RioNews

Thursday, November 20, 2008

KBAQ Announces Special Thanksgiving and Christmas Programs

TEMPE, ARIZ. (November 20, 2000) -- KBAQ 89.5 FM, Central Arizona’s classical music companion, has created a holiday schedule full of Christmas Carols and holiday pops that culminates on New Year’s Day with the Vienna Philharmonic. Highlights are listed below. Visit http://www.kbaq.org/ for more programming information.

Thursday, November 27 1pm Harvest Home: Thanksgiving with the Dale Warland Singers
Choral classics celebrating Thanksgiving and harvest. The Dale Warland Singers, acclaimed as America’s premier choir draw upon their archive of live performances to create an autumn musical feast. Brian Newhouse, host.

Saturday, December 6 7pm The Best Gifts
Christmas spoken, sung and played in a program of treasures from the KBAQ archive. Performances from long ago and only yesterday with familiar voices and the meanings of Christmas.

Friday, December 12 7pm The Rose Ensemble: An Early American Christmas
Shaker Tunes, Kentucky Harmonies, and Acadian dances done by one of America’s premiere early-music ensembles. Since it began in 1996, The Rose Ensemble has surprised and delighted audiences with performances of music from centuries past. This 2008 Christmas program highlights the treasures of Appalachia.

Saturday, December 13 7pm A Choral Christmas Card
A coast-to-coast sampler of the country’s best choirs in carols for the season. Visit choral towns across the U.S. including Kansas City, Austin, Santa Fe, and Boston. Hear songs from hundreds of years past and beautiful selections of our own time. Valerie Kahler, host.

Friday, December 19 7pm A Chanticleer Christmas
America’s finest male chorus celebrates the mystery and wonder of Christmas. Their 2008 Christmas special is a blend of traditional carols, medieval sacred works, and jazzy spirituals. Brian Newhouse, host.

Friday, December 19 8pm Carols for Dancing
An hour-long special devoted to the intimate connection between song and dance in holiday music. Built around vigorous performances by Renaissonics — an award-winning improvisatory Renaissance dance band. The program tells the story of the mid-winter holiday dance tradition. Ellen Kushner, hosts.

Saturday, December 20 8pm 365 Holidays with the Canadian Brass
The Canadian Brass performs new arrangements of Christmas music along with the classic versions of Christmas and Hanukkah songs they've made popular over the last 35 years. David Srebnik, host.

Monday, December 22 7pm Chanukah in Story and Song
Narrated by Leonard Nimoy and sung by the acclaimed vocal sextet The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, this program presents 25 eclectic selections, from the Ladino songs of the Spanish Jews and Yiddish melodies of Eastern Europe to modern Israeli tunes and the ensemble's original version of "I Have a Little Dreydle." The ensemble performs a cappella as well as with instrumental accompaniment. The narration, written by Rabbi Gerald Skolnik, sheds new light on the holiday's customs and rituals.

Wednesday, December 24 9am A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
A live broadcast from the chapel of the King's College in Cambridge, England. Michael Barone hosts this exclusive broadcast of the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of Biblical readings and music as performed by the King's College Choir.

Thursday, December 25 7pm Mendelssohn “Magnificat”
"Magnificat," an American broadcast debut, features the Yale Schola Cantorum in a period-style performance of Felix Mendelssohn's setting of the text, directed by Simon Carrington. "Magnificat" presents a unique opportunity to hear both Christmas works back-to-back with some of the finest young vocal and instrumental talent in America. Host and celebrated conductor Simon Carrington leads the performances from Yale's renowned Woolsey Hall.

Thursday, January 1 7pm New Year’s Day from Vienna 2009
NPR takes you direct to the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna for the most popular classical music concert in the world, the Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Day concert. Included will be your favorite waltzes and polkas, and so much more, all conducted by Daniel Barenboim.

# posted by Rio Salado College : 2:27 PM

Monday, November 17, 2008

Rio Salado instructor gives advice on helping kids with homework

If book bags and study packets make you cringe. And math facts and science projects turn your stomach into knots, you’re not alone
Getting youngsters to do their homework is an ongoing battle in many a household. Beth Hoffman, a Rio Salado College instructor and veteran of the homework battle, knows. She’s experienced both sides of the war including 14 years as a classroom teacher and as the parent of two elementary school age boys.

