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Welcome to SWCOLT-AZLA 2025 at Gila River Resort & Casino - Wild Horse Pass. 
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Thursday, January 23
 

9:00am MST

Building Bridges; Enhancing Interpersonal Communication in the World Language Classroom
Thursday January 23, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
Interpersonal communication affects the hearts, minds, and actions of individuals as they function every day in the social world (Braithwaite, Schrodt 2015). In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the interpersonal mode of communication standard, which focuses on the spontaneous, two-way exchange of information and ideas in speaking and writing. Participants will first review the foundational principles of this communication mode, gaining a clear understanding of its importance in fostering authentic, real-time language use. Following this, they will engage in hands-on practice, crafting their own interpersonal communication prompts that can be effectively used in the classroom. The workshop will also introduce a variety of dynamic activities and strategies designed to enhance students' abilities in this communication mode, equipping educators with practical tools to facilitate more engaging and meaningful student interactions. Participants must bring a laptop or tablet computer to this workshop.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Cecile Nedellec

Dr. Cecile Nedellec

Patrick Henry HS/CLTA
Google slides forced copy of the presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1s39UhWzkI2L0FC818eJSDuiKBGM2B83YD8Yr--SWaQQ/copy
SWCOLT Conference 3 hour workshop participants pdf
Thursday January 23, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
  Half Day Workshop

9:00am MST

Tiering Tasks and Text to Challenge All Learners
Thursday January 23, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
In this workshop, participants will explore ways to adapt tasks for authentic text to meet the needs of all learners across the proficiency continuum through tiering--providing scaffolding and support for struggling learners and open-ended, challenging tasks fro advanced learners. Participants will also explore how to tier text on the same themes and how to create generic tasks that span the tiers to challenge all learners.
Speakers
avatar for Leslie Grahn

Leslie Grahn

Independent Consultant
Thursday January 23, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
  Half Day Workshop

1:00pm MST

Enhance Students' Language Competence through a Well-Planned Articulation across Levels
Thursday January 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
This workshop will focus on effective strategies on enhancing students' language competence by integrating the six AP Chinese language and culture themes at a pace that brings a sound horizontal and vertical articulation across levels. Participants will have opportunities to explore strategies in their everyday teaching through hands-on activities. Examples from actual classroom practice will be shared.
Speakers
avatar for Baocai Paul Jia

Baocai Paul Jia

Teacher, Cupertino High School
Mr. Baocai Paul Jia, is currently the Executive Director for the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS). Mr. Jia is the 2019 recipient of CLTA Hal Wingard Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2017 recipient of the California Language Teachers Association... Read More →
Thursday January 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
  Half Day Workshop

1:00pm MST

Teaching Strategies for Engagement
Thursday January 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
What strategies can I use to keep my students cognitively engaged? This interactive workshop will present and model practical strategies to maintain cognitive and active engagement in tasks that address all three modes of communication, as outlined in the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. Drawing on examples from the Secondary Portuguese Dual Language Immersion class, the session will demonstrate how these strategies align with language acquisition theory and can be easily adapted to any level or language. Participants will explore ways to facilitate target-language comprehensibility, guide learners in interpreting authentic resources, and design oral interpersonal communication tasks, ensuring that students remain focused and actively involved in creating with the language.
Led by a highly experienced educator, this session integrates proven classroom practices with insights from language acquisition theory. Attendees will learn practical techniques to add authentic cultural resources to their curriculum and invite native-speaking guests to enrich the classroom experience. Participants will leave with actionable tools and ideas they can implement immediately to boost student engagement and proficiency.

Bio
Priscila Rebicki Prestes is the 2024 SWCOLT Teacher of Excellence Secondary. With 16 years of teaching experience, including 10 years as a Portuguese Dual Language Immersion teacher in Utah, she has excelled in the field of language education. Priscila is a researcher in Second Language Learning and Teaching and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Portuguese Pedagogy at Brigham Young University (BYU). Her professional journey spans all educational levels, from elementary to high school, showcasing a comprehensive and innovative approach to teaching Portuguese as a second language.

Speakers
avatar for Priscila Prestes

Priscila Prestes

teacher, Alpine School District / BYU
I am passionate about the DLI program and obviously Portuguese. I had the opportunity to be a first grade DLI teacher for 5 years. I am now in my third year as a Junior High DLI teacher. I'm also an MA Portuguese Pedagogy student at BYU and I'm loving it.
Thursday January 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
  Half Day Workshop
 
Friday, January 24
 

8:00am MST

Art for Language’s Sake - Integrating Art into World Language Programs
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
The presenter will focus on how to connect art with language study to convey aesthetic principles and cultural values of the target language and enhance learner motivation to meet their needs of social emotional learning. Through some practical examples of the course components of Culture through Chinese Calligraphy, attendees will walk away with a universal recipe for all languages in creative ways of integrating art and culture to spice up target language instruction as well as to enrich and strengthen a world language program.
Speakers
LL

Lin Li Hall

Program Director, University of Nevada, Reno
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

8:00am MST

Back to the Future, an Adventure into the AP Unit of Science and Technology
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Grab your DeLorean and join us as we talk about science and technology in the AP Classroom. Where we’re going, there aren’t any roads, but there are some clear paths, and we’ll explore them together, keeping an eye out for lightning storms as we go. This session will share the parts and pieces that one group of teachers have put together to explore this theme and to teach this unit. All resources and activities will be shared with participants, and the session will be held like a classroom-lots of talking, doing, brainstorming, and expanding. Come and join us as we go back to the future!
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Newman-Cornell

Jennifer Newman-Cornell

Educator, Northwest Career and Technical Academy
I teach Spanish II, Spanish III, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature and Spanish V.  I love to collaborate and work in PLCs with other teachers.  I am the Professional Development Chairperson for the Professional Language Association of Nevada (PLAN-the Nevada state world... Read More →
U4 Ciencia y Tecnología Back to the Future SWCOLT 2025 Resources pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

8:00am MST

Keeping It Collaborative - Building Communication at Every Level
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
In this session, we will experience and discuss a variety of ways to incorporate collaborative strategies focused on language building and language acquisition. Each of the activities is specifically designed to create opportunities for student collaboration, engagement, and motivation with minimal prep. Participants will walk away with a bank of reading, speaking, writing, and listening strategies that can be easily scaffolded for any level and incorporated into any unit.
Speakers
avatar for Sally Barnes

Sally Barnes

Hi all! My name is Sally Barnes and I am a consultant for Seidlitz Education and co-author of 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive World Language Classroom (2nd Edition). I am a former Spanish teacher and world language district coordinator with 12 years experience in the field... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

8:00am MST

Reignite Your Teaching Passion through Deep Dives into Cultural Practices and Products
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Over the course of a teaching career our own personal passion can ebb and flow. Sometimes we just need something to reignite it. One of the best ways to catch on fire is to visit a country of the language we teach. This isn’t always possible. Even if an in-land experience isn’t possible this year, you can still take a deep dive into a cultural practice or learn about a cultural product that you don’t know very much about. In this Roadrunner Session, I will share several cultural deep dives I have taken. I will demonstrate how these experiences have renewed my excitement to teach and kept my teaching fresh and authentic. I will demonstrate how I have used my new cultural competence to create curriculum and build momentum with my students.
Speakers
avatar for Stephen Van Orden

Stephen Van Orden

German Teacher, UFLA Rep to SWCOLT, Timpview High School
SWCOLT 2025 Poster pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

8:00am MST

Best of Hawai‘i: Fostering Engagement: Fun Classroom Routines for Novice & Intermediate Learners
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Agave
Feedback Survey
Elevate language instruction through dynamic classroom routines! Join us for this presentation that delves into the pivotal role of classroom routines in fostering student engagement. This session explores the integration of enjoyable and purposeful routines across novice and intermediate levels that promote student agency while enhancing students’ interpersonal, interpretive, presentational, and intercultural communication skills. Discover how these routines not only create a conducive, disruption-free environment but also streamline planning for educators, leaving students enthused and prepared. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with the tools and confidence to kickstart these enriching routines in your own classroom, ensuring a promising start "on Monday."

