NYSAFLT Annual Conference 2024

In this workshop the presenters will guide participants through the revised NYS Learning Standards for World Languages at Checkpoint A, sharing classroom activity and instructional strategies. As members of the OHM BOCES checkpoint assessment team, the presenters will also share tips and recommendations for assessments and performance indicators.

In our diverse classrooms, students bring unique identities, language varieties, and cultural backgrounds, including those of heritage language learners. As educators, we must respect and empower students to embrace their individuality and heritage. This presentation explores challenges like the implications of asking 'where are you from?', correctly addressing students by their names, appreciating language varieties, and implementing trauma-informed teaching. We'll discuss strategies for creating an inclusive environment that celebrates student diversity, including heritage language learners, fostering respect and belonging. Understanding these issues helps build empathetic connections, enhancing educational experiences.

Do you want your students to feel connected to their work and why they are doing it? Do you want your students to see the connections with the target language and culture?
In this session, the presenter will walk you through several teacher-created examples that focus on connecting authentic resources, realistic purposes, and real audiences, while incorporating and soliciting
student interest through transfer tasks that have been created while working with Dr. Jennifer Eddy of Queens College. The Spanish examples shown will include the sources, rubrics, and other related
materials. The projects shown can be modified for different levels and languages. If there is time, participants can begin their own during the session.

Learn to create and use classroom characters with your students. These classroom characters can be used all year long to help increase comprehensible input using fun drawings and objects. Students help create all aspects of the classroom character which makes learning enjoyable and natural.

Explore the enriching world of language acquisition through authentic conversation in our language-focused workshop, specially designed for Spanish teachers. This interactive session delves into effective strategies for incorporating real-world conversations into language teaching, highlighting the critical role of genuine dialogue in developing linguistic and cultural proficiency.

Participate in hands-on activities where you'll experience the power of conversation-based teaching. We'll discuss practical approaches for integrating these methods into your classrooms and enhancing student engagement and communication skills.

Are you daunted by the prospect of immersing your learners in 90% target language? Fear not! Discover the art of captivating teaching methods that seamlessly integrate the target language, steering your students towards proficiency levels they never thought possible. Even if storytelling isn't your forte, I'll guide you through an exploration of innovative techniques, harnessing authentic resources and cultural immersion to propel your learners from novice to mid and high levels with ease. Join me for engaging, practical activities you can do on Monday!

Ever have students give up on a reading task before they start? Do students ever tell you that they don’t understand anything when they listen to a text? Are your students hesitant to perform speaking tasks? In this workshop, your presenters will give examples of how they have used a proficiency-based mindset and sequenced and scaffolded activities to boost student confidence and performance. They will share strategies that they have used to help tackle tasks in the target language and assist students to confidently move through communication modes.

Whether you are a brand new teacher or a veteran teacher, we all could use "Back to the Basics" ideas for our World Language classroom to reignite the connection with learners! The presenter will share ideas that will help you build relationships with your students, use more of the Target Language each day, and have fun while doing it! You can learn about strategies today, and easily implement them on Monday (with little to no prep). Let's work smarter, not harder!

Unlock the potential of your language learners with the "Think, Talk, Learn" workshop, specifically designed for world language and ENL classrooms. This session offers innovative thinking routines that make thinking visible in the classroom, enhancing language development and understanding. Discover practical strategies like See-Think-Wonder, Sentence-Phrase-Word, and Chalk Talk, all tailored to support language learners of all levels. Engage in interactive activities and collaborative discussions to equip yourself with tools for creating a vibrant, thinking-centered classroom that fosters both language skills and cognitive growth. Join us and transform your teaching to inspire students to think, talk, and learn with confidence!