Marymount Hosts “Bridging the Gap” Grammar Conference

On Saturday May 3rd, 2014 teachers from all over the New York City area gathered for a unique one-day symposium on writing and grammar.

Director of Academic Writing, Tahneer Oksman, and Communication Sciences and Disorders professor, Susan Behrens, co-hosted “Bridging the Gap,” a one day conference about reading, writing, and critical thinking skills for college success.

Marymount Manhattan College and the Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar (National Council of Teachers of English) sponsored the day which included a screening of Susan Behrens’ new documentary, The Three Rs, as well as a mini-workshop on effective and engaging ways of teaching grammar in the context of the writing process, thinking and talking about the nature of academic English, and recognizing discipline-specific writing conventions and expectations.

Dr. Oksman stated about the conference, “We had a really nice conversation later in the day when four [MMC] students joined us, as well as Cecilia [Feilla], Mark [Bresnan], and my colleague from Queensborough Community College, Laurel Harris. It was nice to see that everyone who came stayed for the day, and the film and conversation portions were especially excellent. Several people commented to me afterwards at how impressed they were with the Marymount students.”

Amy Benjamin, Tahneer Oksman, Susan Behrens, and Peter Naccarato Amy Benjamin, Tahneer Oksman, Susan Behrens, and Peter Naccarato