Presenters: Ngan Ha Ta & Jennifer Stevens
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Stevens

Jennifer Stevens

Iolani School
Here is the link to our presentation: bit.ly/SWCOLT25JenNgan
Engaging Classroom Routines SWCOLT 2025 pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Agave
  60-minute presentation

8:00am MST

Ditch the Textbook! Heritage Spanish Curriculum Design Using Only Authentic Resources
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde A
Feedback Survey
Often, teachers are given no direct instruction or curriculum on how to teach heritage classes. Teachers navigate on their own the specific resources or textbooks that are available to them. In this session, teachers will be able to get access to a curriculum that is made from only authentic resources without the need for a specific textbook. Participants can ask questions about curriculum design and share reflections about their own experiences. This session is meant to inform other heritage teachers how to start creating their curriculum and provide them with guidance and a list of resources.
Speakers
avatar for Nallely Morales

Nallely Morales

Dual Language and World language teacher, Kyrene Middle School
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Palo Verde A
  60-minute presentation

8:00am MST

Enhancing Foreign Language Speaking Skills by Using Interagency Language Roundtable
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Willow
Feedback Survey
This presentation explores effective strategies based on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) descriptions to enhance speaking skills in foreign language education. It focuses on two primary objectives: language practice and speaking fluency. The language practice goal reinforces vocabulary and grammar, while the fluency goal targets interactive and confident communication. The presenters will discuss critical elements like linguistic complexity, communicative stress, and cognitive demands. Additionally, they will share practical guidelines for designing speaking activities to ensure student engagement and fluency development. The social domain's importance in language learning will be highlighted, emphasizing the role of interpersonal and cultural interactions in building communicative competence.

Presenters: Bozo Dzakula & Maida Dzakula
Speakers
BD

Bozo Dzakula

Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
building speaking abilities with ILR (1) pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Willow
  60-minute presentation

8:00am MST

Game on! Mit spielerischen Aktivitäten zum Lernerfolg (Exhibitor Session)
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Ocotillo C
Feedback Survey
Um erfolgreich Deutsch zu lernen, bedarf es Motivation, Spaß und Spiel. Leichter gesagt als getan. Wie erreichen Lehrkräfte, dass sich die Lernenden aktiv am Unterrichtsgeschehen beteiligen und spielerisch die Sprache lernen? In diesem Workshop werden verschiedene Beispiele aus der Praxis für den Präsenz- und Onlineunterricht vorgestellt, die (junge) Lernerinnen und Lerner mit spielerischen Aktivitäten motivieren und den Lernerfolg steigern sollen.
Speakers
AR
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Ocotillo C
  60-minute presentation

8:00am MST

Using Authentic Resources for Communication and Culture (Exhibitor Session)
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
This session explores how to use authentic resources in the Spanish classroom, level 1 and through upper levels. We will discuss ways to support different types of students with appropriate tasks and will focus on instructional strategies that use authentic resources to build students’ proficiency in Spanish and explore intercultural comparisons. Join us to share how the use of authentic resources can motivate our students to use Spanish in and beyond the classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Rich Sayers - Savvas Learning Company

Rich Sayers - Savvas Learning Company

Author/Specialist, Savvas Learning Company
I have been an educator in world languages for over 40 years. I taught Spanish in Longmont, CO for 18 years, levels 1 through A.P. I am an author of Spanish textbook programs, including the Savvas Auténtico program. I am a regular presenter at ACTFL, regional, and state conferences... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Conversation Connections: Micro-Immersion through Conversation Groups
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Providing students with opportunities to practice conversation in their target language in an immersive setting can be a challenge, especially with less commonly spoken languages. While encouraging students to explore language and culture outside of the classroom by pursuing their own interests and forming relationships in their target languages does work for some students, the vast majority find themselves simply too busy or intimidated to even make a single step in that direction on their own. One solution we have found to be particularly effective is to bring micro-immersive opportunities directly to the students, especially by bringing in student peers fluent in the target language (especially international students from target-language speaking countries) to lead students in a micro-immersion conversation-group experience that focuses on relaxed, friendly chatting with the goal of comfortable, fluent communication and cultural exchange in the target language, providing students with practice, inspiration, and motivation for improved conversational skills and cultural exchange. Presenter Jessica Wood is an Associate Teaching Professor of German at Northern Arizona University with over 20 years’ experience in the language classroom.
Speakers
JW

Jessica Wood

Senior Lecturer of German, Northern Arizona University
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

How Valuable is Grice's Cooperative Principle to All Languages?
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
The cooperative principle is a concept introduced by Grice in the field of pragmatics. It is viewed that speakers and listeners are assumed to be cooperating. The idea of this principle is participants in a conversation communicate in an informative, truthful, relevant, and clear manner. This concept is explained through four maxims - quantity, quality, relevance, and manner (Farinde & Oyedokun-Alli, 2020). More so, this principle attempts to have a successful conversation as well as how a person uses language in a social context. However, some research indicates that this principle may not be applicable to all languages or cultures. This presentation will discuss the relevance and significance of the cooperative principle in language learning and teaching and its cultural aspect in particular languages. As language educators, how can we integrate this principle to enhance our teaching methods and to appreciate the cultural aspects of language?
Speakers
DC

Dr. C. Quijano

Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
SWCOLT 2025 Presentation Grice's Cooperative Principle pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Play as a Language Learning Oasis: 12 Activities to Sharpen Students’ Speaking, Listening, and Writing Skills
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Play is essential for brain development and building community (Yenigun, 2014). Attendees can choose from a menu of a dozen speaking activities created by the presenter. From Utah to Tajikistan, the presenter has used these activities to get students and teachers asking questions, describing, analyzing, narrating, and comparing what they see. Attendees will experience firsthand how using already made cards with objects can promote conversation and build students’ confidence in a low stakes setting. Attendees will rediscover how play can often serve as the best language learning oasis as well as gain new ideas for classroom speaking, writing, and listening tasks.
Speakers
avatar for Sharon Lyman

Sharon Lyman

Southern Utah University
Play as Language Learning SWCOLT 2025 Lyman pptx
Play as Language Learning SWCOLT 2025 Lyman pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Using 'Mitwachsende Karten' in the Foreign Language Classroom - CANCELLED BY PRESENTER
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Mitwachsende Karten,' geographical maps gradually updated with new information and locations relevant to the course material throughout the semester, are a fundamental component of geography lessons. However, this method is also highly suitable for foreign language teaching. How can this geographical method be used in the foreign language classroom? Moreover, what impact does this have on expanding students' skills? Through working with authentic texts and giving presentations, the students delve into the target culture. As a result, they strengthen and further their intercultural competencies and communicative skills. This presentation provides the attendees with a practical example from a university-level German classroom of how a 'mitwachsende Karte' can be used effectively and successfully in any foreign language classroom. This example can be adjusted to fit any language at any language level.
Speakers
BB

Berni Beringer

The Ohio State University
Mitwachsende Karten in the FL classroom Berni Beringer pptx
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive World Language Classroom
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Ocotillo C
Feedback Survey
In this session, participants will learn 7 simple, efficient strategies to create a language-rich, interactive classroom. By participating in a short mini-lesson, we will experience all 7 steps and how they support students as they move along their proficiency journey in a communication-based classroom. The 7 Steps include procedural ideas and lesson planning components, and participants will walk away with a bank of resources and ideas for implementation in their own classroom, including a mini-lesson ready to use in a variety of languages.
Speakers
avatar for Sally Barnes

Sally Barnes

Hi all! My name is Sally Barnes and I am a consultant for Seidlitz Education and co-author of 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive World Language Classroom (2nd Edition). I am a former Spanish teacher and world language district coordinator with 12 years experience in the field... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Ocotillo C
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Best of Nevada: Conectando con confianza: Fortaleciendo la identidad y la cultura en hispanohablantes a través de la literatura
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Agave
Feedback Survey
While increasing in both need for and number of programs, heritage language classes remain challenging to teach because of the diversity of heritage learners, the lack of teacher training, and the lack of available resources for many educators. "Conectando con confianza" will offer teachers specific texts and activities that can be implemented right away to help heritage learners of varying abilities build both skills and a sense of efficacy, as well as generalized strategies that can be used with a variety of texts all year long.

