promoting high-quality world languages instruction

In our first newsletter in June 2020, the Fordham PDRC featured seven outstanding educators representing the richness of languages and cultures served by the professional development resource center.  Using the ACTFL guidelines for the Interpretive and Interpersonal Modes of Communication, the team introduced and discussed a set of learner-centered strategies that empower and motivate students to further develop their Heritage language and culture, and/or acquire a new world language (June 2020 Newsletter).  

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We continue supporting and celebrating the teaching and learning of languages and cultures of all religious and independent schools, through our interactive, timely and differentiated professional learning opportunities, including the live webinars that we are highlighting in this article.

The Fordham PDRC would like to invite you to attend a this free, online webinar Embedding Authentic Resources into Lesson Plans, with Leslie Grahn, noted leader, presenter, author, and blogger in the field of world language education.

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In this statewide session co-sponsored by the NYS/OBEWL and, the New York State Association of World Languages Administrators (NYSAWLA), World Language educators will consider how to embed authentic resources into phases of lesson plans; analyze scenarios for embedding authentic resources; and then use a planning guide to build the lesson plan.
For educators and school leaders who attend the online workshop will be provided with a certificate of attendance documenting two hours of CTLE credit. To further support the efforts to reach out to a larger number of World Language teachers, a recording of the workshops will be available on the OBEWL website for on-demand viewing by those unable to attend virtually.  Those who cannot participate may earn CTLE credit by viewing the recording on the OBEWL website and answering at least eight out of ten questions on a multiple-choice post-assessment correctly.  No registration is necessary to view the recording of the workshop. 

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Furthermore, the OBEWL collaborates with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) if offering Virtual Learning Workshops for World Language Educators aligned to the proposed revisions to the NYS Languages Other Than English Standards. The OBEWL commissioned ACTFL to create the following three Virtual Learning Workshops:

1. Focusing Learning through Standards and Can-Do Statements;
2. Developing Proficiency through High-Leverage Teaching Practices; and
3. Designing Effective Units of Instruction.

Each Virtual Learning Workshop consists of a processing guide, videos, presentation slides, activities, supporting documents, and culminating application activity. Registration for these virtual workshops is now available through the following link. NYS educators can complete one, two, or all three workshops, in any order they prefer and at any time. Educators need only register once to complete any of the workshops. Four (4) hours of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits can be earned for each workshop by completing all workshop elements and scoring at least 8 out of 10 questions correctly on a multiple-choice post-assessment. 

The Fordham PDRC Team is working alongside the NYSED-OBEWL to help disseminate the information ensuring that world languages teachers and school leaders take advantage of this free of cost learning opportunities.  

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Upcoming World Languages Sessions​

Embedding Authentic Resources into Lesson Plans
Date: January 20, 2020 || Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm 
Register Today - Registration will close by January 18; there will be no same-day registration.

Virtual Learning Workshops
Date: On-Demand
Register Today