Spanish-Speaking Professionals: WRITTEN ACCENTS MATTER

FINE-TUNE YOUR PROFESSIONAL WRITTEN SPANISH

Join us at the Pflugerville Library for this unique opportunity to quickly and easily improve your professional Spanish by leaps and bounds: finally master written accents.

If you haven't given this much thought, you should!

And if you think it doesn't really matter, think again!

Academic research in Spanish literacy finds that this is the most common error made by Spanish-speakers, including monolinguals. And it's also the most criticized and judged.

Yikes!

As a bilingual professional, your written Spanish should amplify the respect from colleagues and clients and increase their confidence in you, not undermine it.

Like many, you may depend on auto-correct, a great tool that is even more valuable when you understand the 'why' behind the corrections.

Plus, there is great satisfaction and pride in really knowing the norms of your language.

DO YOU KNOW MORE THAN A 2ND GRADER?
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has established the standards for Spanish Language Arts for newly-arrived monolingual Spanish-speaking students here in Texas, and at the top of the list is the mastery of written accents.

In just one 3-hour workshop, you'll meet the goals and outcomes outlined by the TEA for grades 1 through 6. However, we'll challenge the traditional explanations, rules, and practice (which you may or may not be familiar with), and we'll identify why the standard approach leaves the vast majority of monolingual and bilingual Spanish-speakers scratching their heads.

If Spanish-speaking professionals don't think it's important for their own writing, we really can't blame Spanish-speaking students for not caring either. This skill has fallen through the gaps, and teachers are in a bind: we can all lead by example.

BRING A LAPTOP OR LARGE-SCREEN TABLET

We'll be using a website for hands-on practice with a partner.

PHONE USE DURING THE WORKSHOP?

Phone use that divides your attention during a workshop is counterproductive and can be perceived by the speakers and other participants as disruptive. You'll have a number of non-disruptive opportunities to check notifications, and of course, feel free to take a bathroom break at any time to check.

We hope you can set your phone aside for an hour at a time to minimize interruptions in your learning experience.

DRESS

While this is a workshop for professionals, dress for the event is casual. Please come in shorts and flip-flops if you like.

LUNCH AND BEVEREAGES INCLUDED

Lunch will be during a small-group activity, so don't plan to leave the site.

Register by Tuesday, May 27 to guarantee your preference for lunch from ThunderCloud Subs. Beverages and coffee will be included, too.