Presenters: Melissa Bullard & Paulina Rios
Speakers
PR
MB

Melissa Bullard

McQueen High School
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Agave
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Has Language Teaching Gone Flat? (Exhibitor Session)
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde B
Feedback Survey
Twenty years ago, award-winning author Thomas Friedman proclaimed The World is Flat in his eponymous novel. This visionary concept addressed economics, politics, technological innovation, and telecommunications. To what extent has language education gone global? How can educators prepare our students for an interconnected world? How will this notion shape our approaches in the classroom? Come explore the latest multimedia and digital, authentic resources in Spanish, French, and German to engage a variety of learners.
Speakers
avatar for Ken Stewart - Lingco

Ken Stewart - Lingco

Duke University, Lingco
Duke University Spanish Instructor; world language consultant, avid traveler, global citizenLingco is an adaptive language learning platform for schools. It provides a library of up to date, proficiency-based content, and all of the tools to build, assign, and grade tasks and track... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde B
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

How to Adapt Classroom Conversations into Accessible Texts
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Cholla
Feedback Survey
How can teachers involve all students simultaneously in responding and understanding classroom discussions? Discover how to structure scaffolded student talk where all students participate and have a response. Then, take these dialogues and learn how to enhance them into cohesive narratives that students will appreciate and understand.
Speakers
MC

Mira Canion

Author, Teacher, Canion Creations
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Cholla
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Interactive Intercultural Learning for the Language Classroom
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Yucca
Feedback Survey
Teachers will become students, as the presenter guides them through multiple interactive intercultural learning activities, designed to build cultural awareness and understanding in the classroom. Each can be replicated in the target language at the novice level, and all materials will be provided. Prepare for laughs and high levels of engagement.
Speakers
avatar for Jill Woerner - AFS Intercultural Programs USA

Jill Woerner - AFS Intercultural Programs USA

Sr. Director of Education and Outreach to Schools, AFS Intercultural Programs USA
AFS-USA empowers people to become globally engaged citizens by delivering meaningful intercultural experiences that provide the knowledge and skills needed to help create a more just and peaceful world.
SWCOLT Interactive Intercultural Learning pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Yucca
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Meaning-Based Strategies to Refine Accuracy in Middle School DLI Courses
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Willow
Feedback Survey
Most teachers view grammar as descriptions of the structure of a language, rules for its use, and models of accurate or effective sentences or style. But that’s not all there is to it, especially for students in DLI programs. This session explores how to treat grammar as part of communication and to discover meaning-based strategies that result in increased accuracy, including protocols such as CAPA and PACE and designing evidence-based student centered tasks and effective classroom discourse practices.
Speakers
avatar for Greta Lundgaard

Greta Lundgaard

Consultant, Consultant
Still enjoying sharing new ideas, strategies, and learning with language educators!
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Willow
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Silly and Spontaneous Conversation Starters
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde A
Feedback Survey
In this session participants will learn how to effectively use the daily oral language strategy of "Silly and Spontaneous Conversation Starters" in the Spanish classroom by actively participating in several different activities. The attendees will listen, speak, and present ideas by responding in Spanish to various written prompts. The presenter will demonstrate how to use follow up questions in order to get all students talking in the target language throughout the lesson. This lesson is designed to provide teachers and students with more interesting and humorous conversation prompts so that every student will find something they want to talk about in the target language.
Speakers
TL
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Palo Verde A
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Switch to Spanish: Warm-up Routines in the Language Classroom
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
Feedback Survey
This presentation will explore ideas, research, and student perspectives on routines to start secondary, lower-level language classes. Some strategies to be discussed, practiced, and evaluated include opening class with free voluntary reading, weekend talks, music, Duolingo, and language-based puzzle games. The presenter will share variations on these routines that avoid repetitiveness while incorporating differentiation and student choice.
Speakers
DE

Davita Eichner

Flagstaff High School
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
  60-minute presentation

1:00pm MST

Where Language Learning Meets Neuroscience (Exhibitor Session)
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
Join Erica Peplinski-Burge and JJ Morgan to explore the fascinating intersection of language learning and neuroscience. Gain a deeper understanding of how neuroscience principles can revolutionize language learning, making it a more effective and enriching experience for students. Learn practical strategies to create supportive, low-stress learning environments that foster greater language proficiency and overall well-being.

Presenters: Erica Peplinski-Burge & JJ Morgan
Exhibitors
avatar for JJ Morgan - Voces Digital

JJ Morgan - Voces Digital

Conference Coordinator, Voces Digital
Voces is a collection of World Language titles housed in an easily accessible, web-based platform. Each title in the Voces library contains vast online resources meant to help both teachers and students get inspired and get ahead in the modern, ever-changing World Language classroom... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

2:15pm MST

Cultivating Creativity and Confidence: Enhancing Impromptu Writing Skills in Japanese through Timed Exercises in the Classroom
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Language learners often hesitate to write impromptu, even when they possess creativity and imagination. A lack of confidence is a common obstacle in language acquisition. This presentation will explore a practical example from a Japanese junior writing course at the post-secondary level, where students gradually developed their impromptu writing skills through photo description exercises depicting everyday scenes in Japan. In this session, student comments and feedback collected by the institution at the end of the semester will also be shared. Additionally, the session will showcase a collaborative classroom activity where students co-created imaginative stories, fostering a playful and supportive learning environment.
Speakers
RA

Reiko Akiyama

Lecturer, Northern Arizona University
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

2:15pm MST

Vocabulary Acquisition in the L2 Classroom: Strategies for Building and Retention
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Effective vocabulary acquisition is essential for our students to continue advancing with the target language. This presentation explores several pedagogical approaches to encourage and improve vocabulary development and retention at all levels. By integrating task-based learning and properly scaffolded engaging activities, while keeping it communicative, language instructors can create engaging and meaningful language experiences that will help students learn and retain new vocabulary. Several useful and usable activities and ideas will be shared with attendees who can start using them directly with their students.
Speakers
avatar for Tim Cannon

Tim Cannon

Spanish Language Coordinator, University of Utah
Learning Abroad, Language Pedagogy, Technology enhanced education, Spain, Latin America, Travel, Don Quixote, Good books.
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

2:15pm MST

Where Language Skills Meet Student Leadership: Unlocking the Power of Language Clubs
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Leadership development is a vital part of college life, offering students the chance to cultivate civic awareness and essential community engagement skills. However, obstacles like inexperience, time constraints, and misinformation can limit student involvement. Through a partnership with the Brazilian Club, third-year Portuguese students are introduced to student leadership by shadowing officers of a recognized student organization, assisting with major events, and managing smaller ones. This experience not only improves their language skills in real-world contexts but also fosters abilities like teamwork, intercultural communication, and budgeting. Many former participants have gone on to become club officers or take on leadership roles across campus, continuing their involvement throughout and beyond their college years.

Presenters: Anna Hodgson & Amanda Hoffman
Speakers
AO

Amanda Oliveira Hoffmann

University of Utah
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

2:15pm MST

Character & Communication: Enhancing Language Learning via Character Growth (Exhibitor Session)
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Ocotillo C
Feedback Survey
During this session, participants will gain a clear understanding of how to integrate character development into their world language classrooms. They will acquire practical strategies, lesson plan ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose in fostering both linguistic and personal growth in their students.
Speakers
avatar for Brooke Campbell

Brooke Campbell

World Language Sales Consultant, Klett World Languages
At Klett World Languages, we strive to foster a love for learning world languages by creating meaningful content that not only sparks students’ curiosity but also transitions into real-life practice. Through our inclusive, communicative, and collaborative Spanish, French, German... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Ocotillo C
  60-minute presentation

2:15pm MST

Now I See! Fostering L2 Digital Multimodal Literacies through Infographics
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde B
Feedback Survey
This study investigates how beginning L2 learners of French engage with multimodal texts to design their own infographics, a critical 21st-century skill. Despite the growing importance of multimodal communication, L2 classrooms remain largely focused on traditional, text-based approaches. Grounded in socio-cultural and social semiotic theories, this research explores how learners apply their understanding of multimodality in creating infographics on sustainable development issues. The study draws on infographics, reflective essays, and interviews to analyze learners' use of semiotic resources and intersemiotic relationships. Findings indicate that tasks designed to encourage deep engagement with multimodal texts can significantly enhance L2 learners' communicative competence, preparing them for full participation in contemporary communication practices. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion on multimodality in L2 education and offers practical insights for educators aiming to integrate multimodal literacy into their classrooms.

