The 2024 Back-To-School World Language Teachers Summit is set for July 22-26 online, including presentations on AI in language teaching. Sessions cover lesson planning, AI tools, and integrating technology for workload optimization and teaching enhancement.
The World Language Teacher Summit, the largest online conference for language teachers, started in 2019 and is hosted by Jared Romey. Renowned educator experts convene annually, offering free professional development for language teachers, sharing their insights and methodologies to impact millions of language students worldwide.
When Teachers Mix Translanguaging and Dialogic Instruction in the WL Classroom
When teachers mix translanguaging and dialogic instruction in the classroom, it’s like turning up the volume on student engagement, critical thinking, and empathy. By giving students the green light to use all their languages and really dig into analyzing texts, teachers create a totally different classroom vibe.
Students can chat away in different languages, it’s not just about learning words—it’s about flexing their brain muscles in all sorts of ways. They’re diving deep into texts, picking them apart, and putting them back together again.
Making Language Stick with Total Physical Response (TPR)
Language learning doesn’t have to be a grind of rote memorization. Imagine a classroom where students are actively moving, engaged, and picking up new words almost as naturally as they did when they were toddlers!
It’s entirely possible with Total Physical Response (TPR), a brain-compatible strategy that not only deepens learner engagement but also ensures the long-term retention of language skills.
11 Teaching Techniques Proven to Make the World Language Classroom More Fun
In language education, using a mix of different methods is key to boosting understanding and keeping students interested. Trying out various teaching techniques gives educators plenty of options to create engaging and effective lessons.
Today, we’ll look at eleven teaching methods, each designed to meet different learning styles and goals. Diving into language learning isn’t just about memorizing vocab and getting the grammar right—it’s also about making the process engaging and fun!
Integrating Socratic Seminars and Artificial Intelligence
The way we teach advanced language and literature classes is changing a lot, thanks to more interactive and engaging methods. One standout approach is the Socratic Seminar, which really helps students dive deep into literary analysis.
Socratic Seminars are even more impactful when combined with the strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI), enhancing both the preparation and execution of educational activities within the classroom.
Back-To-School: Strong Starts for Language Learning
Setting the stage for active and engaged learning in world language classes from the moment students enter the classroom is crucial. The first few minutes of class present a unique opportunity to captivate student interest and set the tone for the rest of the session.
Digital Organization Mastery for Teachers
A well-structured digital organization system not only saves precious time but also enhances productivity, allowing you to focus on their core responsibilities.
Let’s explore practical approaches and tools that can be utilized to set up a personalized, streamlined digital organization system that caters to individual needs and preferences.
The initial weeks determine the trajectory of the students’ educational experience and are integral to laying a foundation that fosters academic proficiency and productive classroom habits.
8 Essential Elements for the First Weeks of School
As the starting whistle of a new academic year sounds, educators are presented with a golden window to cultivate an atmosphere of learning, respect, and community in their classrooms. It’s a time that requires foresight and deliberate action.
The initial weeks determine the trajectory of the students’ educational experience and are integral to laying a foundation that fosters academic proficiency and productive classroom habits.
Back-To-School: Is it Possible to Speak the Target Language from Week One?
The transition back to school is an opportune time for educators to cultivate an environment that encourages language immersion and strengthens students’ verbal skills.
Emphasizing the importance of speaking in the target language from the first week of classes instills habits that will benefit students throughout the academic year. Discover the methods and philosophies that promote student engagement and language acquisition from the outset.
Integrating the Stories of Hispanic Women into the Spanish Curriculum: Women’s History Month
The importance of diversity and inclusion in the classroom cannot be overstated. A comprehensive Spanish curriculum that celebrates the contributions of Hispanic women not only enriches students’ learning experience but also serves as a powerful tool for empowerment and combating stereotypes.
Promoting Inclusivity for All Identities in the Language Classroom
Let’s discuss the various facets of including queer identities in language education, exploring the resistance encountered and advocating for strategies that uphold linguistic liberation and LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
Engaging Students Through Cultural Connections in the Spanish Classroom
When educators blend culture and language learning seamlessly, they not only enrich the learning environment but also encourage a profound, empathetic understanding of diversity among students.
Ideas to Celebrate Black History Month in the Language Classroom
The integration of Black History Month themes offers a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity, explore social justice issues, and highlight the contributions of the African diaspora. By incorporating a range of resources and activities, educators can create an immersive and inclusive learning environment that reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of students today.
