Cultural and Linguistic Competence Through Social Justice
Presented by L.J. Randolph 
Sept. 12th | 10:00 - 11:30 AM (Arizona)

Click here to register.

Transformative Learning in a Social Justice Oriented Language Classroom
Presented by Stacey Margarita Johnson
Oct. 3rd | 10:00 - 11:30 AM (Arizona)

Click here to register.

Some Considerations for Social Justice Teaching in a World Language Setting: From Self to Students to World
Presented by Michelle Nicola 
Oct. 17th | 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Click here to register. 

Jill Woerner Appointed to Head New
Educational Outreach Department at AFS-USA 

New York, NY – October 3, 2019—In order to help increase intercultural awareness and global competency among all US-based high school students, not just those who choose to study abroad, AFS Intercultural Programs/USA (“AFS-USA”) announces the launch of a new education unit and has named Jill Woerner, Director of Education and External Outreach to Schools.

Woerner brings to the position knowledge gained from nearly two decades of experience in private and public school settings as a teacher and administrator, and as the former World Language and Global Learning Specialist for the Indiana Department of Education. While working for the Department of Education, Jill implemented Indiana’s Seal of Biliteracy, created the Global Learning Advisory Council (GLAC), helped to solidify the Indiana Language Roadmap grant, facilitated the Dual Language Immersion grants and programs and led numerous workshops helping Indiana World Language teachers through various professional development initiatives.

According to Tara Hofmann, President and CEO of AFS-USA, “Jill Woerner has the depth and breadth of experience we need to truly make a difference in the global competency space in the US. Backed by a new strategic plan just approved by our Board and more than 4,000 dedicated volunteers, many of whom are educators themselves, we are well-poised for success with this new education initiative.”

Woerner has been recognized for her work both in her home state of Indiana and nationally. She was named a world language Teacher of the Year finalist in 2012. More recently, she was named Indiana AATSP’s Key Leader and Indiana NNELL’s Leader of Leaders. In 2017, Woerner was appointed as the CSCTFL delegate to the ACTFL Board of Directors where she leads the Professional Learning Committee.

“Jill Woerner is a big picture thinker, a doer and an encourager,” said ACTFL President Lisa Ritter. “This wonderful combination of qualities has impacted teachers through Jill’s involvement in planning engaging conferences, committee work on important issues affecting our profession and supporting teachers not only by sharing resources but also with positive words. We wish her great success in her new endeavor with AFS-USA.”

Beyond her education career, Woerner has served as volunteered for AFS-USA over 11 years, helping to interview scholarship candidates and serving as a chaperone on programs abroad in Panama and Ireland. She also volunteers with Partners of the Americas and Global Indiana, Inc. to establish teacher-to-teacher exchange programs in Brazil. She is a graduate of Purdue University (B.S.) and Anderson University (M.Ed.).

About AFS-USA:

AFS-USA is a nonprofit organization that empowers people to become globally engaged citizens by delivering meaningful intercultural experiences that provide the knowledge of skills needed to help create a more just and peaceful world. Founded in 1947, AFS has grown to 59 partner organizations worldwide with over 50,000 volunteers supporting its mission, including 4,100 with AFS-USA, the largest partner. AFS study abroad, learning journeys, volunteer and social impact programs help young people develop the essential skills needed to become active global citizens.

AATSP member Sara Lopez took part in graduate studies in Guyana this past summer through Miami University's Project Dragonfly. Lopez of Norwood, CO, studied local wisdom and conservation. 

Lopez is a graduate student with Miami University's Earth Expeditions, a global program offering graduate courses to people from all disciplines. The program combines web-based learning with field experiences in 16 countries throughout the world. Inspired by her work in Guyana, Lopez is now conducting a semester-long research project. 

Since the program began 16 years ago, Project Dragonfly has engaged more than 2,000 people in firsthand educational and scientific research at critical conservation field sites in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas. Dragonfly is located in the department of biology at Miami University,  a state university in Oxford, Ohio. Miami was established in 1809 and is listed as one of the eight original Public Ivies. 