Presenters: Tara Hashemi & Beatrice Dupuy


Speakers
BD

Beatrice Dupuy

University of Arizona, CERCLL
avatar for Tara Hashemi

Tara Hashemi

Assistant Professor of French, California State University, Fresno
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde B
  60-minute presentation

2:15pm MST

Quench their Thirst for Belonging: Warm-up Routines That Build Community
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Yucca
Feedback Survey
How do you start your class each day? The first 5 minutes of class are a golden opportunity to build connections. Come learn simple strategies that make kids want to attend, want to use the target language, and want to interact from the very first minute of class. These warm-up strategies support SEL practices, social justice, and help build communicative fluency and accuracy.
Speakers
avatar for Liz Matchett

Liz Matchett

Executive Director, California Language Teachers' Association
The California Language Project (CWLP) and the California Language Teachers'Association (CLTA) work in tandem to meet the professional learning needs of California teachers and to support them to be the well-informed and highly qualified world languages and culture educators.
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Yucca
  60-minute presentation

2:15pm MST

Reading: Why, What, and How (Exhibitor Session)
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde A
Feedback Survey
Reading is fundamental to supporting language acquisition. In this session, you will learn why reading is so important, what types of texts learners should be reading (even beginners!), and simple low or no-prep strategies for reading together.
Speakers
avatar for Elicia Cárdenas - The Comprehensible Classroom

Elicia Cárdenas - The Comprehensible Classroom

Director of Training, The Comprehensible Classroom
Driven by the core belief that all students are capable of acquiring language, The Comprehensible Classroom has been at the forefront of the movement toward teaching for acquisition since 2010. TCC publishes curriculum and instructional tools grounded in a solid understanding of language... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Palo Verde A
  60-minute presentation

2:15pm MST

The Linguistic and Cultural Value of Authentic Materials in the L2 Classroom
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
How can we take full advantage of authentic materials? In this workshop, participants will experience the power of authentic materials to develop and enhance students’ interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication, while developing their critical thinking, and linguistic, and intercultural skills.
Speakers
avatar for Claudia Kechkian - AATSP

Claudia Kechkian - AATSP

AATSP Exams Director, American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese
AATSP promotes the study and teaching of the Spanish & Portuguese languages and their corresponding Hispanic, Luso-Brazilian and other related literatures and cultures at all levels of education.  Founded in 1917, AATSP is the oldest, largest and most comprehensive language specific... Read More →
SWCOLT The Linguistic and Cultural Value of Authentic Materials in the L2 Classroom.pptx pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Mythical and Historical Mexican Women
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
In this Roadrunner session, participants will explore how to integrate historical and mythical Mexican women into their classrooms. Participants will get a deeper knowledge of the cultural, social, and historical situations surrounding these women as well as their continuing influence on Mexican culture through stimulating conversations, engaging storytelling, and multimedia presentations. This program explores the lives and achievements of historic characters, from strong indigenous deities to trailblazing activists and artists. This session celebrates the resilience, creativity, and empowerment embodied by these legendary women.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Cisneros
Mexicanas míticas e históricas pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Best of California: Effective Strategies and Activities for Interpersonal Communication
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Agave
Feedback Survey
Interpersonal communication affects the hearts, minds, and actions of individuals as they function in the everyday social world (Braithwaite, Schrodt 2015). This workshop focuses on interpersonal communication strategies and activities that enhance instructional practices. Participants will discover and practice applications and techniques that will increase their students' engagement in developing their interpersonal speaking skills.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Cecile Nedellec

Dr. Cecile Nedellec

Patrick Henry HS/CLTA
Google slides forced copy of the presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1s39UhWzkI2L0FC818eJSDuiKBGM2B83YD8Yr--SWaQQ/copy
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Agave
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Cultivating Cultural Competence in Dual Immersion Secondary Education
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Yucca
Feedback Survey
Explore practical strategies for teaching culture in dual immersion secondary classes, aligning with the "C" of Culture from the World Readiness Standards. Discover how to guide students in investigating the relationship between cultural practices, products, and perspectives. Empower students to interact with cultural competence and understanding, fostering a deeper appreciation for global diversity.
Speakers
avatar for Priscila Prestes

Priscila Prestes

teacher, Alpine School District / BYU
I am passionate about the DLI program and obviously Portuguese. I had the opportunity to be a first grade DLI teacher for 5 years. I am now in my third year as a Junior High DLI teacher. I'm also an MA Portuguese Pedagogy student at BYU and I'm loving it.
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Yucca
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Developing Global Citizenship through School Exchanges (Exhibitor Session)
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
Feedback Survey
Learn how to develop a virtual or in-person exchange with a sister school abroad and empower your students to develop their language skills and cultural proficiency while transforming your school into a truly global campus. You will receive a step-by-step planning guide, identify best practices in establishing an exchange partnership, and walk away inspired to start a group exchange at your school.

Presenters: Patricia Roque & Zachary Richardson
Speakers
PR

Patricia Roque

Forum by Prometour
Exhibitors
avatar for Prometour USA Inc

Prometour USA Inc

FORUM BY PROMÉTOUR
Forum by Prométour offers immersive language and cultural experiences for students through customized study-abroad programs and language immersion trips. We combine language classes with cultural activities, allowing students to learn and experience new languages while connecting... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Enhancing Cultural Competence through Virtual Reality in Language Learning
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Willow
Feedback Survey
This session explores the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) in language learning, focusing on its impact on cultural competence and intercultural skills. Using the application Wander, students virtually explore cities in Spanish-speaking countries, identify cultural patterns, and engage in project-based learning tasks that promote deeper cultural understanding. The session will discuss practical implementation strategies, present case studies of student projects, and offer insights into the challenges and benefits of using VR in the classroom. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for incorporating immersive technology into their teaching practices to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Speakers
avatar for Stefania Herrera Leon

Stefania Herrera Leon

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Northern Arizona University
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Willow
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Envisioning and Realizing Improved Teaching: Action Research Fundamentals with Examples
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
Want to improve your classroom practice? Most teachers do! Teachers routinely re-design their practice to meet perceived needs and then evaluate how changes impact student learning. These are fundamental inquiry practices of research as well. Action research is a well-established, valuable form of practitioner-led research, which engages teachers in examination of current practice, design of a new approach, followed by systematic analysis of how a shift in practice influences student experience and/or outcomes. In this workshop, we present action research fundamentals and concrete examples from two French teachers’ current studies-in-progress, so that language teachers new to the practice can leave the session with concrete ideas and tools for getting started in their own contexts.

Presenters: Julie Monty & Fernando Trejo Rios
Speakers
WF

Walter Fernando Trejo Rios

Elkins High School
avatar for Julie Monty

Julie Monty

Cesar Chavez High School
Films that always make me cry : The Notebook, The Sound of Music, The TitanicLast interesting movie I saw : The LobsterI have read every novel ever written by these authors : Margaret Atwood, Isabelle Allende, Haruki Murakami, Kurt Vonnegut, Wally LambSitcoms that make me laugh out... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Mining for Proficiency: Creating a Proficiency-Based Classroom
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo C
Feedback Survey
Creating a proficiency-based classroom is like mining for silver. Come join us for an adventure into a Nevada mine, where we need to prepare for our adventure, check in as we go and mine the gems as we find them; all to help our students increase their proficiency. This session will feature activities and resources that 3 teachers from a variety of educational situations (rural, magnet, comprehensive high schools) use to design a classroom environment that encourages students to embrace their proficiency journey. Come strike it rich with us!

Presenters: Jennifer Newman-Cornell, Tzeitel Borbon & Jana Arnold
Speakers
TB

Tzeitel Borbon

Fernley High School
JA

Jana Arnold

McQueen High School
avatar for Jennifer Newman-Cornell

Jennifer Newman-Cornell

Educator, Northwest Career and Technical Academy
I teach Spanish II, Spanish III, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature and Spanish V.  I love to collaborate and work in PLCs with other teachers.  I am the Professional Development Chairperson for the Professional Language Association of Nevada (PLAN-the Nevada state world... Read More →
SWCOLT Mining for Proficiency Presentation pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo C
  60-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

Cultural Competence in Spanish Classes
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
In this session teachers will examine a wide range of cultural topics that offer rich cultural experiences, such as music, literature, films, and news. By identifying trends and conducting some research, students will take charge of the learning process, engaging in discussions, writing, reading, and listening activities in the target language. Various strategies will be provided to enhance these four core areas by incorporating current trends into the language classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Cisneros
Temas culturales en las clases de español pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

Fun Input for Fruitful Output: Useful Ways to Use Short Clips in the Language Classroom
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
In a time of competing priorities and constant stimulation, student motivation frequently becomes a challenge within the language classroom. Textbook activities don't always impassion students to produce in the L2 to the best of their ability. This Roadrunner session will demonstrate how to effectively incorporate short clips into the classroom to promote student engagement and language production. Shorts can hook students with their often amusing, colorful, and emotionally moving stories. These shorts can also be used with any level (and language) by simply adapting the difficulty of the task. For language students, shorts are engaging, offer a respite from book and paper activities, are motivational, and can provide context for cultural comparison and insight, all of which promote original language production.
Speakers
JS

Juliana Suby

Northern Arizona University
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

Quick Assessments for Today's Teachers: What Can I Do in 90 Seconds?
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
It could be argued that assessment is one of the most important aspects of language teaching and learning. Assessment usually has two main purposes: to make summative evaluations and to provide instructional feedback to help learners progress. However, assessment practices should be authentic or students should perceive them as related to their lives and goals in form, topic, process, content, or any element they consider related. At the same time, authentic assessment should serve as a representative picture of student’s competencies while providing a learning tool. Some examples of quick assessments discussed during this presentation will include: quick quizzes that can be given at the end of class after a warm-up period, and simple and quick ways to gauge and check student understanding.

