As we observe our students in the classroom setting, we look for them to be engaged in learning, not just “busy,” nor “on task.” We want them intellectually active in the target language with challenging content in a real world context. While attending my most recent district professional development day, the following explanation adapted from […]

#WAFLTwiWord is a monthly Instagram challenge inspired by Spanish educators Adelaida Martín Bosque and Pilar Munday, who created a similar challenge in 2014, #instagramELE. Each month there will be a word or a phrase relating to global languages and cultures posted by the WAFLT 21st Century Communications Committee to hashtag in posts by you and/or […]

Feedback is one of the most powerful influences on learning and achievement, but this impact can vary, dependent on when and how it is used . Evidence shows that although feedback is among the major influences, the type of feedback and the way it is given can be differentially effective. Dr. John Hattie, world renowned […]

“I overheard my daughter talking with her friends in German.” “A person came through the line when I was bagging groceries and didn’t understand the checker. I was able to help her because I spoke Spanish!” “My granddaughter showed me how she can write in Chinese!” Our students can be our best public relations advocates […]

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Nowadays, it is pretty common that technology plays an important role in the world language classroom. Our guiding resource ACTFL offers a position statement regarding the use of technology. “ACTFL acknowledges and encourages using the potential of technology as a tool to support and enhance classroom-based language instruction.” At the same time, ACTFL “recognizes the […]

If you have not visited your Senators or Representative, the process can seem a little daunting. How do I set up the meeting? Will they listen to me? How do I translate one visit into a relationship that can further serve language education? Still, when I am in Washington, D.C. working with the Joint National […]

I recently wrote the following in a personal statement of my teaching philosophy: I value a safe and culturally rich classroom environment where risk-taking in the target language is encouraged thus preparing students to communicate in real-life situations using communicative, collaborative and creative skills they have gained as they apply the content they have learned. […]

In 2008, WAFLT and Discover Languages Wisconsin launched the first edition of the Student Video & Postcard Contests. These contests are based on the ACTFL Discover Languages Campaign. Fast forward to 2016 and our contests are continuously celebrating and recognizing our student’s connections to world languages in Wisconsin!   Our contests are designed for all students […]

Student presentations are commonplace in world language classrooms and have been for a long time. Teachers use them for all the right reasons: instruction moves from teacher-fronted to student-centered, students gain responsibility for course content, and learners practice ACTFL’s presentational mode of communication. Presentations offer a possibility to assign research outside the classroom to students, […]