View this message online

October 2022

Congratulations to the FLAVA 2022 World Language Teachers of the Year

Christina Ballew, teacher of German at Menchville High School in Newport News,  2022 David Cox FLAVA Award for Excellence in K-12 World Language Teaching.

Dr. Martha Davis, Professor of Spanish at Northern Virginia Community College,  2022 Marshall Brannon FLAVA Award for Excellence in Post-secondary World Language Teaching.

VDOE Updates

Governor's World Language Academies (GWLA)

Information about the 2023 Academies is now available on the VDOE World Language Academies website.  Superintendents' memo #248-22 contains information about the GWLA and the other summer residential programs.

Significant changes for the 2023 GWLA include:

• New access link for the online student application process.  Everyone, including teacher recommenders, will need to register on the Survey Monkey Apply platform the first time they access the system.
• Staff and teacher observer applications are housed on the host university's website.  The university websites are linked on the World Language Academies website in the Staff Applications section.
• Student applicants should use the Student Application Planning Form to assist in gathering information needed to complete the application.

World Language Wednesday sessions

Register in advance for the 2022-2023 World Language Wednesdays and select the dates/topics you wish to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting(s).

• December 7, 2022: "Rubrics, Feedback, and Grading in the Proficiency-oriented Classroom"
• January 18, 2023: “Engaging Our Diverse Language Learners Through Communicative Interactive Tasks”

Other topics are TBD and will take place on the third Wednesday of each month from 4:30p.m. - 5:30p.m. There is no session in November.

Dual Language/ Immersion

Article: Dual Language Immersion Program Proposed for 2 (Loudoun County) Elementary Schools (September 9, 2022)

Welcoming Bilingual Learners with Disabilities into Dual Language Programs.  This white paper from the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) reviews evidence concerning the capacity of young learners with disabilities to acquire more than one language during the preschool and school years and the characteristics of dual language programs and classroom instruction and intervention practices that support their language development, learning, and well-being in school.

Article: Dual-language students in N.C. school outperform peers. The News Herald (Morganton, N.C.) (10/2)

International Education

Application Period open for Study Abroad Programs

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) provides more than 1,000 merit-based fully-funded opportunities for U.S. high school students to study abroad for a summer or an academic year in more than 25 countries.  These exchange programs prepare young Americans to succeed in the 21^st century’s global economy by developing their foreign language skills, increasing their cross-cultural understanding, strengthening their confidence and leadership capacity, and fostering new academic insights and ambitions.   

The application periods are now open for multiple programs.  Programs cover international airfare, tuition, program costs, meals, and living accommodations (often with a host family).  There are no language prerequisites, except for select Youth Ambassadors programs.  Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 18.5 when the program starts.   Programs particularly seek to reach young people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in a study abroad experience.   Please contact us at youthprograms@state.gov with any questions.  

Professional Learning Opportunities

Free Membership in AATSP

The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) is offering free first-year memberships for National Teach Spanish Week. This offer is available for those that have never been a member of AATSP and is available from now until 12/10/2022. Visit AATSP.org  and use code FreeFY2023 at checkout to redeem.

Resources, Articles and Research

Article:  Support classroom lessons with virtual field trips. Edutopia (8/31) 

Article: 3 Reasons Why Bilingual Skills Are Entrepreneurial Differentiators. Entrepreneur (7/6)

Blog post:  Sign Language Alphabets from Around the World: This blog post covers the alphabets of a variety of countries’ official sign languages. The author gives introductory information about each language’s history, origin, geographical location, and relation to other sign languages. Included under each sign language is a visual chart of its alphabet. The post also includes tips for how to use fingerspelling fluidly, and in context, once one has mastered the letters of the alphabet. This post would be useful for beginning learners of sign languages, or learners interested in the similarities, differences, and relationships between world sign languages.

Free Library of Japanese materials:  JF USA Digital Library Webpage is a free digital library with over 1,800 titles in broad genres such as manga, literature, Japanese language, art, history, culture, society, cooking & food, etc.  Please note the digital library is available only for U.S. residents 14 years or older.

Info Session: “Salary Assistance Grant for U.S.-Japan Community Grassroots Exchange Program”.  Application Deadline: January 11, 2023. This program primarily aims to support the creation of new Japanese-themed programing mainly through funding for the position that will design and implement the programing.

Website: Which Indigenous lands are you on? This map will show you.

Podcast: How the Ojibwe Language Survived the Pandemic

Collection of French Comprehensible Videos:  This YouTube channel features videos of comprehensible French sorted by proficiency level.

Note: The inclusion of any professional development opportunity on this list from other entities does NOT constitute endorsement or verification by the Virginia Department of Education.