Presenters: Diego Batista & Melany Batista
Speakers
MB

Melany Batista

North Davis Prep Academy
avatar for Diego Batista

Diego Batista

Associate Professor of Spanish, Weber State University
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

What is the Role of Elementary Schools in World Language Education?
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Elementary school world language programs have been declining in the U.S. despite the many documented benefits of becoming bilingual, and the economic and national security needs of the U.S. By some accounts, only about one in four elementary schools offer a second language, mostly Spanish. In nearly half of these schools, instructional time is below the minimum recommended for proficiency. Exploratory programs have traditionally been the answer to this issue, offering language awareness and motivation development as an alternative to proficiency. However, this typology remains largely under-articulated and absent from many toolboxes in world language education. The presenter will discuss how he has addressed the problem of teaching over 900 (K-5) students each year on a six-school-day rotation, and how the updated exploratory model aligns with the Facilitated Interdependent Language Learning model presented by the Center for Applied Linguistics in recent years.
Speakers
RR

Ronald Ramirez

Pinecrest Academy Horizon
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

A Simple and Powerful Daily Writing Practice to Improve Language Skills Learning
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Yucca
Feedback Survey
This presentation showcases a simple and powerful routine writing practice that facilitates to reinforce grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and phonics through daily writing. This writing approach enables teachers to get immediate output from students. The audience will have the opportunity to learn and see how students get engaged to write, speak, and share what they are able to produce daily, in a short period of time. It will show how to build students’ confidence and autonomy in writing, especially when teaching a second language in a dual immersion classroom where it is necessary to counterbalance academic content and language skills.
Speakers
avatar for Leine Moratelli

Leine Moratelli

DLI Portuguese Teacher, Majestic Fields Elementary
I'm currently a 5th grade Dual Immersion Portuguese teacher in the Utah State Immersion program and I'm passionate about it. I have experience in the area of Education, working mainly in the following areas: English, Portuguese for foreigners, and teaching methodologies. My main goal... Read More →
Resources Word of the Day pdf
SWCOLT Presentation 2025 A Simple and Powerful Daily Writing Practice to Improve Language Skills Learning pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Yucca
  60-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

ACTFL Teacher of the Year: Marigolds and Mindsets: Choosing Sustainable Optimism
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Agave
Feedback Survey
Teachers’ mental health and well-being are just as important as our students’, and a network of positive peers is one key to longevity and success as a teacher. Join this session to learn how to be a “marigold”, prioritize positivity in your life, and implement strategies for finding your own “marigold moments”: those key moments of uplifting joy. Outcomes: Attendees will be able to 1) define the concepts of “marigolds” and “walnut trees” from the Cult of Pedagogy blog article, 2) identify characteristics and actions of “marigolds” that support others, and 3) explore methods of mindfulness to sustain their own optimism and well-being.
Speakers
avatar for Kei Tsukamaki - ACTFL

Kei Tsukamaki - ACTFL

ACTFL
We are a membership community of language education professionals passionate about expanding cultural richness and diversity at all levels of education. Together we provide resources to address challenges to meet the changing needs of language educators and their learners.
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Agave
  60-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

Chatbot Activities in the Spanish Classroom: Possibilities and Challenges
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Willow
Feedback Survey
Chatbots are software programs powered by AI that are currently used in real-life contexts (eg., bank transactions, health advice, etc.). Recent studies have researched the affordances of chatbots to facilitate second language development. The findings look promising, because chatbot interactions seem to expose learners to authentic input and reduce their anxiety while increasing their motivation to language learning and willingness to communicate in the target language. This session addresses the benefits and challenges of using chatbots in the language classroom as tools that can simulate real-life interactions in the target language. The presenter will describe some chatbot activities implemented in Spanish classes at the college level and will present initial data of students and instructors’ perceived usefulness of this AI-powered language practice. Attendees will have the opportunity to try some of the Chatbot apps used in the activities andwill discuss their potential use in different instructional contexts.
Speakers
YA
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Willow
  60-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

Innovative Vocabulary Acquisition through Project-Based Learning in Professional Language Courses
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde B
Feedback Survey
Vocabulary is a crucial component of language acquisition and significantly influences learners' proficiency levels. In language courses for professional purposes, focusing on expanding technical vocabulary can help develop the linguistic skills necessary for professional success. This presentation explores how modern learning tools, such as AI applications and metacognitive strategies that involve learners reflecting on their learning processes and tracking their progress, can offer innovative approaches to enhancing vocabulary acquisition and overall language proficiency.
Speakers
avatar for Isabel Asensio

Isabel Asensio

Professor of Spanish and Translation, Weber State University
My research interests are translation and interpreting, literature and culture, and bilingual education and language policy.
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Palo Verde B
  60-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

Promoting Student Engagement with Constructive Feedback in Formative Assessment
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
This presentation will share best practices and highlight the significance of formative assessment with constructive feedback in foreign language learning. The presenters will discuss how formative assessment, through ongoing influential feedback to learners, bridges the gap between current understanding and learning goals, thereby enhancing student achievement and teacher content knowledge. By incorporating targeted, specific, timely, balanced, differentiated, and supportive feedback, this approach tailors teaching strategies to meet individual learner needs. The presenters will also explore practical strategies for implementing formative assessment and designing learning activities that foster cooperative and collaborative learning, ultimately promoting student engagement and self-regulation in language learning.

Presenters: Bozo Dzakula & Maida Dzakula
Speakers
DM

Dr. Maida Dzakula

Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
BD

Bozo Dzakula

Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
dzakula b m swcolt 2025 promoting studets engagement with constructive feedback in formative assessment pdf
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

Revitalize Your Classroom: Strategies for Creating an Oasis of Learning and Growth (Exhibitor Session)
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Ocotillo C
Feedback Survey
In this interactive session, teachers will explore innovative strategies, best practices, and ideas for creating a vibrant language classroom that inspires both students and teachers.
Speakers
avatar for Laura Zinke - Vista Higher Learning

Laura Zinke - Vista Higher Learning

Consultant, Vista Higher Learning
Vista Higher Learning develops transformative language and literacy solutions that meet the needs of every language learner—those acquiring a new language, enhancing a second, or perfecting their native language. We empower educators with innovative, research-based programs that... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Ocotillo C
  60-minute presentation

5:15pm MST

Unmasking Vienna: Language Learning through Crime Stories
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Ocotillo A
Feedback Survey
This session presents a unit plan for A2/B1 German learners, focusing on Vienna's criminal past through detective and murder mystery genres. Participants will learn how to engage students in interpreting literary texts using theater pedagogical methods, such as tableau, soundscapes, and atmospheric reading. The unit culminates in student-created radio plays or short films, offering a creative way to deepen language skills while exploring cultural contexts. This session is perfect for educators seeking to combine language learning with cultural immersion and creativity.
Speakers
avatar for Melanie Mello

Melanie Mello

German Educational Multiplier, German Educational Multiplier
Melanie Mello (M.A in Education) is an award-winning teacher and teacher-trainer, specializing in language acquisition and theater-pedagogy. In 2023, she was named Distinguished Alumna in Humanities and Fine Arts by her alma mater, California State University, Chico. She has taught... Read More →
Friday January 24, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm MST
Ocotillo A
  60-minute presentation
 
