Packing
Please pack light. You will have the opportunity to go to Walmart and other shopping areas. Your baggage on your return trip to Senegal may not exceed 50 lbs (22.68 kgs) . If your bags weigh more or you have too much luggage, you may be required to pay hundreds of dollars in fees.
Please also bring your laptops and your teaching materials for your eLearning workshops. Luisa Li, the eLearning workshop leader, has many hands on activities planned and will assist you in setting up an online course with the materials you bring.
Housing
You will be staying at the Holiday Inn at Blacksburg. This facility has attractive rooms, a heated indoor pool and a restaurant/bar and grill. The hotel also has a washer and dryer which cost $1 to use. Each room has two double beds, which you will share with another participant. Please visit their website at http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/blacksburg/roabb/hoteldetail.
Every room is equipped with the following:
Free wireless internet
Free cable TV and complimentary HBO
Iron and ironing board
Hairdryer
Microwave and refrigerator
Coffee pot with free coffee
Daily linen service and room cleaning
Food
The hotel has a restaurant/bar and grill. Hours of service are 4PM - 12AM, Monday - Saturday, with some service on Sunday. The hotel also has a breakfast buffet which costs $9.50 plus tax. Please be aware that this is not offered every day, so ask the night before at the reception desk.
There are several restaurants within the vicinity of the hotel and a Kroger grocery store. Typical dishes include sandwiches, soups, hamburgers, salads, Chinese food and BBQ. If you have any dietary restrictions, always ask how something is made. Pork is very popular in the United States and can be found in many dishes as a seasoning. When ordering food, be sure to say that you don't eat pork, including ham and bacon.
Per diem
Upon arrival, you will receive a check for meals and incidentals for the time period of your training. The daily government rate for Blacksburg is $46. We will accompany you to the bank to help you cash your check. Please bring your passport with you the first day of orientation, September 9th.
Transportation
Upon your arrival, you will also receive bus passes and bus maps to help you get around. Though your workshops will be within walking distance of the Holiday Inn, you may want to see more of the town or go to Christiansburg in your free time to shop. This bus pass will allow you to do so.
Contacting your family
Before you arrive, you may want to set up a Skype account. By doing so, you may alert your family of your safe arrival quickly and cheaply. Please visit http://www.skype.com/intl/fr/welcomeback/ to set up an account and add money to call cell phones back home.
Description of workshops
eLearning Basics: An introduction to eLearning and how it is implemented.
Introduction to 2nd Language Acquisition: How a second language is learned and teaching techniques
Instructional Design: How to create a class using instructional technology
Tools for Independent English Training: Tools for English language learning and how to guide students toward independent learning
EFL with Limited Resources: How to teach English as a Foreign Language with low and no-cost materials
eLearning: Practical experience in designing classes through Moodle
Adult Learning: Learning differences of adults and teaching and learning considerations for adults
and more!
We look forward to welcoming you to Blacksburg.
Questions concerning EFL teacher training, direct to Amanda Johnson at majtwin@vt.edu
Questions concerning per diem and housing, direct to Stephanie Sarver at ssteph2@vt.edu
Questions concerning eLearning training, direct to Luisa Li at lifan@vt.edu.
