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November 2023

All around me, la francophonie! 

November 1 - 8 is National French Week.

VDOE Updates

National Security Language Initiative - Critical Languages Grant 

The budget bill passed by the General Assembly includes funding for a competitive grant to school divisions that provide one or more world language courses identified as critical by the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) Youth scholarship  program. The grants will support one or more full-time equivalent teaching positions to provide critical language courses. The application period will open in December, 2023 with submissions due by February 28, 2024.

Governor's World Language Academies

The application period for the Governor's World Language Academies is now open. Information and related documents are posted on the GWLA page of the VDOE website.

Be Part of the Academies - Staff Applications

Language administrators, educators, teachers, and college students interested in a position at the Academies are encouraged to apply. Most of the faculty members at the Governor's World Language Academies are Virginia public secondary school teachers, private school teachers, or college professors. In addition, up to six young people per academy assist faculty and monitor dormitory behavior. These resident advisors are native speakers, college majors, or former Academy students.

Language teachers from across the state are also encouraged to apply to visit the academy of their language as teacher observers. Seeing the staff and students in action and taking an active role in some activities has proven highly successful as a leadership and professional development experience.

To apply for staff positions or teacher observer opportunities, visit the host site webpage or contact the host site coordinator of the selected Academy.

French, German, and Spanish Academies

• Location: Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA
• Website: Immersion Academies Website.  See the "Apply" tab for staff applications.

Japanese and Latin Academies

• Location: Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA
• Website: Latin Academy
• Website: Japanese Academy
• Contact: Email the Host Site Coordinator

Supervisors' Corner

Support for Schools and GWLA Program Leaders

Supervisors who are providing training to schools and program leaders for the Governor's World Language Academies (GWLA) may request support from the VDOE World Language Coordinator.  This support may include attendance at virtual training sessions, direct email and phone support, one-on-one video calls, and regional in-person training and information sessions.  Video, email, and phone support is also available to all SSWS data entry designees for assistance with access and use of the SSWS data entry and verification system.  Contact Lisa Harris to discuss support options and available training dates.

World Language Supervisor Tuesdays

World Language supervisors and lead teachers are invited to participate in monthly discussions on topics related to world language leadership and supervision. Sessions will take place on the second Tuesday of each month (except  November) at 10 a.m. Register in advance to receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting(s). The next meeting will take place on December 12, 2023.

Dual Language/ Immersion (DL/I)

DL/I Day 2024 - Save the Date and Share Your Brilliance!

Virginia's 5th annual DL/I Day, Biliteracy Brilliance: Nurturing Multilingual Minds, will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at the Thomas Fulghum Conference Center in Midlothian, Virginia.  Submit your proposal online before December 15, 2023, for a workshop session.

New Dual Language Methods Online Course at UVA

The University of Virginia is offering a new, asynchronous online course, EDIS 5481: Dual Language Methods, from January 17, 2024 to April 30, 2024. This course focuses on dual-language curriculum and instructional methods. Students will learn to serve multilingual students/families in culturally responsive ways aligned with second language acquisition (SLA) principles. It includes exploration of WIDA, and Virginia's Standards of Learning and Early Learning and Development Standards. PreK-12 educators may be eligible for a reduced tuition rate. For more information, contact Courtney Sullivan.

News and Notes

Seal of Biliteracy

Supporting Multilingualism for All: Implementing the Seal of Biliteracy

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) will host a webinar series titled "Supporting Multilingualism for All: Implementing the Seal of Biliteracy" in November. The Seal of Biliteracy honors students who have completed high school and can read, write, speak, and listen in at least two languages, one being English. 

Information about the requirements  for the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy along with other details, can be found on the VDOE Seal of Biliteracy website.

The OELA webinar series is geared toward educators and leaders (administrators and superintendents) leading biliteracy efforts in states, schools, districts, and communities. These broadcasts center on the presenters’ research-based 5P framework to implement the SoBL and promote biliteracy for all students, including an explicit lens on access for multilingual and heritage-language learners. Whether just beginning to implement the SoBL or looking to enhance and expand current implementation, participants will identify actionable steps to implement the SoBL in their unique contexts to broadly promote biliteracy.

Please use the links below to register for either or both webinars in this series, which are on Mondays.

• Part 1 at 12:30 - 1:30 pm on November 6
• Part 2 at 12:30 - 1:30 pm on November 13

Professional Learning Opportunities

New Online Course for French Teachers

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is offering an online course  beginning January 16, 2024, on French Media and Current Events. The course provides an opportunity to access online French media with topics that appeal to Virginia teachers and their students. Read articles, watch videos, engage in discussions in Zoom breakout groups, and engage in conversations with international partners from France, West Africa, and North Africa. For more information about the course, please contact Dr. Pat Cummins.

Engaging Novice LCTL Learners through Literacies-Informed Teaching

The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota is offering a free online workshop, A Kaleidoscopic Look at Texts: Engaging Novice LCTL Learners through Literacies Informed Teaching, on Saturday, November 11, from 12:00 - 3:00 pm Eastern Time.

This workshop is open to less commonly taught languages or LCTL teachers (i.e., languages other than ESL, French, German, and Spanish, according to the CARLA definition) who work with beginning-level students in secondary and postsecondary contexts in the United States.

Please see CARLA's Literacies for LCTLs page for details and registration.

FLAVA 2023 Fall Workshops  

The Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) offers a series of one-hour workshops throughout the school year. You must register individually for each session. A Zoom link will be sent a day or two before the workshop.

• Thursday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m. Calendar Routine in The World Language Class Collaborative. REGISTER HERE
• Tuesday, December 5 at 5:30 p.m. Self-care is not selfish! Incorporating SEL in your life & your WL class. REGISTER HERE

ACTFL Webinars

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) is offering two upcoming broadcasts in its From Research to Practice: Not Your Typical Book Club series that feature authors from Foreign Language Annals (Summer 2023). The sessions begin with an overview of the article, so you do not have to read in advance, and then move to whole and/or small group discussion(s).

Please see the details below and click the links provided to sign up.

• “My friend Travis says…”: A look at enrollment trends in language classes in the United States" with author(s) from West Virginia University at 7:00 - 8:00 pm on November 29
• "The relationship between proficiency-based instruction and student oral proficiency" with author(s) from UNC Charlotte at 4:00 - 5:00 pm on December 5

Grants, Scholarships, and Professional Opportunities

Classroom Microgrants Program

Applications are due November 10, 2023, for the Language Connects Foundation (LCF)/Vista Microgrants Program for Language Educators. This initiative is aimed at supporting and empowering those who are dedicated to promoting multilingualism and cultural diversity in the classroom. This program provides small grants to K-12 educators 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, including:

• Organizing cultural events or activities for their learners, including those in collaboration with relevant community organizations;
• Creating projects that support diverse perspectives and provide opportunities to develop cultural competence; and
• Purchasing instructional materials and resources for their language classes/classrooms (e.g., reference materials, tablets, posters, art supplies) for the purpose of a project or event.

Please see the Classroom Microgrants page for additional details and the online application form.

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