Research interests
Gisela Ernst-Slavit focuses on English as a second
language (ESL), bilingual education, teacher education,
and qualitative research methods. She is a past
president of WAESOL (Washington State English to
Speakers of Other Languages).
Teaching/professional interests
Ernst-Slavit is a professor in bilingual/ESL
education and coordinator of the bilingual/ESL program at
Washington State University-Vancouver. She teaches
courses in sociolinguistics, literacy, and bilingual ESL,
and foreign language education. She directs the
Bilingual/ESL Teacher Advancement Program (BETAP) for
elementary school teachers, as well as the Bilingual/ESL
Support Training (BEST) for secondary teachers. These
programs, both Title VII funded, are designed to address
a critical shortage of bilingual/ESL teachers in the
Southwest Washington area.
Recent accomplishments
- Director of TEAMs project - A $1.3 million dollar
grant to expand and enhance the preparation of ESL
teachers and school administrators in southwest
Washington.
- Appointed by the president of TESOL to the 4-member
team revising the National PreK-12 English Language
Proficiency Standards in the Core Content Areas.
- Visiting Professorship (Spring 2005) at the
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
- Invited Speaker at the I Reunión
Científica Internacional sober Etnografía
y Educación in Talavera de la Reina, Spain (July
2004).
- Featured Speaker - "So Kids Can Live Their Dreams:
Teaching English and Literature to ESL Students."
Annual Meeting of the International Reading
Association. May 8, 2003. Orlando, FL.
Educational background
- Ph.D. Bilingual/Multicultural Education, University
of Florida, 1991
- M.S. Intercultural Development Education,
University of Florida, 1986
- B.A. Clinical Psychology, Pontificia Universidad
Católica del Perú, 1981