Saturday, January 25
 

9:00am MST

Incorporating a Challenge Analysis Approach in World Languages
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Ocotillo A
Feedback Survey
Authentic real-world challenges in the target culture provide opportunities for integrating language objectives with problem-solving skills, in addition to promoting understanding of cultural perspectives and the ability to make cultural comparisons. Participants will be guided to develop ideas for effectively integrating challenges into their existing units aligned with level-appropriate language objectives.
Speakers
avatar for Andrew White

Andrew White

World Languages, Phoenix Union Bioscience High School
Incorporating a Challenge Analysis Approach in World Languages 1 pdf
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Ocotillo A
  60-minute presentation

9:00am MST

Interactive AI Reading and Writing Activities
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Cholla
Feedback Survey
Dive into the world of AI to transform reading and writing activities, making them more interactive and engaging for students. Learn how to utilize AI tools to enhance comprehension, encourage creativity, and provide personalized feedback. This session will showcase practical applications, from chatbots simulating real-life conversations to AI-driven story creation and editing tools. Participants will leave equipped with innovative strategies to foster a more immersive and motivating language learning environment.
Speakers
avatar for BreAnn Busboom

BreAnn Busboom

Clearfield High School
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Cholla
  60-minute presentation

9:00am MST

Real-Life Tasks: Authentic Activities in the Classroom
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Yucca
Feedback Survey
Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) practices emphasize the integration of “real-life” or “real-world” tasks inside the classroom. However, CLT strategies tend to highlight tasks that typically cannot be found in the classroom and de-emphasizes the authentic language events that can and do happen inside the classroom. This presentation will highlight the important conversations and contexts that naturally occur in the classroom that language teachers can leverage for added proficiency building opportunities. Participants will experience and learn how to add micro-structures to their existing tasks to provide their students opportunities to acquire social-emotional and communicative skills in the target language.
Speakers
avatar for Dustin J. Hemsath

Dustin J. Hemsath

Assistant Professor of Spanish Pedagogy, Brigham Young University
I have 7 year's experience teaching Spanish in a K-12 context, 2 years in higher ed, and 6 years in language teacher education. I have an MA in Spanish Pedagogy from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Education, Curriculum, & Instruction with an emphasis in Second Language Education... Read More →
Real Life Tasks SWCOLT 2025 FINAL pptx
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Yucca
  60-minute presentation

9:00am MST

Student Test Scores in DLI and Non-DLI Programs: Telling the Story and What We Can Learn
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Willow
Feedback Survey
How can assessment help preserve a program? For Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs in New York and Utah, assessment data has been critical. This session addresses some common questions about potential learning delays for students or drawbacks of participating in DLI programs. Learn how two administrators are using standardized test scores to tell a compelling story as they advocate for and build the strength of their language programs.

Presenters: Karl Bowman & Jennifer Dobberfuhl Quinlan
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Quinlan - Associate Director of Product Management - Language Testing International

Jennifer Quinlan - Associate Director of Product Management - Language Testing International

Assoc. Director, Language Testing International
Since 1992, Language Testing International (LTI), a Samsung company, has led in global language proficiency testing for over 120 languages. As the exclusive ACTFL licensee, LTI ensures quality through certified testers, offering trusted language credentials recognized by corporations... Read More →
avatar for Karl H. Bowman

Karl H. Bowman

World Languages and Dual Language Immersion Specialist, Utah State Board of Education
Since 1992, Language Testing International (LTI), a Samsung company, has led in global language proficiency testing for over 120 languages. As the exclusive ACTFL licensee, LTI ensures quality through certified testers, offering trusted language credentials recognized by corporations... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Willow
  60-minute presentation

9:00am MST

Teaching Viennese Culture Using the IMAGE Model
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
This presentation explores the application of the IMAGE model in teaching German students about Viennese culture across all proficiency levels. The IMAGE model, an innovative pedagogical framework, integrates cultural immersion with language learning, making it particularly effective for students navigating the rich cultural landscape of Vienna. We provide practical strategies to help students connect linguistic knowledge with cultural understanding. Participants will gain insights into how to adapt the model to various proficiency levels, ensuring an engaging and comprehensive learning experience. This approach not only enhances students' cultural competence but also deepens their linguistic proficiency by embedding the language within the authentic context of Viennese life.

Presenters: Kathy Barnard & Eli Remund
Speakers
ER

Elli Remund

Utah State University
avatar for Kathy Barnard

Kathy Barnard

West High School
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

10:45am MST

Movies Make Meaning
Saturday January 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am MST
Ocotillo A
Feedback Survey
Full length movies, short films, selected scenes, cultural videos-it all fits into a proficiency based classroom to engage students on a totally different level. By harnessing the world of media, students connect with the language in a more complete and meaningful way. Come and join this session on a quest to bring videos into the world language classroom to harness the power of technology for proficiency!

Presenters: Margarita De Leon Viera & Jennifer Newman-Cornell
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Newman-Cornell

Jennifer Newman-Cornell

Educator, Northwest Career and Technical Academy
I teach Spanish II, Spanish III, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature and Spanish V.  I love to collaborate and work in PLCs with other teachers.  I am the Professional Development Chairperson for the Professional Language Association of Nevada (PLAN-the Nevada state world... Read More →
avatar for Margarita De León Viera

Margarita De León Viera

West Career & Technical Academy
From Gurabo, Puerto Rico, I come from a family of educators, my mother, retired principal, Margarita Viera Pérez being my biggest inspiration. I started my career as a Theatre Arts teacher in Puerto Rico, for 8 years where I directed plays, a movie and advised a dance club. In 2014... Read More →
Movies Make Meaning (1) pdf
Saturday January 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am MST
Ocotillo A
  60-minute presentation

1:30pm MST

AI: Friend, Not Foe!
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Willow
Feedback Survey
Are you afraid of AI? Are you frustrated with your students using it to bypass the tasks you assign? This session will provide multiple options for how AI can be every teacher's FRIEND, not FOE! Attendees will be provided with strategies on how to help students use AI appropriately in the classroom and numerous links to AI applications that teachers can use to make their job easier so that they can focus more of their time on what matters most in the classroom.
Speakers
RT

Rachel Tillotson

Education Programs Professional: World Languages & ELA, Nevada Department of Education
Seal of BiliteracyCurriculum ResourcesDual Language Education
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Willow
  60-minute presentation

1:30pm MST

Best of Texas: Gaming The System 2.0 - No-Tech Gaming Strategies To Boost Language Engagement
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Agave
Feedback Survey
Your favorite no-tech gaming session is back, and it's been sipping on Yerba Mate! Get ready for a lively and engaging session full of all new no-tech language learning games, and most importantly, without any of those devices giving you and your students tech-neck! We’ll cover some strategies and no-tech gaming to keep language fun and comprehensible, infusing a memorable experience for you and your students! This is not a sit-and-get session; we will be up and moving around for more than half of the session. Be ready to make new friends!
Speakers
avatar for Kimberly Church

Kimberly Church

Teacher, Prestonwood Christian Academy
Spanish teacher by day, business owner and content creator by night, I do a little bit of everything. I’m a happy crier, boy mom, hype woman, and although our business makes significantly more than my teaching job, I’ll never leave teaching because it’s too much fun! I’m one... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Agave
  60-minute presentation

1:30pm MST

It’s Like You’re a Detective: Immersive Spanish Inquiries Grades 3-12 (Exhibitor Session)
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Ocotillo A
Feedback Survey
Are you looking for resources that provide students with opportunities to dive into authentic questions as they learn to read, speak, and write in Spanish? Learn how The DBQ Project Method structures interactive, language-rich experiences for teachers and students. Our lessons in United States and World History, Geography and Civics embed vocabulary acquisition with reading, writing, and oral communication. Students investigate primary and secondary sources to discover answers to mysteries in history and the social sciences. After some introductory remarks, participants will collaborate and discuss whether to re-enlist in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Experience firsthand, the ways in which well-curated authentic content can bring a classroom to life. Teachers in any Dual Language Immersion Program and World Language Spanish Courses are invited to join the fun.
Speakers
avatar for Paige Adams - The DBQ Project

Paige Adams - The DBQ Project

The DBQ Project
Discover The DBQ Project, a dynamic approach to teaching critical thinking and writing skills through inquiry-based learning. Engage students with high-interest historical questions, guiding them to analyze primary sources, develop evidence-based arguments, and improve their writing... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Ocotillo A
  60-minute presentation

1:30pm MST

Revamping Instruction with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Palo Verde A
Feedback Survey
Looking for new content to enrich your curriculum to meet the needs of 21st century learners? The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the answer. This session will demonstrate various classroom-tested strategies on how educators can employ SDGs to provide all students a chance to investigate the world and enhance their language learning experience.
Speakers
avatar for Ying Jin

Ying Jin

Teacher, Cupertino High School
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Palo Verde A
  60-minute presentation

1:30pm MST

Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica: Let's Get Kids in the Program
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Cholla
Feedback Survey
This session will explore strategies and best practices for recruiting students into the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH). As the official honor society for high school students studying Spanish, SHH provides a unique platform for recognizing academic excellence, fostering a deeper connection to the Spanish language and culture, and creating leadership opportunities for students. Whether you're just starting an SHH chapter or looking to reinvigorate an existing one, this session will equip you with practical tools and inspiring ideas to increase student participation and engagement.

