Abstract: New opportunities continue to open for teachers and directors who can provide English for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and English for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). Once you understand some of the basic concepts, this can be fun and very productive! In fact, English teachers can create connections between language and STEM that are critically important. Many people do not realize that this can be done not just for adults but for learners of nearly all ages including young children. Teachers benefit from learning “tricks of the trade” such as being learner-centered, discovering the needs of STEM educators and industry workers, and allowing creativity, cooperation and, especially, failure to be part of the process. This presentation will include suggestions for preparing and actualizing activities as well as examples!

Bio: Mark earned his Master of Arts in English (TESL and applied linguistics) and Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University. A TESOL professional for over 30 years, he has experienced the profession as a teacher, center director, teacher trainer, and published author. He has taught English for academic purposes at Colorado State University and Pikes Peak Community College and was Director of the Center for International Education and ESL at the University of Northern Colorado. A Fulbright recipient (teacher education) and three-time U.S. Department of State Fellow, Mark is one of the select “30@30” EL Specialists for the U.S. Department of State.
He has extensive experience introducing, training, and consulting in-person on English for STEM/STEAM for educators and administrators from Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kygyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan and online to teachers in the U.S. and many other countries. Also, he provided English for aviation training to pilots of the Kazakh Air Defense Forces and has provided many hours of volunteer work for NASA.
Mark was a member of the first U.S. Information Service Teacher Training Fellows sent to Poland when it opened to the West. After that, he was placed as a Senior English Language Fellow in the Romanian Senate, House of Deputies, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs teaching English for law and diplomacy. In addition to teaching, Mark assisted the Senate with making changes to the Romanian Constitution and applying to the European Union as well as leading a historic meeting. Mark worked in Albania improving the cooperation of organizations to counter human trafficking. Also, he has trained teachers in Saudi Arabia and taught English for diplomacy to diplomats from many countries in the African Union.
Latin America holds a special place in his heart from his father’s work in Mexico when he was younger. So, Mark was thrilled to accept a fellowship to Guatemala where he trained teachers at Instituto Guatemalteco Americano (IGA) in Guatemala City and established the embassy’s first education outpost in the Altiplano at IGA in Quetzaltenango. In addition, he cooperated with rural, urban, and indigenous groups to create a booklet to assist new/under-resourced teachers that is used across Guatemala.
In fact, Mark is giving deep consideration to moving his family to Panama and welcomes suggestions and offers!