish, etc.], interpreter, writer.

5/97 to 10/97 Foreign Exchange Officer, Pfandkredit-Geldwechsel-Anstalt, Joachimstalerstr. 7-9, D-10623 Berlin, Germany: Supervised setting up on-line system of currency calculations, including triangularization problems for the European Community.

4/93 to 4/97 Personal Banker, Citibank, 160 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach FL 33139 [1-800-274-6660], Opened and serviced Money Management Accounts for domestic and foreign customers, pro-actively maintaining customer contact.

4/91 to 4/93 Language Consultant, Professional Translating Services, Inc., 44 W. Flagler St. (Suite 540), Miami FL 33130, Taught ESOL and did translating, interpreting, voice-overs


Awards
Graduate Student of the Year 2006, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education

Volunteer Work

I joined the voluntary literacy coalition ‘Read Dade’, when I lived in Miami and became Laubach certified, i.e. officially recognized as a literacy teacher.

Organized and headed free workshop on language acquisition at Border’s Books in Ft. Lauderdale. Kids in Distress, a home for abused children, summer 2004

Led workshop on ‘Bilingual Education in America’ at Broward Public Schools’ conference, Kaleidoscope of Languages, March 2003

Publications

Wrote and published book entitled: “Foreign Languages Made Easy” - a guide to independent language learning. [available on amazon.com] PowerPoint Presentation on narrative strategies of second-language students at http://student.fau.edu/rkvasnak/web/Narrative%20Strategies.ppt


Regional Presentations
“Language and Environment – Geography Shaping Language” Florida Society of Geographers-2004 Annual Meeting – Orlando Florida.
“African American Gay Males in Education” Florida Atlantic University Graduate Symposium 2006 – Boca Raton Florida
“The Politics of ESOL” Florida Atlantic University Graduate Symposium 2007 – Boca Raton Florida
“Belongness and Integrative Motivation in Second Language Acquisition” Miami Dade Community College ESOL Symposium 2007 – Miami Florida

Professional Training
Florida State permanent teaching certificate in Spanish, German, French Professional translator, linguist, and expert in language teaching, specialized in English, German, French and Spanish for non-native speakers, also possessing excellent knowledge of Norwegian, Turkish, Danish, Italian, Portuguese, and Esperanto. Working knowledge of several other languages, including Dutch, Swedish, and Chinese [Mandarin].

References on request