2025 Heritage Language Learning Symposium

Hybrid on February 20 - 21 but register by February 1

The UNC Charlotte Department of Languages, Cultures, and Translation is collaborating with a variety of partners to sponsor the 2025 Heritage Language Learning Symposium, which will take place on Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21, 2025, at 10:00 am - 6:00 pm each day. The 2025 Heritage Language Learning Symposium will focus on promoting a broad understanding of literacy practices and training for heritage speakers by bringing together experts in the fields of bilingual education in Arabic, Chinese, French, and Spanish.

Details about the program and abstracts for the online research presentations, the in-person workshops, and the registration form can be found on the 2025 Heritage Language Learning Symposium website. There is no cost to attend the symposium, but attendees must register in advance. K-12 educators, graduate and undergraduate students, and faculty from institutions of higher education are all welcome.

NC Annual HIspanic/Latinx Education Summit

McKimmon Center in Raleigh on February 15

NC State's College of Education and the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals are inviting professional educators from across North Carolina to the NC Annual Hispanic/Latinx Summit, which will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh.

This event is designed to equip educators (teachers, counselors, instructional assistants, administrators, school librarians, etc.) with the tools and strategies needed to effectively teach Latinx students while fostering meaningful engagement with their families. Together, participants will explore how educators can build strong, supportive communities that enhance student success and strengthen cultural connections in order to create an inclusive environment where Latinx students can thrive both academically and socially.

Additional information, such as the featured speakers and the online registration form, can be found on the NC Annual Hispanic/Latinx Summit website.

FLANC Spring Conference

Greenville NC Convention Center

Saturday, March 1

The Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC) has invited the best presenters from the 2024 FLANC Fall Conference back to the 2025 FLANC Spring Conference to highlight the best of the World Language field, including the dual language/immersion (DL/I) community, in one conference. Five rounds of sessions, along with a buffet lunch that includes a keynote speaker and Project CAFE, will be available on Saturday, March 1, at the Greenville NC Convention Center.

Friday morning, February 28

FLANC is also offering optional DL/I school site visits on Friday morning, February 28, at six schools from three different districts (listed below). The goal is to provide flexibility as some attendees may want to schedule a Friday visit en route to the conference site.

1. Pactolus Global School (K-8) - Spanish DL/I in Pitt County Schools
2. Elmhurst Elementary School (K-5) - Spanish DL/I in Pitt County Schools
3. Rocky Mount Middle School (6-7) - Spanish DL/I in Nash County Schools
4. Stough Magnet Elementary School (K-5) - Chinese DL/I in Wake County Schools
5. Oberlin Magnet Middle School (6-8) - Chinese & Spanish DL/I in Wake County Schools
6. Dillard Drive Magnet Elementary (K-5) - Spanish DL/I in Wake County Schools

Please see the 2025 FLANC Spring Conference page for additional details about the schedule, conference sessions, DL/I site visits, and registration options.

CARLA Workshops for Teachers

The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota sponsors a variety of low-cost, online workshops for language teachers, including the upcoming sessions below on Saturdays from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm EST.

• February 8: Growth Mindset Grading Practices to Report Language Learner Progress
• February 22: Empowering Language Teachers with AI
• March 1: Instructional Strategies for Explicitly Teaching Language in Secondary DL/I Education
• April 12: Crafting Policies for AI Use in the Language Classroom

Go to the CARLA Workshops for Teachers page for additional details, including registration.

The Language Connects Foundation (LCF)/Vista Microgrants Program for Language Educators is an initiative to support and empower those who are passionate about teaching languages and incorporating cultural elements into their lessons.

This program is open to all K-12 language educators regardless of setting. Eligible individuals may apply for grants of $300 to fund a variety of projects, such as:

• Organizing cultural events or activities for their learners, including those in collaboration with relevant community organizations; and
• Creating projects that support diverse perspectives and provide opportunities to develop cultural competence.

There will be 100 microgrants of $300 each awarded during the 2024 - 2025 school year across several funding cycles, which have the following application periods and deadlines:

• November 13 to February 5, with awards announced on Monday, February 10; and
• February 6 to April 30, with awards announced on Monday, May 5.

Please see the LCF Classroom Microgrants for Language Educators webpage for details, including examples of successful applications, eligibility requirements, and the online application.

Call for K-12 Grant Proposals

Due March 2

Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, works to ensure broad and equal access to French language programs in collaboration with educational organizations, school districts, and local education agencies.

These efforts are part of a broader commitment to promoting French language learning at all levels, providing learners and educators from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to engage with French language and cultures, enrich their educational experiences, and strengthen bilateral relations between French and American communities.

Villa Albertine has launched three calls for projects, two of which will be funded by Albertine Foundation, aimed at public K-12 schools and nonprofit organizations across the United States. These calls for projects aim to develop and support the following programs: 

• French Dual Language and Immersion
• French Heritage Language, and
• French as a World Language. 

Details are posted on the Villa Albertine Education & Research page, including recorded informational webinars on the application process for each grant, a timeline with key dates, and application links.

NC Opera Tickets Available for Free

In appreciation of North Carolina teachers, teachers and their students (9th grade and up) can attend FLORENCIA EN EL AMAZONAS, the first Spanish-language opera ever performed by North Carolina Opera and sponsored by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), for FREE! (The opera is performed in Spanish with English translations projected above the stage.)

On Friday, January 31, a special pre-show educational talk will be held at 6:30 pm, and the performance will begin at 7:30 pm and run for two hours with one intermission. There will also be a special exhibit curated by Diamante Arts and Cultural Center on display in the lobby of the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, with art representing the themes of the production.

For details and to request free tickets, submit this online form. (Seats are limited; please note filling out the form does not guarantee seating. A DNCR staff member will contact you within 2 business days if seats are available.)

Note: Teachers of any grade interested in attending can fill out the request. Educators can also request multiple student seats (9th grade - 12th grade, community college, or university.) Please be CERTAIN of your plans to attend, as well as student attendance if requesting multiple seats. (Seats range from $50 - $115, thus we want to ensure that seats do not go unused.)

TAPIF Call for Applications

Open until February 28

The Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) is an initiative led by the French Ministry of Education, France Éducation International, and Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education. The TAPIF program offers U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have an intermediate level of French the chance to work as teaching assistants in France for seven months (October 1 - April 30). 

TAPIF applications for the 2025 - 2026 academic year are open until February 28, 2025. Please use the links in this article to learn more about the objectives, benefits, job duties, and selection criteria for this opportunity, including TAPIF Alumni Scholarships.