When a so-called expert (we are all experts and fools at the same time) shows up in a school district from 2000 miles away and gives a one or two day presentation, the actual return on investment by all involved is minimal at best.
Most people are just too skeptical and it can be diffucult on the presenter, who is put in a position of selling something rather than imparting information to willing colleagues. There are still too many who wish to argue than learn.
So I don’t present much anymore, and am trying to foster a more local approach to the astounding change we are in. I think it is much more effective when a number of people work together on a regional/local level than when some expert – again, there are none, only us – comes in and leaves. Nothing wrong with that, but grass roots work is needed now.
Brigitte may be working (with administrative support!) with a group of teachers in Long Island in the next year to further illustrate and define how TCI works in their area and Brigitte if you want to comment on those possibities below that would be great.
The time of big national presenters about Krashen-based instruction may be over in the U.S. The expressed need is too great for an occasional expert to come through town and then leave. There are too many people wanting information than can be addressed by national presenters. It’s going local.
The time seems to have arrived for national presenting in Europe, and I think it fortuitous that Judy and Teri and that group going to Agen this summer are doing that, but we need to get working on a more local level here, in my opinion. We need some good local food fights.