NYSAFLT Annual Conference 2024

Attendees will first explore colonial conceptions and practices from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, shedding light on the persistent accusations of "neocolonialism" toward the Francophonie in the 20th and 21st centuries. The discussion will then examine whether the French language is a contributing factor or merely a symptom of the broader francophone crisis, both within and outside of France. In this perspective, attention will be turned to French-speaking African countries, where the role of the French language in education and administration is under intense scrutiny. Finally, the session will discuss practical strategies and material for teaching French with enthusiasm and intellectual honesty.

One of the best ways to learn a language is traveling to a country where this language is spoken, fully immersing oneself in target language and culture. However, such educational trips are not a possibility for most of the classes. Not to worry - we can recreate authentic immersive language experiences with the help of role plays set up right in our classroom. This session will share some of successful role play scenarios that can be recreated in any language, at any educational setting. As an important bonus, these in-class immersions offer an excellent opportunity to incorporate the voices of diverse communities where target language is spoken, communities that are usually underrepresented in our curricula.

All too often, attempts to share a success or to influence other teachers—whether about a specific strategy or a proficiency-oriented approach to teaching and learning languages—fall flat or, worse, actually discourage or alienate. Geared especially toward teachers who train or mentor others, who share practices in person or online, or whose colleagues have disparate philosophies, this session will help you build trust, communicate clearly, and make an ongoing positive impact. We will cover general guidelines for successful communication as well as credible and encouraging ways to share learners’ successes, research-informed principles, and proficiency-promoting practices.

Language influences how we perceive the world, how we interact and respond to it, and how we feel about it. Often in language classrooms we explore cultural products and practices, but we dedicate less attention to perspectives. This presentation will explore ways to integrate exploring the cultural perspectives tied to products and practices using the Universal Design for Learning framework.