Oscar 2024

This session presents practical and readily adaptable instructional strategies to keep young learners interested and motivated. A thematic approach, incorporating stories, music and most importantly, play, captures students’ interest and whets the appetite for a range of language learning tasks, including repetition, listening comprehension and role play. The activities are repetitive and scaffolded and require no writing, making it suitable for young children, and students who learn differently. After modelling various themes and after discussing the instructional strategies, each participant develops a thematic language session individually. A speed date activity follows to sample the sessions and provide constructive feedback to each other.

This presentation showcases the challenges and successes of the Generation Alpha Arabic language learners. Participants learn how to effectively teach the Arabic language and cultures to Generation Alpha in a hybrid format—using various technology tools to promote cultural competence and facilitate communication. The presenter demonstrates the concept, the procedure, and the result of the Alpha Arabic language learners in the hybrid format.

"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.

This session highlights the development and sequencing of a proficiency-oriented unit that uses a feature film in the target language as its base. Participants discover how to gather supporting authentic resources, utilize engaging discussion techniques, underscore targeted grammatical structures and develop appropriate assessments that support the themes of the film aligned with proficiency goals. By using high-frequency vocabulary and high-interest topics these engaging units of film study provide optimal comprehensible input and boost language acquisition.

Music is an essential element of all cultures, and all proficiency level language classes celebrate cultures through music related activities integrated into the curriculum. A content based language course on popular music products, practices and perspectives deepens students’ cultural competencies, engages students beyond their language requirements and meets students’ various learning styles and interests.