“The homework tug-a-war can really get your blood pressure boiling. Even as an educator, homework and how best to manage the process in our busy world, is a constant struggle,” said Hoffman who teaches teachers how to teach at Rio Salado College.

Most evenings Hoffman and her two young sons spend a couple of hours hunched over the kitchen table doing homework. But Hoffman says those who value education realize homework plays a significant role in education.

“Homework reinforces subjects learned in the school day. It’s also a great time to get to know your child’s learning style, and keep abreast of the classroom curriculum. Below are some strategies for taking the stress out of homework and make it a positive experience for both parents and students alike.

1. Know your child. What works for one doesn’t always work for the other(s). Some kids need a break after school, some need a break and a snack, and others just want to get it done so they can have the rest of the day to themselves. Some kids need homework broken up into smaller sessions, with a break between each session. This will take more monitoring on your part, but worth it, if it works.

2. Keep a constant routine. Children like to know what’s coming next, and what the expectation is for the task. By keeping a constant routine you will rid yourself of the never ending questions, and mixed messages that can rear their ugly heads. However, you may need to be flexible, not everyday is the same.

3. Quiet, quiet, quiet! Ask yourself how hard it would be to create a quality resume, in 30 min. to an hour, with the TV on. Same thing for kids. Distractions can lead to a 2 -3 hour homework session that should only take 30 min. Let them know that as soon as they are done, the TV may be turned on. It’s okay to hang out the “carrot” as long as you follow through.

4. Keep materials ready and available in a designated space. Keeping the backpack near the child also helps, so they don’t have the excuse to run downstairs to get something.

5. Be proactive and CHECK the back pack before starting homework. Make sure your child and you are on the same page and the child has a clear expectation of what needs to get done. This keeps frustration from peaking when they realize they did the wrong Math page.

6. Timed or not timed?? This depends on whether you have the “procrastinator” or you have the “Little Engine that could”. (God bless you if you have the “procrastinator”.) If you use a timer, make sure to make it an incentive, not a punishment. The punishment is already built in. If you don’t get your homework done, you have less time to do what you’d really like to do. (i.e.… “I’m sorry you didn’t have time to play Wii today. I know you’re frustrated about that. Maybe tomorrow, you’ll have more time, after you finish your homework.”) If the child finishes the homework before the timer has gone off, provide a meaningful reinforcement (extra 10 min. to stay up past bed time, get to watch a favorite TV program, ride bikes, etc…) that creates a “buy-in” to homework.

7. Develop habits, early. Is kindergarten too early?? Absolutely not! Do this with your first child, and each additional child will understand the expectations from the get go.

8. Should I help? Yes! Just be careful that your helpfulness doesn’t create an unhealthy dependence on you. The ultimate goal is to encourage initiative and responsibility. Ask questions that promote thinking. You might model one problem and have the child do the next. Check your child’s homework AFTER they have checked it. Make “checking” a habit. This is an important skill that often times needs to be directly taught.

# posted by Rio Salado College : 10:08 AM

Monday, November 10, 2008

Storybooks increases literacy and promotes college

TEMPE October 29, 2008 – Rio Salado College early childhood educators Diana Abel and Rene Manning are more comfortable reading storybooks to toddlers than writing one but that hasn’t stopped the two from scripting two new colorful activity books designed to get children reading and their parents thinking about college.
In conjunction with the early childhood staff, they have written Kash the Kangaroo Helps Mommy Go to College, and Megan the Mouse Helps Daddy Go To College. Last week the Rio Salado early childhood staff were distributing copies of the new book at the Channel Eight/KAET PBS KIDS Raising Readers Family Literacy Celebration Day at the state capitol.
Joining with more than 20 others from government departments, community organizations, and area agencies offering hands-on literacy activities at the Wesley Bolin Plaza the staff and program volunteers distributed the free books.

“We felt the best way to encourage children and to support the concept of raising readers was to develop an activity book to read to children,” Diana Abel, Rio Salado College Early Childhood Education Director said.

The books, with Kash the Kangaroo and Megan the Mouse, is a simple story complete with pictures of Kash and his mom and Megan and her dad both of which decide they want to go back to school and head to Rio Salado College.

“The book focuses on how children can help and support their parents going back to college just like we teach them how to help around the house. Parents model the importance of education and are the best role models in the lives of their children,” Abel said.

