For
Dr. Robert Kvasnak
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
