Attaining ACTFL’s standard of 90%+ target language use for teachers and students is easier than it seems! With classroom-proven, highly effective techniques and strategies, all teachers can reach and even exceed the 90% mark. In this workshop, we’ll look at highly effective teaching strategies for increasing target language use, define when the use of English is appropriate, explore ways to motivate all students to use the target language, and develop oral proficiency through Interpersonal activities and assessments.

Does teaching for proficiency mean no more grammar? Can you really develop student language without explicit grammar instructions (often in English)? In a proficiency-based classroom, a core practice is teaching grammar as a concept and guiding students to use it in context. In this workshop, we’ll explore using authentic resources as a ways of building students’ comprehension of target forms. We’ll look at instructional practices--including the PACE Model--that lead students to inductively develop an understanding of target linguistic forms. And we’ll also discuss how to maintain 90%+ target language use throughout class activities that focus on form.

Most teachers know that an authentic resource is something by a native speaker, for a native speaker. But how do you determine which resources are appropriate for each proficiency level? And how do you integrate authentic materials into classroom tasks that facilitate interpretation and interactive classroom discussions? In this workshop, we’ll examine features of authentic resources that make them accessible for students at various proficiency levels. We’ll explore the Interactive Model, which provides a framework for guiding learners to interpret and discuss authentic texts. We’ll also look at how to use authentic resources to engage students in Interpersonal and Presentational Communication.

At the core of all good instruction is thoughtful planning with a clear goal. After all, we’re not going to get anywhere if we don’t know where we’re going! In this workshop, we’ll explore how to plan effective lessons and units for the world language classroom with clear, measurable objectives. And, we’ll take our planning to the next level by investigating how to help students take ownership of their learning through goal-setting, self-reflection, and portfolios that demonstrate student
growth.

It’s time to let go of chapter tests and focus
on what really matters: what students can do with language! In this workshop, we’ll look at how to transform traditional tests into meaningful, authentic, and engaging assessments to demonstrate student progress using can-do statements, proficiency targets, and addressing the three modes. Hands-on and interactive, attendees will leave with draft assessments they can immediately begin using with students.