Response for the new colorful readers was gratifying as numerous parents stopped by their booth with the youngsters in tow saying “I’ve been thinking about going back to college, or I really need to get busy and go back to school,” said Abel.

As partners, Rio Salado College and KAET8/ASSET, are working together to assist early childhood practitioners complete courses that can lead to the national CDA credential. The partnership has resulted in combining the online for-credit courses offered through Rio Salado’s early childhood program and the website, A Place of Our Own, which is supported by KAET8/ASSET.

Students who enroll in these one credit courses will be able to use the wealth of resources found at A Place of Our Own as a part of their course requirements. Resources at this website include video clips, activities, panel discussions and journal articles designed specifically for early childhood practitioners and parents.

“This is a great resource for our students and offers many enriching activities and material for our students” Abel said.

Rio Salado College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges. The college has an extensive early childhood education program that include numerous certificates, associate degrees and national credentialing courses for those who want to enter the early childhood field or for those in the field who wish to enhance their professional development. For registration or more information call 480-517-8540 or to learn more about Rio’s early childhood programs go to www.riosalado.edu/earlychildhood.

Want to raise a reader? Read together every day!
It’s okay to read the same book over and over and over again!
Point out print in everyday life…this helps children understand the important of reading.
Be a ready yourself! When is the last time you read a book for enjoyment?
Read a variety of different kids of stories to your child.
Point out the words and their corresponding pictures as your read.
Stop often while reading the story and ask your child what they think might happen next.
Make reading fun by changing your voice to fit the mood of the story.
Find comfortable places where you and your child (ren) can sit close together and snuggle as you enjoy the reading experience.
Share your thoughts about the book.

# posted by Rio Salado College : 3:52 PM

Monday, November 03, 2008

KBAQ 89.5 FM features valley youth Nov. 18

MESA ARTS CENTER & KBAQ PRESENT NPR’s FROM THE TOP on November 18

From the Top, the non-profit known for its hit radio and television broadcasts featuring the nation’s best young classical musicians hosted by acclaimed concert pianist Christopher O’Riley, comes to the Mesa Arts Center on Tuesday, November 18 at 8pm to tape its NPR radio program heard on KBAQ 89.5 FM. This special concert recording presented by the Mesa Arts Center and KBAQ will feature performances from outstanding young artists from Arizona and across the country. Tickets are available at (480) 644-6500 or boxoffice@mesaartscenter.com. For KBAQ listeners tickets are $25 and $6 for student groups.

Local talent includes 16-year-old flutist Chaz Salazar from Phoenix and 13-year-old pianist Carolynn Cong from Scottsdale. Salazar, who attends the Arizona School for the Arts, will play III. Presto Giocosofrom Sonata by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) accompanied by Christopher O’Riley on piano. He is also one of 25 recipients of From the Top’s $10,000 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. Cong, who attends Pinnacle High School, will perform the fourth movement from Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82. Cong is also a National Finalist for Junior Baldwin Music Teachers Association.

Nick-Man & Robyn the violin and cello duo comprised of siblings Robyn, 18, and Nicholas, 15, Bollinger from Haddonfield, NJ, 15-year-old violinist Clayton Penrose-Whitmore from Springfield, IL, and 16-year-old trumpet player Ansel Norris from Madison, WI will also perform. As on every From the Top broadcast, this taping will highlight the performers’ musicianship as well as their lives outside of music through interviews with O’Riley.

In the past year, From The Top has featured two other Phoenix musicians on the show. Mia Laity, a 15-year-old violinist: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19169238 and Anna Han, who will appear on the broadcast the week of November 3. Anna’s appearance was taped in Lawrence, Kansas this July at the International Institute for Young Musicians.

One of the most popular weekly radio programs on public radio, From the Top’s variety show format features music, interviews and light-hearted sketches with the country’s most talented pre-college age musicians. From the Top is heard on more than 200 NPR stations coast-to-coast and online at fromthetop.npr.org. KBAQ carries the program Sundays at 7pm. This concert will broadcast on March 1, 2009.

From the Top’s PBS television program From the Top at Carnegie Hall, a 13-part series hosted by Christopher O’Riley, captures the excitement of young musicians in performance at Carnegie Hall and showcases their lives both on-stage and off. The series can be seen on KAET Sundays at noon as well as at pbs.org/fromthetop.

