Bringing Global Authors into ESL Classrooms

Through Virtual Conferencing

 Welcome!
❖ Leighton Suen, FDR High School
❖ Nadia Kalman, Words Without Borders
Virtual Visits from International Authors

1. Why?
2. How: selection, outreach, visits
Why global authors?
Consider for a moment . . .
Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors

Rudine Sims Bishop:

• Affirming reflections
• Windows and doors → new
worlds
Why (2) "I want to learn about where I come from and I
want others to learn about it too."
– 9th grade student, FDR High School, Brooklyn
86% more
interested in
learning about 93% students more
other cultures interested in learning
about their home
cultures as a result.
86% more
interested in
learning "I would like to learn a lot so that I can
about other teach someone else and try to share more
cultures about our culture . . . “
– 11th grade student, FDR
 What does an author visit look like?

Wen Huang on
coming to the US
from China
How: Finding Global Writing
● Children’s/ YA books in translation: IBBY, USBBY
● Shorter readings in translation: wwb-campus.org
How: Selecting an Author
● Engaging writer and speaker (videos, teaching exp.?)

● “Gettable”

● Reflects students’ cultural/ linguistic backgrounds

How: Contacting an Author
● Finding contact info: publishers, agents, university
directories, Google, emails on personal
blogs/Instagrams/websites
○ If you don’t get a response, try a different avenue

● Letter: polite, brief, flexible (times, dates, visit specifics),

don’t be afraid to ask what the author’s fee is
How: Sample Letter
Good morning, Mr. _________ ,

My name is Leighton, and I am an English teacher at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in Brooklyn, New York. I
teach a 12th grade elective called Asian American Literature, where we only read books by Asian American
creators. My students just finished reading _________ , and I was wondering if you would be interested in
doing a Google Meet with us? My students would love to hear from you, and they have many questions they
would like to ask you.

Please let me know if you would be interested in doing this, and if you are, what fee you would charge for a 45-
minute Google Meet.

Thank you so much!

Leighton Suen
English Teacher
Franklin D. Roosevelt High School
How: Planning a Visit
● Decide: How will Q & A work? How much time for
reading? (not too much) Will we record? Do you have
parent/guardian permission to record?

● Plan: Detailed, time-specific agenda

○ Make sure to specify time zones

● Test: Technology: mics, lighting, screen-sharing; Will you

use a Smartboard, a personal laptop, or both?
○ Doing a “dress rehearsal” is a must!
○ Mute your laptop when the author is speaking; mute
the Smartboard when you’re speaking
 Next Steps

• Slideshow: https://bit.ly/40wDh1C
• Shared folder: https://bit.ly/3fXMQ7n
• New global stories: https://wwb-campus.org/subscribe/
• Contact info: nadia@wordswithoutborders.org