Strategies for Integrating Poetry in the Spanish Classroom
Comprehensible poetry strips away the barriers that often render classical literary texts intimidating for language learners. By offering poetry written with familiar vocabulary and structures, educators help students navigate new linguistic landscapes with confidence.
Teaching Spanish Through Interactive Stations
Explore various station-based activities and games designed specifically for language learning and analyze their impact on vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, comprehension, and conversational skills.
How to Create a Community-Centered Classroom for Spanish Language Acquisition
The pursuit of language proficiency in educational settings often revolves around the challenge of creating an environment conducive to natural language acquisition. A pivotal factor in this quest is the understanding that learning thrives within a community-oriented approach paired with engaging methodologies.
The Potential of Drama in the Spanish Classroom: A TPRS Approach
Utilizing drama within a Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) framework elevates the traditional language learning experience by integrating creativity, context, and cognates into the curriculum, fostering deeper understanding and retention.
8 Engagement and Motivation Techniques for the Spanish Classroom
By utilizing a variety of teaching strategies such as games, movement activities, and interactive routines, Spanish teachers can create an emotionally engaging and intellectually stimulating environment that promotes language acquisition and cultural appreciation.
Embracing Diversity and Challenging Biases in the World Language Classroom
In an increasingly diverse and interconnected world, the language classroom has become a critical arena for promoting equity and challenging biases. This has necessitated a shift in pedagogical approaches to ensure that teaching methods are inclusive and reflective of the complexities of gender, race, and culture.
Strategies to Maintain Focus and Attention in the World Language Classroom in the Digital Era
In the digital era, the infusion of technology into our daily lives has reshaped the way we engage with the world—including how we learn languages.
5 Innovative Practices for Sustainable Language Teaching
Explore the principles and practices necessary for establishing a sustainable language teaching framework.
Genial.ly: The Best AI for Visual Storytelling
Through the power of tools like Genial.ly and Canva, language educators are now equipped to craft engaging and dynamic narratives that captivate the curiosity of learners and make the educational journey both fun and effective.
Language Learning Through Music Brackets
Explore the versatile approach of music brackets in language classrooms, underscoring their efficacy in fostering engagement, enhancing cultural appreciation, and strengthening language competencies.
Allison Perryman: Spanish Teacher, Creator of The Cultural Classroom, and Host of Diversity in Action
Allison Perryman brings over 20 years of experience in Spanish language education to her presentations. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusivity, Perryman emphasizes the importance of confronting biases in the Spanish classroom.
Ashley Mikkelsen: Srta. Spanish
Ashley Mikkelsen is a Spanish teacher and the creator of Srta Spanish. She startedlearning Spanish in 8th grade, studied Spanish and Education in college, then lived inSegovia, Spain during school.
Bertha Delgadillo: High School Spanish Teacher
Bertha is a high school public educator in Savannah, Georgia. In addition to teaching Spanish II – AP Spanish Language and Culture, Bertha enjoys sharing effective acquisition driven instructional strategies with her district colleagues at professional regional, & national conferences as well as at informal gatherings.
Carolina Gómez: Creator of Fun for Spanish Teachers
Carolina has a background in languages and education, together with a Masters inIntercultural Relations. Originally from Colombia, she now lives in the US where she isan Elementary Spanish teacher, teaching Pre-K to third grade.
Jessica Hall: Miss Señorita
Meet JessicaJessica Hall, also known as Miss Señorita, is an accomplished Spanish teacher specializing in grades 7th to 12th. Hailing from New Haven, CT, she brings a wealth of international experience to her teaching. During her college years, Jessica studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, immersing herself in the language and culture. Her passion for languages […]
Claudia Elliott: Founder of Growing with Proficiency & Spanish Teacher Academy
Meet ClaudiaClaudia Elliott is a Spanish teacher at Paxon School for Advanced Studies in Jacksonville Florida where she was selected TOY for 2020. Claudia has been teaching Spanish since 2005. She currently teaches Spanish 1, Spanish 3 IB, and AP Spanish Language and Culture. In recent years, Claudia has implemented dramatic changes to her teaching […]
Joshua Cabral: Spanish Teacher, Creator, and Host of World Language Classroom
Meet JoshuaJoshua Cabral, a prominent figure in Spanish language education, holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition, boasting an impressive 26 years of teaching experience. His journey in the field has been marked by a fervent advocacy for leveraging literacy and reading as potent forms of comprehensible input. As the esteemed host […]