Each year, From the Top visits 20 communities to tape radio broadcasts and conduct education outreach programs that utilize the inspirational power of young musicians to motivate students and adults to engage in music and the arts. At broadcast taping performers are encouraged to explore ways in which they can connect with new audiences, serve as positive peer role models, and give back to their communities.

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ABOUT FROM THE TOP
From the Top is a non-profit organization that celebrates the passion, dedication and personal stories of the nation’s outstanding young classical musicians. Through entertaining radio and television broadcasts, online media, and a national tour of live events and outreach programs, these performers inspire the pursuit of excellence, and encourage participation in the arts as an integral part of a vibrant and civil society.

From the Top’s training and mentorship programs prepare young musicians to connect with new audiences, serve as positive peer role models, and give back to their communities in many ways.

From the Top on NPR is made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. It is also supported through the generous contributions of individuals and foundations as well as public radio stations. From the Top radio program is produced in association with WGBH Radio Boston and New England Conservatory of Music, its home and education partner.

Exclusive corporate funding for From the Top at Carnegie Hall on PBS is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Major foundation funding is provided by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Helen and Peter Bing, National Endowment for the Arts, and the E.H.A. Foundation.

Music. It’s Powerful Stuff.

# posted by Rio Salado College : 2:05 PM

High school students learn college researching skills

Like many high school seniors this year McClintock students Sharri Hudson Kiara Hamed and Alex Chandler are required to do library research for a number of English papers they are required to write.

But the three students are getting more mileage than most from their high school experience. They are getting a double whammy; gaining both high school and college level writing and research skills at the same time.

And not only are they learning additional skills they’re racking up college credit under Rio Salado College’s dual enrollment program.

This year more than 6,000 students around the valley will participate in the program that allow students to take college level classes while still in high school simultaneously earning high school and college credits. Dual enrollment classes are available in English, math, science, foreign language and social studies.

Some students are able to graduate with enough college credits to skip a year of college. Some do even better graduating with an associate degree and a high school diploma saving both time and money.

Last week Rio Salado College librarian Janelle Underhill was on the McClintock High School campus teaching students how to use the online college library including how to navigate through dozens of databases, e-books, and other resources available for their use.

“We have found it very helpful for our dual enrollment students,” said Underhill who visits almost all of Rio Salado’s dual enrollment English 101 classes.

“The more students work with the library’s databases, the better prepared they will be when they head off to a university in a year or two,” Underhill said.

Along with the advanced research skills students using a college library are also exposed to dozens of additional resources.

While most high school libraries have 4 or 5 databases, Rio Salado College has more than 40 databases and a university may have as many as 200 or more, Underhill tells students.
Besides the in-person demonstration of the college’s library resources, students may also request a CD which reviews basic research skills and gives information about the Rio Salado’s library. Another form of free assistance is Ask a Librarian chat service which is available 24/7 for students with questions or problems. Ask a Librarian chat is District-wide cooperative that includes all 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.

As part of Underhill’s library presentation students are shown how to find articles in online magazines, scholarly journals, newspapers and reference databases. As dual enrollment students, they may also check out books from any of the 10 MCCCD Libraries and have online access to thousands of ebooks. Finally, in the sessions students are encouraged to explore helpful links on the library’s website such as Rio’s Online Writing Lab (OWL), citation examples, tutorials and evaluation criteria, while writing class assignments for their English 101 class.
McClintock High School dual enrollment teacher Adam Unrein is a fan of teaching college level skills to high school students.

“It’s a great for our students. The resources available are vast compared to what we have in our high school. It’s the perfect stepping stone for students. Not overwhelming just right,” Unrein said.

Hamed says she’s glad she had the chance to learn college skills in high school.
“I think it’s good so we won’t be confused later when we won’t have any of these people around to help us,” Hamed said.

Rio Salado College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges. The college offers degrees and career and technical certificates in business, computer technology, early childhood and teacher education, healthcare, law enforcement and more. For registration or more information call 480-517-8540 or go to www.riosalado.edu/registration.

