User:Thelmadatter



You can reach me on Facebook (Leigh Thelmadatter)

/Articles I have created or significantly expanded

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Bio
Hola! I am an American English-as-a-foreign-language teacher who has lived in central Mexico for over 13 years, first in Toluca and now in Mexico City. My interest in Wikipedia began as an outgrowth of my interest in technology and language learning in general, looking for ways to authentically practice language skills in the form of projects. That was about eight years ago. Since then, I have become rather addicted to writing and improving articles on Mexico in the English language Wiki for several reasons. First of all, much of what I write about requires the use of Spanish-language sources of information. For some reason, L2 reading is tough for me, so this forces me to read in Spanish and produce something to show for all the effort. My Spanish reading skills have improved. Second, I learn so much about my adopted home Mexico. It has allowed me to look at what I see with new eyes and much better appreciation since I know about the history and culture behind all the churches, archeological ruins, plazas and crafts that can seem to be the same after a while. Thirdly, I have met many intelligent and wonderful people through the various groups, people and projects of the Wikimedia Foundation.

I am involved with various groups and projects related to Wikipedia. My main focus is the development of the recognized Wikimedia Foundation affiliate Wiki Learning-Tec de Monterrey where I to work in outreach and developing new ways for students to be involved with Wikipedia, such as the social service requirement for International Baccalaureate students. I have worked on a number of outreach projects such as those with the Museo de Arte Popular, Mexico City, Museo del Objeto del Objeto, the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana, Garros Galería and others.

I cannot stress enough how much this has enriched my "wiki life" and my life in general, meeting people from all over Mexico with ambitions. I have an international networks of contacts in museums, national archives and more to allow me to give opportunities to students as I help myself as well.

As a teacher, I have worked at ITESM for over 13 years..., for the first five years, I worked at Campus Toluca but now I am at Campus Ciudad de Mexico. My professional interests are Computer assisted language learning, Self_access_language_learning_centers and the teaching of composition. At Campus Toluca, I started their self access digital lab and used Wikipedia for the advanced college-level English classes to teach writing skills. Because of this, I tend to work on articles related to Mexican geography, Mexican handcrafts, folk art and fine art.

While I still teach classes, Wikipedia has enmeshed itself into my working life. I co-founded and run the program "Wiki Learning Tec de Monterry," a recognized affiliate of the Wikimedia Foundation. In this program, students work with Wikipedia as part of class, to earn community service hours (mandatory of all Mexican university students) and with "Semana i" a week-long event at Tec de Monterrey when students work soley on a single project rather than attend classes.

I have a B.A. in Linguistics from Rutgers University, a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Arizona and M.A. in English Language and Linguistics from the U. of Arizona. I have taught advanced English as a second/foreign language for over 20 years at Cochise College, the U. of Arizona, ITESM Toluca and ITESM Ciudad de Mexico

I am originally from Carteret, New Jersey but I have lived in California, Texas, Germany, Massachusetts and Tucson, Arizona, Toluca, Mexico and now Mexico City. I love Mexico but I DO SOOOOO miss decent pizza and bagels! (I dont miss telemarketers and junk mail however. :D ).

Articles and other media related to my work

 * Adoptan Wikipedia Reforma newspaper
 * “Becoming involved in making the changes you want to see”: Leigh Thelmadatter
 * Wiki Learning holds massive edit-a-thon at Tec de Monterrey in Mexico City
 * Leading universities educate with Wikipedia in Mexico
 * The Tec de Monterrey system news portal covering Tec and Wikipedia
 * Coverage of Wikipedia and Tec in Especialista magazine (in Spanish)
 * Wiki Learning adopted at Tec de Monterrey
 * “Talento Tec” (in Spanish )
 * Student club Wiki Borregos contributes to Wikimedia projects
 * Wikipedia busca voluntarios para difusión de cultura hondureña
 * Wikipedia busca voluntarios para difusión de cultura hondureña
 * Busy semester
 * Article in The Linguist about Wikipedia and language learning
 * Contribuyen alumnos del Tecnológico de Monterrey a Wikipedia con información e imágenes de alta calidad
 * Interview with Tabi Tabi Yo, a Spanish/Japanese publication in Mexico City
 * Article in the blog Legal Insurrection
 * Article on photo contest called Day of the Dead Wiki Style
 * Video of presentation at the University of Leicester in England
 * Llegan a Londres trabajos de alumnos del campus sobre Wikipedia
 * Wikipedia as a foreign culture
 * Community service requirement fulfilled through Wikipedia contributions
 * Interesting perk for working with Wikipedia
 * Wikipedia Club at university in Mexico
 * Mexico calling language teachers
 * Meet Alex and Leigh, a couple from Mexico

Current semester projects
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Tech/Community_Service?enroll=eouxlkjw

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/Alejandro Flores

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