>>This sounds interesting - how exactly do you "debrief"?  Do you do it

>>electronically by emails or chatrooms or by newsletters or in person?

>>How often?  How many of you are involved, over what kind of region?

>>What kind of support exactly has your local PDC offered?  


When we "debrief" we do it in person. Erie is very fortunate that we are
fairly small (100,000 pop), so almost all the adult ESL teachers know each
other, and we often share students. So we get together every month and talk
for the most part. Sometimes we talk about specific problems with specific
language groups, or we just share techniques, stories, etc. It really is
quite relaxed, since we "work" hard enough at work. We have about 10
consistent participants.

Almost all our participants are from the city, since that is where the
primary need for ESL is in this area, but we are open to anyone.

The PA PDC has been great in supporting us with meeting space, the
ever-appreciated refreshments (they have great coffee), and most
importantly, they provide outside speakers for professional development.

I hope this has given you some idea of what we are trying to do, and I
welcome any responses or ideas. Thanks!

Martin E. Senger
Adult Educator
GECAC The R. Benjamin Wiley Learning Center