# posted by Rio Salado College : 1:07 PM

Monday, October 27, 2008

Graduate featured in national broadcast

Rio Salado graduate Dawn Beck on national broadcast

TEMPE October 27, 2008 – Rio Salado College graduate Dawn Beck was highlighted on a national broadcast “A Promise in Jeopardy” last week. The live, two- hour town hall meeting on educational issues included a national panel of experts and community colleges from five cities (Phoenix, Chicago, Salt Lake City, New York City and Philadelphia).

Panelists answered questions from students at each of the five community colleges on the future of affordable higher education, job training and economic opportunity as they related to the presidential platforms of Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama.

The national panel of experts included Rufus Glasper, Ph.D., Chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District, one of the largest community college districts in the country.
Additional members were; Arturo Gonzales, Ph.D., Labor Economist and Sr. consultant, Ernst and Young of San Francisco, Celia Turner, Consignment Operation Coordinator, General Motors of Flint, Michigan, David Longanecker, Ed.D. President Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education of Boulder, CO, Sara Hebel, Sr. Editor, Government and Politics, The Chronicle of Higher Education of Washington D.C. and Sylvia Wetzel, Chief Learning Officer, Bison Gear and Engineering of St. Charles, IL.

Following a brief video featuring Beck’s quest to earn her college diploma, Beck led the question part of the program in Phoenix asking about online education. Beck, a Rio Salado College May 2008 graduate was a high school dropout before returning to school after 12 years. So driven to succeed, the determined stay-at-home mom of two managed to rack up 53 credits in just nine months to complete her associate of arts degree. Beck will graduate with her bachelor’s of arts degree in December of 2008 and plans to complete her doctorate to become a marriage and family therapist.

E. J. Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Rio Salado College
2323 West 14th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
ej.anderson@riosalado.edu

# posted by Rio Salado College : 12:34 PM

Linda Thor receives 'Excellence In Education' award

Dr. Linda Thor, President of Rio Salado College, the largest (in terms of headcount) of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges, was awarded the 2008 Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) “Excellence In Education” award last week at the RMHC U.S. Scholarship Breakfast.

The event raised more than $250,000 to help Arizona high school students attend college, making it one of the largest fundraising programs of its kind in the state.

Each year the “Excellence in Education” award is presented to collegiate educators that have shown exemplary commitment to education, innovation and leadership in the community.

“This collegiate administrator has demonstrated exceptional performance toward improving the quality of teaching and learning for students,” said Nancy Roach, executive director of the Phoenix Ronald McDonald House. “She is a truly outstanding educator whose distinguished leadership is impacting our Arizona youth.”

Thor has served 22 years as a college president and 18 at Rio Salado College in Tempe. Under Thor’s leadership, Rio Salado, known as “the college without walls,” has become a national leader in online education. The innovative college provides uniquely accessible and affordable courses to those who might not otherwise be able to pursue a higher education. Online classes start every Monday and students can take advantage of online tutoring and support services seven days a week while they earn associate degrees and certificates. The college has developed a reputation for innovation and has been profiled in the The New York Times, the Chronicle of Higher Education, University Business, and other major publications.

Over the past 12 years Rio Salado has earned a national reputation for academic excellence and for taking the lead in the explosive growth of eLearning. Nearly 30,000 of its 61,000 students enroll annually in online classes.

RMHC U.S. Scholarship Program offers scholarships to Arizona high school students from communities that face limited access to educational and career opportunities. Since its inception, the program has awarded over 1,000 scholarships to students.

Thor admits she has a deep affinity for the program’s goal to provide Arizona high school seniors scholarships.

Thor wasn’t always college bound. Bored with high school and with a well-paying job as a high school graduate, Thor considered continuing her summer job and not going to college. With prodding from her mother, Thor enrolled with the promise if she didn’t like it she could quit.

“Obviously college was a good match since I have gone to college nearly every day of my life since then,” said Thor.

But it wasn’t easy. Thor’s father was a police officer and the family couldn’t afford the university tuition. But with multiple scholarships, Thor was able to attend college, graduating from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor’s degree and continuing on to complete her Master’s in Public Administration and earning a doctorate in Education in Community College Administration.

As a college president, Thor relates to many of her students knowing first-hand what it’s like to juggle full-time work, home and family while going to college.

“I told myself if I ever became a college president, I would help working adults who are trying to balance family, work and school,” said Thor. “I have devoted the majority of my career to making a college education convenient and accessible, especially for working adults.”

