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The NCDPI World Languages Team supports the implementation of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (SCOS) for World Languages and its support tools in all K-12 classrooms. Please take a look at the upcoming professional development (PD) offerings, as well as opportunities, for World Language educators that are included in this month's World Languages Newsletter.
This edition features the following:
Professional Development for World Languages
- Save the Dates for 2026-2027
- NCDPI World Languages Webinar Series
- NCDPI World Languages Regional Workshops
- ACTFL Discover Digital Micro-Learning Courses
- Villa Albertine Online Workshops with the Alliances Françaises
- SALC 2026-2027 All Things Immersion Webinar Series
- FLANC 2026 Fall Conference in Winston-Salem
Opportunities for World Language Educators & Programs
- Apply to Serve on NC's Innovation Leadership Council
- Apply for ACTFL First-Time Convention Attendee Stipends
- Apply to Join the Rural Teacher Leader Network for Western NC
- Submit Review Survey(s) for the NC SCOS for Social Studies
- Submit proposal(s) for the 10th International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education
Professional Development for World Languages
Save the Dates for 2026-2027
Please mark your calendars for NCDPI's upcoming professional learning and networking opportunities for World Language educators. Additional details, along with registration links, will be added to the Save the Dates document pictured in this article and on the NCDPI World Languages social media channels (Facebook and Instagram).
NCDPI World Languages Webinar Series
The 2026-2027 World Language Webinar Series will focus on teaching and assessing to build proficiency and be broadcast on the following Wednesdays at 3:45 - 5:15 pm.
- September 2, 2026
- November 4, 2026
- February 3, 2027
- April 7, 2027
NCDPI World Languages Regional Workshops
The Spring 2027 World Languages Regional Workshops will focus on implementation of the Standard Course of Study for World Languages and the use of the available support tools, as well as opportunities to network and plan together.
- April 19, 2027 Eastern (Greene County Schools)
- April 20, 2027 Central (NCDPI)
- April 27, 2027 Western (Clay County Schools)
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ACTFL Discover Digital Micro-Learning Courses
The ACTFL Discover program is designed to support world language educators by offering flexible digital micro-learning courses, providing the tools needed to make a real impact in the classroom. Each micro-course includes a 30-minute facilitator-led recorded session, along with additional resources such as external reading materials and ready-to-use activities, ensuring a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. These self-guided materials are designed to be available anytime, anywhere for professional growth.
Currently, there are six micro-learning courses available:
- Acquiring Language through Mindfulness, Brain Breaks, and Purposeful Play
- Equitable Grading: From Punitive System to Rewarding Growth
- How to Leverage AI to Create a Lesson Plan
- Independent Learning Strategies
- Making AI Work for Language Teachers
- Three Essential Steps to Integrating Culture and Intercultural Communication
Please go to the ACTFL Discover page for details about each course, along with registration information.
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Villa Albertine Online Workshops
Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, is a division of the French Embassy in the United States, and they are collaborating with the Alliances Françaises d'Amérique du Nord to provide online professional workshops. These free sessions provide practical tools and resources to engage and motivate students learning French while supporting professional growth.
Upcoming sessions, like those below, are posted on the Villa Albertine Online Teacher Workshops page and include registration links.
- August 13: Construire et animer un cours de Français Professionnel
- August 28: Utiliser les ressources de TV5 MONDE en classe de FLE
- September 25: L’IA en classe de FLE
Participants will receive (upon request) a certification of participation for the professional development program. Participation in each session in full is required to receive a Certificate of Completion.
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2026-2027 All Things Immersion Webinar Series
The Southern Atlantic Language Collaborative (SALC) team, representing Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, has opened registration for the 2026-2027 All Things Immersion (ATI) Webinar Series.
This ATI series aims to provide teachers with a platform to explore and engage in best practices related to immersion education. Educators from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia will facilitate sessions on all matters that positively impact teaching and learning in a dual language/immersion (DL/I) classroom.
SALC’s ATI professional learning opportunities are provided for free but registration is required.
Please go to the 2026-2027 ATI Webinar Series for Educators form and check all the sessions you plan to attend. You will receive a Zoom link invitation via email approximately one week before the sessions you have selected, so be sure to save these Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30 pm on your calendar.