Presenters: Laura Zinke & Lacey Chavez
Speakers
LC

Lacey Chavez

Tempe High School
CW

Carla Whitehead

McClintock High School
avatar for Laura Zinke - Vista Higher Learning

Laura Zinke - Vista Higher Learning

Consultant, Vista Higher Learning
Vista Higher Learning develops transformative language and literacy solutions that meet the needs of every language learner—those acquiring a new language, enhancing a second, or perfecting their native language. We empower educators with innovative, research-based programs that... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Cholla
  60-minute presentation

1:30pm MST

The Linguistic Landscape As a Tool for Language Learning: Austria and France
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Palo Verde B
Feedback Survey
This presentation uses linguistic landscape photos from Vienna, Austria, and Paris, France as authentic materials that can be incorporated into a foreign language curriculum in different ways. The focus is on teaching French and German, but teachers of any language can use the ideas from the presentation to develop lessons, modules, or projects that focus on the Connections goal area of the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. This presentation includes a mix of explanations about the linguistic landscape as a resource and hands-on, small-group work with linguistic landscape photos provided by the presenter.
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Palo Verde B
  60-minute presentation

1:30pm MST

¡Me duelen los pies!: Proficiency-Based Activities for the Medical Spanish Classroom
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
The latest trends in the world-language classroom show a preference for classes focused on practical applications of the language in professional settings, such as medical Spanish classes. Although it may seem challenging to build a class that informs the student about specialized terminology, cultural competence, and the idiosyncrasies of the professional field while emphasizing oral and written proficiency, it is possible to create dynamic activities, exercises and assignments that help the student move from an intermediate level to advanced, or keep on working in their advanced proficiency skills. This presentation will delve into engaging strategies and tools available to the instructor in order to develop oral and written proficiency in the medical Spanish classroom, while providing the student with a holistic view of the field and the professional opportunities available when language and medicine intersect. There will be alternatives given for each activity at different levels of proficiency.
Speakers
avatar for Electra Gamón Fielding

Electra Gamón Fielding

Professor of Spanish & Translation, Weber State University
My research interests include medieval and early modern Spain, Catalan literature and culture, and medical translation.
2025 SWCOLT Final pdf
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

Breaking the Ice: Games to Get Students Talking
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Get students talking with purpose in your classroom! Helping students to become more confident speaking and increasing opportunities to practice speaking is an important part of the classroom. This presentation will include several ready-to-use activities for getting students to speak in the target language in your classroom through low anxiety, interactive games appropriate for the beginning through intermediate students. Have students find things they have in common, find the “assassin” among them, make up alibis, get the best bargains in the market, caption memes, and more! Handouts and slides to use these games with your students will be provided, so that it’s ready to go in your plans for next week or next year! Presentation is in English, classroom materials in both English and Chinese.
Speakers
CP

Caroline Pardo

Arizona College Prep, Chandler Unified School District
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

Global Classroom Exchanges - How I've Made it Happen!
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Connecting with the global community can loom as a daunting task for the classroom teacher. This session will succinclty outline how to make it happen.
Speakers
avatar for Carina Plett

Carina Plett

Cont, Edmond Public Schools
Looking forward to connecting with many of the professionals who enrich my practice! I teach Spanish and serve as Content Specialist supporting my District World Language Educators. National Board Certified Teacher since 2010, OFLTA TOY 2014, Mom, Wife, Dog lover - disregard the listing... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

NEW PRESENTATION: Reignite Your Teaching Passion through Deep Dives into Cultural Practices and Products (Former Title: The Systematization of an Open and Spontaneous Language Learning Community - Barnett/Rodriguez/O'Neill - Cancelled by presenters)
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Over the course of a teaching career our own personal passion can ebb and flow.  Sometimes we just need something to reignite it.  One of the best ways to catch on fire is to visit a country of the language we teach. This isn’t always possible.  Even if an in-land experience isn’t possible this year, you can still take a deep dive into a cultural practice or learn about a cultural product that you don’t know very much about.  In this Roadrunner session, I will share several cultural deep dives I have taken.  I will demonstrate how these experiences have renewed my excitement to teach and kept my teaching fresh and authentic.  I will demonstrate how I have used my new cultural competence to create curriculum and build momentum with my students.

Presenter: Stephen Van Orden
Speakers
avatar for Stephen Van Orden

Stephen Van Orden

German Teacher, UFLA Rep to SWCOLT, Timpview High School
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

Strategies for Building Engagement & Community at the Novice Level
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde C
Feedback Survey
Engaging novice language learners and fostering a sense of community in the classroom are critical steps in ensuring their long-term success, yet this can often prove challenging for instructors. This session will explore practical strategies and innovative techniques to build both engagement and community among beginners in language courses. We will introduce activities, tips, and approaches that not only motivate students but also create an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Examples will be provided from Portuguese and Spanish language classes, but they may be adapted to different language contexts.

Presenters: Spencer Reemelin & Rachel Mamiya Hernandez
Speakers
avatar for Rachel Mamiya Hernandez

Rachel Mamiya Hernandez

Language Technology Specialist, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
SWCOLT Presentation Link pdf
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde C
  15-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

Go Beyond Your Classroom Walls with a Free Virtual Exchange
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
Do your students have opportunities for authentic intercultural interactions with students abroad? Have you ever wanted a partner teacher abroad and didn’t know how to find one? Join the presenter to learn about a fully grant-funded opportunity to help your students boost their global competence and Spanish language skills while they connect with peers abroad. The exchange can occur in English, Spanish, or both, as students participate in a virtual exchange during classroom hours. Learn how it works, how to sign up, what benefits there are for you as the teacher, and if this is a good fit for you and your students!
Speakers
avatar for Jill Woerner - AFS Intercultural Programs USA

Jill Woerner - AFS Intercultural Programs USA

Sr. Director of Education and Outreach to Schools, AFS Intercultural Programs USA
AFS-USA empowers people to become globally engaged citizens by delivering meaningful intercultural experiences that provide the knowledge and skills needed to help create a more just and peaceful world.
Global Up Americas Teacher Presentation pdf
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

Integrating Mindfulness with Proficiency in the Language Classroom
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Willow
Feedback Survey
This session will focus on incorporating mindfulness practices into language instruction to enhance proficiency and support student growth and resilience. The ACTFL proficiency levels that target both a student's current "floor level" where they can easily succeed and their "ceiling level" in which they have systematic breakdown provides an ideal platform to introduce mindfulness practices such as self-reflection to develop resilience. We will explore how to incorporate mindfulness techniques such as breath work, meditation, gentle movement and body scans that can lower the affective filter while being centered in proficiency-based lesson planning. Throughout the session, we will provide hands-on demonstrations on how to create an atmosphere conducive to language acquisition.
Speakers
avatar for Troy Cox

Troy Cox

Associate Professor, Brigham Young University
You can download my presentation from the following link:https://cycling-yogi-1.notion.site/UFLA-Integrating-Mindfulness-With-Proficiency-In-the-Language-Classroom-442b00aacb9048ce9abd9ef8ec7a40c0?pvs=4
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Willow
  60-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