Rio Salado officially opened in 1978, catering to non-traditional college students. In 1996 it launched its first online courses and currently offers nearly 450 online classes. It is the only community college in the country which offers weekly start dates.

“I am very proud that this year Rio Salado will serve nearly 60,000 students for whom a traditional college education is not an option,” Thor said.

For registration or more information call 480-517-8540 or go to www.riosalado.edu/registration.

To apply for a RMHC U.S. Scholarship, visit www. rmhc.org. Students must be a high school senior; enroll and attend an institution of higher education or a vocational or technical school; reside in central or northern Arizona; be less than 21 years of age and be a legal United States resident. Additionally, the student must submit a complete application and all required documentation by February 16, 2009.

The RMHC U.S. Scholarship Program is supported through the efforts of Arizona businesses and community organizations; neighborhood McDonald’s owners/operators and suppliers; local and national Ronald McDonald House Charities; and the McDonald’s Corporation.

# posted by Rio Salado College : 10:20 AM

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Information sessions for ESL online to be held

Students around the Valley can learn English and earn college credit in online and in-person courses through Rio Salado College.

The online English as a Second Language (ESL) classes begin every week and in-person classes start Jan. 12. Residents and non-residents may enroll in the courses, which cost $71 to $96 per credit hour.

The classes use innovative voice-recognition software that allows students to hear the words they need to speak and read English. The classes include games and other engaging activities, as well as quizzes and writing assignments to reinforce their learning.

Interested students can learn more about Rio Salado’s ESL online courses at “One-Stop-Shop” information sessions at Rio Salado campuses in the East and West Valley in November.

For more information call 480-517-8249, visit www.riosalado.edu/eslonline or e-mail esl.online@riosalado.edu.

The “One-Stop-Shop” events are:
· 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12, 20 and 24 @
Rio Salado @ East Valley1455 S. Stapley Drive, Suite 15Mesa, AZ 85204 (just north of the Superstition Highway)

· 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 13, 17 and 19 @
Rio Salado @ Avondale
420 N. Central Ave.Avondale, AZ 85323 (just south of Van Buren)

E. J. Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Rio Salado College
2323 West 14th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
ej.anderson@riosalado.edu

# posted by Rio Salado College : 10:10 AM

Monday, October 20, 2008

Rio Salado's interpretation program fills hospital need

Hospital stays can be scary, but what if you don’t speak the language and you can’t communicate with the medical staff?

What if your child is critically injured or seriously ill? Reassurance and communication from a physician can be vital.

And just as daunting is when medical personnel need information and can’t communicate with the patient or the patient’s family.

Phoenix’s Children’s Hospital and Rio Salado College have partnered to develop a program designed to “bridge the gap” in languages.

Realizing the need for bilingual speakers who were familiar with the medical field, the hospital developed the Spanish Medical Interpretation curriculum. Last month Rio Salado, which already has an extensive online foreign language program with courses in Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, French and German, put it online.

The new online interactive format has enormously expanded the accessibility of a program which in its in-person status was very limited, Angela Felix, PhD, Faculty Chair for Rio Salado College Foreign Languages Department, said.

The classes, SPA 205 and SPA 206, are both 3-credit college-level courses. SPA205 is an introduction to Spanish interpretation for medical interpreters, and covers the code of ethics, national standards and medical interpreter’s responsibilities. Interpretation for firefighters, ambulance personnel and other first responders is also included. In SPA206 students learn medical vocabulary, including human anatomy and physiology, in Spanish and English.
The courses are the only kind in the state. Designed for those who are already proficient in another language but want to be effective medical interpreters, the classes teach students important skills.

“Many of us who work in hospitals speak Spanish, but we don’t learn technical medical vocabulary at home,” said Barbara Rayes of the National Medical Interpreter Project at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

“We want to be sure that when a doctor’s words are interpreted, nothing is lost in the translation. Getting the message right takes a lot of training,” Rayes said.
“There are so many grave errors that can be committed between patients and doctors,” Felix said.

Students in the class learn anatomy, physiology, medical terms and procedures so they have a basic understanding of what they are interpreting.

“You can’t create meaning from ideas you don’t understand, so subject matter knowledge is as important as terminology,” says AnaMaria Bambaren -Call, President of Arizona Translators and Interpreters, Inc.

At Phoenix Children’s Hospital, teachers use a variety of teaching tools including pictures, glossaries, and even a cow’s heart, which is dissected during class to help attendees understand the cardiovascular system.