- September 22: Bridging in the DL/I Classroom
- October 27: Aligning Language Goals with Content Goals in DL/I
- November 17: Embedding Cultural Content in the DL/I Classroom
- January 26: The Acquisition of Language and Vocabulary in DL/I
- February 23: DL/I at the High School Level
- March 23: Data Conversations that Drive Language Content Growth in DL/I
Note: Dates and topics may be subject to change.
Attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation for renewal credit from the South Carolina Department of Education upon completion of a survey at the end of each session.
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FLANC 2026 Fall Conference
Join our state professional organization, Fostering Language Acquisition in North Carolina (FLANC), in Winston-Salem on October 3–4 for the 2026 FLANC Fall Conference. This year’s theme, “Languages as Our Light, Culture as Our Compass,” celebrates the power of language and culture while providing meaningful professional learning opportunities to help grow world languages in our classrooms, schools, and communities.
Participants can earn up to 22 attendance hours while connecting with colleagues from across North Carolina, and the conference features engaging sessions for World Languages, Dual Language/Immersion programs, and Higher Education professionals. There will also be 3-hour workshops on Sunday, October 4, at no additional cost; however, advance registration is required to reserve a spot.
Conference registration includes:
- Two pre-conference webinars
- General sessions - Sneak Peek here!
- Scavenger hunt activities in the exhibit hall
- Continental breakfast and 2 lunches during the conference
- Allied organization meetings
FLANC is especially honored to welcome Dr. Bobby Hobgood as their keynote speaker. An award-winning educator, author, and technology leader in language education at UNC Charlotte, Dr. Hobgood is the author of How to Study a World Language and the recipient of numerous national and regional teaching excellence awards. This year also marks his 33rd consecutive year presenting at FLANC, making his keynote even more meaningful as FLANC celebrates its 60th anniversary!
Early Bird Registration is now open and available until September 11, 2026! Take advantage of discounted rates and join FLANC for an unforgettable conference experience. Questions can be directed to Kelly Ortiz at 1vp@flanc.org as she is serving as 1st Vice President & Program Chair.
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Looking for additional PD options?
Please see FLANC's K-20 Professional Development page for details about conferences, courses, events, webinars, etc. available from various organizations that serve many World Languages and/or types of programs, including DL/I. FLANC's PD page is continuously updated and, as you scroll through the list, you will find offerings available in the coming weeks and months.
Opportunities for World Language Educators & Programs
NC's Innovation Leadership Council
Applications due July 22
 NCDPI is accepting applications for the Innovation Leadership Council, a new statewide advisory council focused on identifying, vetting, and elevating innovative and evidence-based practices across North Carolina public schools.
The council will bring together leaders from districts, charter schools, lab schools, higher education, partner organizations, and NCDPI to help surface what is working, strengthen cross-sector learning, and support the spread of promising practices across varied contexts.
NCDPI is looking for applicants who bring field experience, practical judgment, evidence or evaluation expertise, implementation knowledge, and a commitment to collaborative problem-solving. Council members will help shape annual focus areas, review promising practices, advise on evidence and scalability, and contribute to statewide learning and dissemination.
Applications are due Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and the online application, along with additional details, are posted on the NCDPI Innovation Leadership Council page.
Please consider applying or sharing this opportunity with someone who would bring a valuable perspective to this work.
ACTFL First-Time Convention Attendee Stipends
Applications due July 29
ACTFL, our national professional organization, sponsors the First-Time Attendee Stipend Award program to provide financial assistance in the amount of $500 to language educators who register for the full ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo, which will be in San Antonio, Texas on November 20-22, 2026.
Any language educators who have never attended the ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo are invited to apply. ACTFL encourages teachers in their first three years of teaching and teachers with more than three years of experience to apply, as well as individuals who are members of historically underrepresented groups, working at Title I institutions, and/or with a demonstrated financial need.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the ACTFL Stipend Awards Program page has additional details and the online application form.