The deadline to apply for 2020 courses is January 28, 2020. Click here to apply. 
You can like Project Dragonfly on Facebook here.

Teacher of the year Larry Horton aims to maintain 100 percent student passing rate on AP exam. Horton was named Teacher of the Year 2017-2018. 

Spanish teacher Larry Horton walks into class, asking the same question every day in order to prepare his students to take on the challenge of learning a new language and to take the AP exam in the upcoming weeks.

Horton students’ have received a 100 percent passing rate on the Spanish AP exam for the past four years. He said that he, along with the Spanish teachers, strive to keep the momentum going for the following years.

 Read more.

Fifteen students and two teachers from Wood River Middle School (WRMS) traveled to Madrid, Spain on an exchange program with Gredos San Diegos, their sister school in Madrid. The students stayed with host families. Thanks to WRMS parent Tracy Simon, the students and teachers met His Majesty, King Philip VI in the Zarzuela Palace. WRMS teacher Jorge Pulleiro wrote, “It was originally intended to be a 30-minute audience with the King. However, we spent close to an hour with the King. His Majesty commended our dual immersion program, the exchange program with Gredos San Diegos, and the school district’s support of world language teaching and learning. His Majesty speaks five languages fluently and encouraged our students to continue their studies in Spanish. We presented His Majesty with a beautiful Sun Valley photo book and invited him and his family to visit our area. He loves skiing and has never been to Idaho.” Pulleiro continued, “I want to thank the BCSD Board of Trustees for their vision of educating students who are global-oriented citizens.”

 - from the Blaine Schools website

Read more and see video at the KMVT11 website.

From Routledge:

L2 Spanish Pragmatics is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview of current research into pragmatics and Spanish language teaching.

It presents the research on the teaching of pragmatics and Spanish language as a multifaceted discipline. Written by an international cohort of scholars, the breadth of topics includes innovative topics in the teaching of Spanish, such as genre analysis, discourse markers, politeness and impoliteness, nonverbal communication, irony, and humor, as well as web-based pragmatics resources.

Key features:

 

• An overview of new trends in Spanish pragmatics research and the growing need for instruction in intercultural communication;

 

• Insights derived from important theoretical and empirical works that may contribute to integrate pragmatics in the teaching of the language;

 

• Explanations with great clarity, plenty of examples and references, as well as connections to language teaching and learning;

 

• Tasks and activities that can help teachers move from a traditional curricular approach to a more innovative and engaging one;

 

• Descriptions of numerous activities or guidelines for the classroom, supplemented with additional materials;

 

• A bilingual glossary of terms in pragmatics that will help teachers in their implementation of activities to teach L2 Spanish pragmatics.

L2 Spanish Pragmatics constitutes a reference book on current research on learning and teaching Spanish pragmatics. It will be of interest to university lecturers, researchers, and graduate students. It will also be an excellent resource for language educators and K-16 teachers willing to expand their knowledge and apply the teaching of pragmatics as an integral component in the teaching of the Spanish language.

Read the complete book description on the publisher's site.

Read a Q&A with Domnita Dumitrescu and Patricia Lorena Andueza

Congratulations to AATSP member and SHH adviser Rachel Dayley — Spanish, Williamsport High School

Dayley has taught for seven years in Washington County and has been nominated for Teacher of the Year two previous times. She is adviser of the Los Quijotes Chapter of Williamsport High’s Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica and co-advisor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Read more.

Dallastown Area High School Spanish teacher Cherie Garrett is a semi finalist stage for the Department of Education’s 2019 Teacher of the Year Award.

Teachers are nominated by parents, students and fellow teachers and are narrowed down by the state Department of Education and the National Teacher of the Year organization.

Garrett, a teacher of 20 years at Dallastown, said she was “extremely proud” of reaching the stage, especially after receiving the 2018 Foreign Language Teacher of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association last October.

Congratulations, Cherie!

Read more.