In the online format, students access videos and interactive activities to simulate the in-person experience.

“You have to get the message right. It has to be complete. Sometimes, a person’s life depends on it,” said Bambaren-Call.

There is no national certification for interpreters. Phoenix Children’s Hospital received a grant to develop the Medical Interpreter curriculum.

After finishing the online class, student Angelita Whately said it has become even clearer how dangerous mistakes in interpretation can be in the area of medicine, especially pediatric medicine.

“Knowing the language is key. I feel I have a lot to learn still. Also, I was unaware of just what would be expected of me as an interpreter, the guidelines, the do’s and don’ts,” said Whately who has taken every Spanish class offered at the college.

For information or registration about the Spanish Medical Interpretation classes call 480-517-8540 or go to www.riosalado.edu/registration.

Rio Salado College is one of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges. The college offers degrees and career and technical certificates in business, computer technology, early childhood and teacher education, healthcare, law enforcement and more.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class care in more than 40 pediatric specialties to our state’s sickest kids. Though Phoenix Children’s is one of the ten largest freestanding children’s hospitals in the country, rapid population growth in Arizona means the Hospital must grow as well. Phoenix Children’s recently announced a $588 million expansion plan to bring its special brand of family-centered care to even more patients and families. The plan includes a significant upgrade of the Hospital's current campus, an aggressive physician recruitment effort, and new satellite centers in high growth areas of the Valley. For more information, visit the Hospital’s Web site at http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/.

# posted by Rio Salado College : 8:45 AM

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Rio Salado College outreach center opens

Rio Salado College, the online college, is reaching out to students with a new center to help students be successful.

On Oct. 6 the college’s outreach center began making personal phone calls to offer students assistance with a variety of tasks. Those tasks included helping with registration, providing information about programs and courses, explaining about financial aid and tuition payment options, informing struggling students about tutoring opportunities and describing how credits transfer to a university.

The center will even call students in jeopardy of being dropped for failure to pay tuition reminding them of the college’s payment plan.

“We are really excited about our new outreach center. It’s another program designed to help students be successful in the college environment,” Kishia Brock, Dean of Enrollment said.

The college already has a myriad of support services including 24/7 help for students with instructional or technical questions, online academic advising, registration, enrollment and library services. But most of those services are geared to current students.

The new outreach center will help prospective students trying to navigate the system before they are enrolled as well as those enrolled with questions.

The new center will even be used to assist students in figuring out the next class they need to complete their educational goals at Rio Salado.

“A lot of students are closer to a degree than they think from the credits they have already taken. We want to make it happen,” Maribeth All, Outreach Manager said.

“We are really offering one-stop-shopping. All the information students need to know will be right here just one phone call away,” All said.

The center will also work closely with the Maricopa County Community College District online student center called My.maricopa.edu.

Students requesting information from the college will also benefit from the new outreach center. Requests for information will be followed with a phone call to ensure mailed material was received and students’ questions have been answered.

“We’re taking customer service very seriously and hope our new outreach center will help students earn the degree or certificate they want,” All said.

Many of the nearly 60,000 students who attend Rio Salado College are nontraditional college students. They may work-full time; have just returned to college after a long absence or they are the first person in their family to attend college. The outreach center will most likely be a new student’s first contact with the college and is designed to be personable and inviting.

“This is a tough economy; in order to be more marketable job seekers need to have an education. Rio Salado understands real life and has designed online classes that start every Monday for our students,” All said. “This makes our job easy because our students don't have to wait for a semester to start their classes.”

Members of the college’s new outreach department are thrilled to be working with students.

“I love that we are reaching out to our students. That’s what we are here for, to help people better themselves by furthering their education,” Mikko Woolley of the outreach team said.

Jeremy Beecroft, who also works in the outreach center, still remembers how intimidating it was when he started college.

“I understand the challenges prospective and current students encounter. I want to help make the Rio Salado College experience to be positive and rewarding for students,” Beecroft said.

Rio Salado College is one of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges. The college offers degrees and career and technical certificates in business, computer technology, early childhood and teacher education, healthcare, law enforcement and more. For registration or more information call 480-517-8540 or go to www.riosalado.edu/registration.

# posted by Rio Salado College : 8:57 AM