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Rural Teacher Leader Network for Western North Carolina
Applications due July 31
 The Public School Forum of North Carolina, in collaboration with Appalachian State University’s GEAR UP program, is recruiting for the third cohort of the Rural Teacher Leader Network (RTLN)!
RTLN was created for rural educators who want to develop as teacher leaders and seek to improve their practice, as well as foster community with teacher leaders developing their own leadership capacity to guide other teachers in their schools.
RTLN will bring together up to 40 western NC educators with strong potential to create, build upon, and accelerate growth in leadership.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Educators who:
- Teach in one of the following NC Appalachian:
- Combined GEAR UP Counties covering Grades 6-8: Burke, Clay, Graham, Madison, Swain, Watauga, and Yancey.
- GEAR UP 3.0 APEX ONLY Counties Grades 6-8: Catawba, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Polk, and Transylvania.
- Have at least 3 years of experience in the classroom.
- Can provide a positive recommendation and support from school leadership for their application.
- Are able to travel to professional learning outside of their district starting in October 2026.
Applications for the 2026-2028 RTLN Cohort will be accepted through Friday, July 31, 2026, and the online application has additional details about this opportunity and its requirements. Please email rtlnwest@ncforum.org with questions about the RTLN and/or the application process.
Review Survey(s) for the NC SCOS for Social Studies
Submit by August 1
As part of the North Carolina Social Studies Standards Review and Revision process, the K–12 Social Studies Team in NCDPI's Office of Teaching and Learning is seeking meaningful feedback from educators and stakeholders across the state. Your expertise and perspective are valuable in helping ensure that the Social Studies Standard Course of Study (SCOS) continues to meet the needs of North Carolina students and reflects high-quality, relevant instruction.
The information below provides important details regarding the purpose of this stakeholder input opportunity and how feedback will be used throughout the revision process.
State Board of Education policy specifies that the NC Department of Public Instruction will formally collect feedback on the current standards from educators, administrators, parents, students, institutions of higher education, business/industry representatives, national organizations, and other education agencies. The purpose of this survey is to obtain input from educators and stakeholders familiar with the Social Studies Standard Course of Study in order to inform revision decisions, which may include changes, clarifications, additions, deletions, or replacements to the current standards and objectives.
The NCDPI Social Studies Team requests your thoughtful input and comments on the current academic standards and objectives for Social Studies to inform the review and revision process.
Any individual who wishes to provide input on the Social Studies Standard Course of Study (SCOS) is encouraged to complete the survey(s) by August 1, 2026. Each survey is estimated to take approximately 10–20 minutes to complete, depending on the grade level selected for review, and should be completed in one sitting. If you would like to provide feedback on more than one grade or course, you will be able to submit additional surveys by clicking on the link that will be provided after the submission of each completed survey.
Please access the survey(s) you would like to complete by clicking on the button(s) below.
10th International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education
Submit proposals by September 11
Dual Language/Immersion (DL/I) educators are invited to submit a session proposal by September 11, 2026, for the 10th International Conference on Immersion & Dual Language Education—a signature gathering for educators and researchers committed to advancing multilingual learning.
Join educators, researchers, and advocates from around the globe to explore the future of immersion and dual language education. Engage in rich discussions, share research and classroom strategies, and build lasting connections at this milestone event.
Additional details and the submission form are at dli-alliance.org/event/global27/, which can also be accessed by clicking on the flyer in this article, including information about the topic strands and presentation types.
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Wanting to find more opportunities for language educators?
Please see FLANC's K-20 Opportunities for Students and Educators page for details about awards, calls for proposals, grants, scholarships, etc. from various groups that support World Language educators, students, programs, and organizations. FLANC's Opportunities page is continuously updated in chronological order by due date, and you can scroll through the list to see what's available.
Connect with NCDPI World Languages
Dr. Ann Marie Gunter, K-12 World Languages Consultant
Find a date and time to meet using the online scheduler: go.ncdpi.gov/ConnectWL
Options are available through the end of July with extended hours Monday - Thursday
Go to the World Languages Resources Hub: go.ncdpi.gov/WLresources
Follow us on Facebook as NCDPI World Languages
Find us on Instagram @NCDPI_WORLDLANG
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