Merriam-Webster, Springfield schools receive accolades

June 16, 2016 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD – John Morse, the president and publisher of Merriam-Webster, sees involvement with the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) as something that has been good for both the Springfield-based reference book company and the foreign teachers who have visited the company as a part of their visit to this country.

For Anne Ferriter, director of Language Acquisition at Springfield Public Schools (SPS), participating in the program has helped students and faculty understand that the world, through technology, is becoming a smaller place.

The IVLP is a program of the Department of State, which brings up and coming leaders from around the world to learn about best practices and engage in citizen diplomacy with Americans.  

Visitors usually spend their time in three or four cities over the course of a three-week period.  Locally, the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts presents the program.

Merriam-Webster and the SPS were recently recognized for each institution’s activities in the program that deepens the understanding between the United States and other countries.

At a summit meeting conducted by the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, The International Center of the Capital Region (Albany, NY) and Rochester [NY] Global Connections in partnership with the Department of State and Global Ties US, Merriam-Webster was awarded a Corporate Enlightenment Award, while the Springfield Public School was given an Academic Enlightenment Award.

Susan Shultz, acting director of the State Department's Office of International Visitors, presented the awards and said of Merriam-Webster, “Merriam-Webster has been a partner of the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts on IVLP programming since 2012 when Executive Director Cyd Melcher asked Editor at Large Peter Sokolowski if he or someone else from Merriam-Webster might be willing to meet with a group of English teachers from around the world for ‘about an hour or so.’   In response he asked if they could have them for the day and outlined a workshop that would include segments on dictionary history, how a dictionary for non-native speakers differs from traditional dictionaries, teaching English idioms, the right way to conduct an English spelling bee, and a short mock bee using the teachers as participants.  To date Merriam-Webster has hosted four American Language projects with over 100 teachers and added sessions on online resources such as the learnersdictionary.com and Nglish.com [pronounced ‘English’], which are invaluable to teachers who often have access to the internet in the classroom but not the traditional tools of teaching such as modern curricula and books.  In the evaluations Merriam-Webster is always listed as a highlight of the entire trip to the US, not just to Western Massachusetts.  It’s as if they’d gone to Disney Land for teachers.  Merriam-Webster and the Council have partnered on other programs and initiatives since.  John Morse now sits on the board and presented here today – aptly enough – during the Fostering Strategic Partnerships panel.”

Shultz said of the Springfield Public School’s involvement, “Springfield Public Schools and The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts have partnered on International Visitor Leadership Program projects and other initiatives as far back as anyone can remember and perhaps further.  Within recent years representatives from Springfield Public Schools have met with Palestinians on incorporating traditional crafts into classroom learning; with Omanis on college and career advising; with a group from Portugal on teacher licensure, evaluation, and continuing education; with a delegation from Ukraine about public-private partnerships and encouraging parental engagement with schools; and Iraqi professors on STEM education for girls and underserved populations.  Most recently, a delegation of English teachers from around the world observed high school classes.”

Ferriter said the principals of SPS are “eager to host visitors.” She noted Springfield has a school system in which 40 languages are spoken.

“There is a real push to be a global city,” she said.

Morse said a new dictionary developed by Merriam-Webster designed to meet the needs of someone learning English as a second language was “a significant investment” and a key part in the company gaining ground in the international market.

Participating in the program has been “hugely important to us,” he told Reminder Publications. Company officials speak to the international students about their teaching conditions and needs.

Morse said that currently there are 1.5 billion people learning English around the world and within five to six years there will be 2 billion people. “Almost everyone will have a smart phone,” he said and the company is developing a product to teach English on a telephone.

Melcher related a story about a teacher in Sudan to show the challenges and changes in teaching in foreign countries. This man travels two hours one way on a donkey to reach his classroom, but then uses a cell phone to reach the Internet to access resources he needs for teaching.

Receiving feedback from international teachers has helped the company’s efforts and Morse said the exchanges have been “wonderful opportunities for us.”

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