K-16 Dual Language Student Pathways to the Future (Exhibitor Session)
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Ocotillo C
Feedback Survey
Several states have created K-16 pathways that make it easier for DLI students to matriculate into postsecondary institutions. This session will look at those K-16 pathways and how some higher education institutions are already working with dual language programs. We will discuss Utah’s Bridge program, which connects high school students with university coursework, and its multiple entrance points, as well as other programs around the nation. We will also discuss the need for higher education institutions to articulate pathways for DLI students entering their programs which can lead to higher enrollments and the creation of new language for specific purpose programs.
Speakers
avatar for Roger Burt - Avant Assessment

Roger Burt - Avant Assessment

Regional Account Manager, Avant Assessment
Avant Assessment is dedicated to creating a brighter future through the magic of language. We build and deliver effective assessments of real-world proficiency, the Avant ADVANCE teacher training tool, and Avant MORE Learning professional development to help transform language learning... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Ocotillo C
  60-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

Leveraging Reading to Grow Learners' Proficiency
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Cholla
Feedback Survey
Can we design effective lesson sequences that leverage reading to integrate all Modes of Communication and develop learners’ proficiency? Yes! Focus this authentic resource-based sequence first on purpose and then on engagement, understanding, and meaning-making. Lastly, design a communicative task that provides evidence of what readers can do with what they learn!
Speakers
avatar for Greta Lundgaard

Greta Lundgaard

Consultant, Consultant
Still enjoying sharing new ideas, strategies, and learning with language educators!
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Cholla
  60-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

Reading across the Levels: Browsing through Some Ideas
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Ocotillo A
Feedback Survey
Reading is key for student’s growing in proficiency, but how can it be done effectively in a world language classroom? This session will look at tips and tricks across multiple language levels. It’s a chance to try out the techniques and decide what will work best in your classroom. Come and join us to get excited about reading and engaging your students!
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Newman-Cornell

Jennifer Newman-Cornell

Educator, Northwest Career and Technical Academy
I teach Spanish II, Spanish III, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature and Spanish V.  I love to collaborate and work in PLCs with other teachers.  I am the Professional Development Chairperson for the Professional Language Association of Nevada (PLAN-the Nevada state world... Read More →
25 SWCOLT Reading Session Slides (2) pdf
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Ocotillo A
  60-minute presentation

2:45pm MST

Unlocking Language: Escape the Room, Not the Learning!
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde A
Feedback Survey
Learn how escape room activities can engage L2 learners by encouraging collaboration, problem-solving, and communication in order to break free from their room and solve their challenge.
Speakers
AE

Ashley Eberhart

Teacher, Round Rock High School
Saturday January 25, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Palo Verde A
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Are Students Receiving Enough Speaking Practice? Leveraging AI for Individualized Practice and Personalized Feedback - EXHIBITOR SESSION
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Agave
Feedback Survey
Providing personalized feedback on world language speaking skills for every student can be challenging in traditional classrooms. Many students don’t speak enough, struggle to find the right words, and often feel less engaged as a result. AI offers a solution, preparing students for real-life conversations and building their confidence.
What will we discuss?
  • The challenges of providing individualized speaking feedback in classroom settings
  • How AI can encourage more frequent and natural conversational practice
  • Methods for using AI to deliver personalized feedback to each student
How to incorporate AI-powered speaking practice in homework, oral testing and cultural enrichment
Speakers
avatar for Ben Altschuler - Speakology AI

Ben Altschuler - Speakology AI

Founder and CEO, Speakology AI
Speakology AI is an education tool that allows students to practice speaking languages in a one-on-one environment. Our technology functions like a Zoom call, pairing students with an AI instructor instead of a human. This enables teachers to provide personalized speaking practice... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Agave
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

College and Grade Students Learning Together: A Case Study in Collaborative Projects
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
Feedback Survey
This session will explore the untapped potential of collaborative projects between different language learning communities and will offer a step-by-step guide to creating them. Using the case study of a project where college students partnered with 9th graders to prepare them for AP exams, the presentation will demonstrate how educational technology and peer mentoring can enhance academic readiness. The case study will highlight strategies such as resource-sharing and targeted instruction, which not only helped 9th graders build confidence and exam skills but also allowed college students to apply their knowledge in real-life contexts while developing leadership and teamwork. This session will discuss the design, implementation, outcomes, and broader implications of such collaborations, showcasing the value of peer-led initiatives in promoting academic success across different educational levels.

Presenters: Anna Hodgson & Fabiana Hansen
Speakers
avatar for Fabiana Hansen

Fabiana Hansen

Hidden Valley Middle School / Jordan School District
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo B
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Creating a Future-Ready Language Classroom with Virtual Exchanges (Exhibitor Session)
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Willow
Feedback Survey
In today’s interconnected world, language learners need more than vocabulary and grammar—they need cultural competence and global readiness. This presentation will demonstrate how virtual exchanges through Level Up Village (LUV) empower language educators to deliver a future-ready curriculum that prepares students for success in a globalized society. By connecting classrooms with
partner schools in Latin American countries, LUV enables students to engage in meaningful, real-world language practice while building cross-cultural communication skills. Attendees will learn how LUV’s programs align with language proficiency goals and integrate seamlessly into existing curricula to create an engaging, collaborative environment. Practical examples of virtual xchanges will highlight how these interactions motivate learners, foster bilingualism, and develop critical 21st-century skills. Join us to discover how virtual exchanges can transform your language classroom and inspire students to become confident, globally competent communicators.
Speakers
LI

Leonardo Islas

Executive Account Manager, Language Testing International
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Willow
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Enrich Teaching and Learning with D I E - Based Writing Activities
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Cholla
Feedback Survey
This session explores the transformative power of writing in language learning, introducing the Describe, Interpret, Evaluate (D I E) method for intercultural communication. D I E-based writing activities immerse learners in cultural contexts, fostering critical thinking and deeper cultural understanding. Participants will gain practical tools and ideas to enhance students' writing skills and cultural awareness. Through hands-on activities, real-world examples, and collaborative discussions, attendees will leave with ready-to-use strategies to promote active engagement and reflection in their teaching.
Speakers
AR
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Cholla
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Eres bilingüe ¿y ahora qué? The Power of Bilingualism in Multilingual Spaces (Exhibitor Session)
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
Feedback Survey
This session will explore the transformative power of bilingualism in multilingual spaces, emphasizing how it fosters cultural understanding and global competence.The presenters will discuss practical strategies and resources to help students build cultural knowledge, enhance communication skills, and thrive in diverse environments. Attendees will gain insights into creating inclusive learning experiences that celebrate linguistic diversity and support students' growth as culturally aware global citizens.
Speakers
avatar for Karla A. Estrada - Carnegie Learning

Karla A. Estrada - Carnegie Learning

Content Specialist, World Languages, Carnegie Learning, Inc.
Carnegie Learning is celebrating 25 years as a leader in AI-driven technology, curriculum, and professional learning solutions for K-12 education. Our award-winning math, literacy, world languages, professional learning, and high-dosage tutoring solutions deliver real and lasting... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo A
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Sounding Like a Real German: Best Practices for Pronunciation
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo C
Feedback Survey
This session will showcase effective classroom strategies and exercises aimed at enhancing German pronunciation. Participants will actively engage in all activities, learn how to incorporate technology best to improve their learners' pronunciation, and gain insights into addressing pronunciation challenges for learners with learning disabilities.

Presenters: Sara Lee & Melanie Mello
Speakers
avatar for Melanie Mello

Melanie Mello

German Educational Multiplier, German Educational Multiplier
Melanie Mello (M.A in Education) is an award-winning teacher and teacher-trainer, specializing in language acquisition and theater-pedagogy. In 2023, she was named Distinguished Alumna in Humanities and Fine Arts by her alma mater, California State University, Chico. She has taught... Read More →
SL

Sara Lee

Arizona State University
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Ocotillo C
  60-minute presentation

4:00pm MST

Talk Is Cheap. Speak More!
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Palo Verde A
Feedback Survey
Are you trying to figure out how to fit those daily speaking practices into your course requirements? Do you have trouble getting students to stay on task during speaking activities? Do you need a last-minute activity that can be thrown together on the fly because you didn’t have time to prep? Then this session is for you! Attendees of this session will participate in three speaking strategies that can be implemented DAILY. They require almost no prep time and no grading from the teacher but will have an invaluable impact on helping students increase their interpersonal speaking skills.
Speakers
RT

Rachel Tillotson

Education Programs Professional: World Languages & ELA, Nevada Department of Education
Seal of BiliteracyCurriculum ResourcesDual Language Education
Saturday January 25, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Palo Verde A
  60-minute presentation
 
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