We share the results of focus group research with heritage learners of Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, and Russian about their knowledge of and interest in federal careers that use their language skills. Learn about high school and university students’ perspectives on the resources they use, questions they have, and obstacles they see in researching and pursuing possible careers. Presenters describe how these insights informed development of free web-based resources to help language learners connect their strengths and interests to career pathways, as well as how educators can support students to make these connections.
Feeling stressed by dropping enrollments in your programs? Enrollment in World Language courses at community colleges have been dropping over the last 12 years. This presentation describes the importance of the WL certificate as a valuable option for students to document their language and culture skills, and the process of creating such a program. By offering a certificate program, with the option of credentialing through the Global Seal of Biliteracy, more students can be reached in other disciplines as well as attracting students from local businesses who might want to increase their job skills. Participants find out how two different community colleges have created WL certificate programs to boost enrollment and provide students with skills for transfer and workforce.
Looking to strengthen your German program, to add depth and attract eager learners? Join us to learn about SPARK for German. We found success in our first year and are excited to share the building blocks that lead to success. We provide step-by-step action plans and share our actual experiences initiating this program to inspire participants to start their own SPARK lab. The SPARK program offers organic opportunities that support inclusion among student facilitators and student participants.
To aid their future careers as military officers, the United States Air Force Academy teaches its cadets a brand-new course, “French for Professional Purposes”, through the new pedagogical practice of “Inclusive Learning”. Participants hear how the instructor and her cadet co-presenter built a curriculum to meet the needs of a student body diverse in background, learning styles, age, and gender, with material curated through cadet research. Participants engage in inclusive activities and content representative of the course’s novel approaches to assignments and assessments, and leave with new techniques to make their courses even more inclusive for students.
Many students choose to study a language, because they want to use it for their enjoyment and advancement in their communities. In this session we explore using Communities standard to engage students, present them with real world opportunities to use their newly acquired language in their schools and communities. During the height of the pandemic, many people disengaged from the community. We re-examine how local communities can be a language learning resource and how learners can use their language skills in their communities.
Gifted students frequently abandon language study in favor of what they consider more useful subjects. We examine how these other subjects can become part of the language program. Students may be able to integrate the language they know in various ways in courses such as history, art, political science, or business. This promotes greater collaboration among teachers and better connections for students. The presenter gives examples and show how Language across the curriculum can become part of a language program. Participants are invited to share ideas.
Teachers know that every minute counts in the classroom, so multipurpose instructional routines can be instrumental in maximizing student learning. Number talks are a low-investment, high-reward practice that offer students and teachers a daily opportunity to build both computational and target language fluency while increasing student confidence in their mathematical skills and creating a classroom community in which everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas. In this session, learn the basics of how and why number talks are effective, hear and see examples from a first-grade Spanish dual language immersion classroom, and leave with everything you need to adapt and implement this tool with your own students!
"Arte urbano" or "arte callejero" is a colorful, eye catching - at times controversial - art form that provides a unique context for students to connect with both the Spanish language and the communities where it is spoken in the United States and around the world. Students respond well to this versatile authentic resource that can be integrated into units on everything from identity, food, family, clothing and health, to historical events and figures, and even the issues that challenge numerous communities such as climate change, immigration, gun violence, and human rights. It's versatility makes it appropriate for all 3 modes ( interpretive, interpersonal and presentational). Materials are shared and participants use Spanish to connect with the art and each other.
Interacting in a language class can be intimidating for the best of us. However, engaging in oral interactions is paramount to becoming proficient in a language, to believing in one's own abilities and engaging in the learning process.
Sergio is a 3rd grade student at {Insert your school name}. Sergio has many strengths, but has a hard time seeing them. He often says negative things to himself, especially in school. Come see how your students will come to the rescue and help Sergio go from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, all the while internalizing these messages and strategies for themselves. Thanks to the Power of Positivity, Sergio takes these lessons and applies them, seeing how his outlook can change every aspect of his day!
The emergence of multiliteracies as a key component of Foreign Language Education has led to a re-evaluation of translation as a pedagogical tool. With their focus on multiliteracy, translation activities provide access to authentic texts, and help students develop intercultural competence, as they engage with cultural narratives, in various modalities (films, graffiti, commercials…). The aim of this panel is to reflect on the potential of textual/audiovisual translation and translanguaging in the L2 classroom. It will showcase examples of student performance (in Greek and French), and reflect on the significance of translation as an instrument of mediation between cultures and as a tool for inquiry into the ways language constructs, and is constructed by, identity, culture and gender.
How can social media platforms like Instagram be used to expand the scope of “classroom” and build a virtual learning community? The presenters introduce a year-long community-building project conducted at an elementary Chinese course in college. We focus on how it successfully fosters a deeper connection among members of the Chinese course (teachers, tutors, students, and beyond), enhances meaningful interaction in their life, and helps learners get immersed in the target language and culture – all in a cohesive community. The participants learn how the project was seamlessly integrated into various parts of the course, and jointly reflect on potential ways to adapt the project into their own instructional contexts especially in the post-pandemic era.