Annual Conference 2023
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NYSAFLT 2023 will be in Syracuse!
Marriott Syracuse Downtown, Syracuse, NY
October 20-21, 2023
Registration
Click here to view complete registration details.
Membership
You must be a NYSAFLT member in order to attend the NYSAFLT Annual Conference. If you are unsure of your membership status, please login to the Members Only area of our site to check your account. If your membership is not current, you may renew it separately and then register for the conference.
Payment
Use our online form to pay by credit card or upload a PO. We’re sorry, but due to limited in-office staffing, we are not able to accept paper registrations or registration by check. If you need a paper registration form in order to request a Purchase Order from your school, please click here.
Registration includes:
- Access to all on-site sessions, keynote, exhibits, etc., Friday and Saturday, October 20–21
- Up to 11 hours of CTLE credit
- Option to add a three-hour pre-conference workshop ($35)
General Information
ASL Interpreter Request
Given that NYSAFLT is a small nonprofit with limited resources, the organization will do its best to accommodate those that are in need of ASL interpretation on a first come, first serve basis.
Individuals requesting an ASL interpreter must register and notify NYSAFLT at info@nysaflt.org by June 30; a full conference itinerary must be emailed to NYSAFLT staff no later than September 9, 2023, in order for ASL Interpreters to be secured. After this date, we cannot guarantee that an interpreter will be made available. We appreciate you adhering to our policy.
Pre-registration and Confirmation
You may pre-register for the conference online with the registration form available at https://nysaflt.org/annual-conference/. Please note cut-off dates, fee schedules, and refund information on the registration form. Confirmation of conference registration will be made by email only to the address you provide on your form. If you do not receive a confirmation email, it may be in your spam folder. If you are unable to locate our confirmation email, let us know and we’ll resend it.
Arrival and Conference Check-in
Conference materials (programs, badges, banquet tickets) will be pre-packaged for those participants who have pre-registered and will be available at the conference registration desk in the Marriott. The registration booth will be open during the Annual Conference from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Program Overview and Schedule at a Glance
The Annual Conference will run from Friday morning 8:30 a.m. through Saturday afternoon 4:00 p.m.:
- Three-hour, ticketed workshops are scheduled for Friday only, 8:30–11:30 a.m. A separate $35 fee applies.
- Regular 60-minute sessions begin Friday afternoon. There are three 60-minute session time slots on Friday and four on Saturday.
- The General Session, Annual Business Meeting, and Keynote Address will be held Saturday morning from 10:00–11:00 a.m.
- Exhibits: The exhibit area will open beginning Friday immediately after lunch and in the morning on Saturday.
- Recognition of the year’s scholarship, grant, and award winners as well as a special Indigenous Welcome will take place during Friday’s lunch.
- A special 20s theme event, the NYSA-speakeasy, will be held Friday evening before the Banquet.
- Our Annual Awards Banquet will be held Friday evening.
- Our Service Award Luncheon will be Saturday.
Badges
Attendees at the conference are asked to WEAR THEIR BADGES AT ALL TIMES. You will not be permitted to attend workshops or enter the exhibit hall without your name badge.
Schedule and Locations
All workshops and sessions will be held in the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. The schedule will be determined prior to the Annual Conference and will be posted at https://nysaflt.org/annual-conference/. Please note that the listing of workshops and sessions is subject to change. All attendees are asked to be at sessions and workshops on time and to remain until the end. Please silence your cell phone while in workshops.
Exhibits
Exhibitors are present for consultation and to demonstrate and/or sell their materials, which include texts, journals, digital media, literature, games, fundraisers, authentic resources, travel services, and more. While exhibitors at the conference may offer various products and perspectives, it’s important to note that their views and offerings do not necessarily represent NYSAFLT’s official stance or endorsement. Most exhibitors accept cash, checks, or credit cards. The grand opening of the exhibit hall will be after lunch, 12:30–1:00 p.m., on Friday, followed by a coffee break at 3:30 p.m. and our traditional wine and cheese hour Friday evening 4:45–5:30 p.m. On Saturday, the exhibit hall will be open 8:30–11:30 a.m. Participants will have ample opportunity to examine a variety of materials. Raffles for valuable prizes will be held in the exhibit hall.
Directions and Parking
Quick Links
- Program Overview and Schedule at a Glance
- View complete registration information here.
- Download a copy of NYSAFLT’s W-9 here.
- NYSAFLT NYCDOE Vendor ID#: NYS005000
Keynote
Trudy Anderson
Trudy Anderson is excited to introduce her students to Spanish and encourages them to visualize how being proficient in a second language can open new avenues for success. She believes it is important to help students be curious about other cultures and perspectives. Trudy collaborates well with colleagues and enjoys seeing new teachers hone and improve their craft. She has been a Yale New Haven Teachers Institute Fellow, curriculum writer, coach, and presenter at conferences. Trudy was named the CT COLT Teacher of the Year in 2021 and the NECTFL 2022 Teacher of the Year.
Hotel
MARRIOTT SYRACUSE DOWNTOWN
100 E Onondaga St
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 474-2424
Please use this link to book your reservation or you may call the hotel at (315) 474-2424. Our negotiated hotel rate is valid Thursday, Oct. 19 – Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023.
Single/Double rate: $159
Reservation Cut-off Date: September 13, 2023. Requests after this date will be taken on a space available basis.
Check-In time at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown is 3:00 pm. The Check-out time is 11:00 am, after which time guests will incur an additional night’s charge. Requests for late checkout at no additional charge for individual rooms are evaluated based on length of extension and incoming demand for rooms. Room assignments prior to that time are on an availability basis.
The hotel group rate is no longer available. But, you may be able to book a room at the Syracuse Marriott Downtown at standard rates. Once the hotel sells out, you can consider the following nearby hotels:
Courtyard/Residence Inn by Marriott Armory Square
(315)422-4854
Syracuse Sheraton
(315) 477-8249
Jefferson Clinton Hotel
(315) 425-0500
Crowne Plaza Syracuse
(315) 703-1912
Meals
Meal Information
- Breakfast will be on your own. Eleven Waters, on the lower level of the hotel, is open for breakfast 6:30-11am daily. Salt City Market is across the street from the hotel. It opens at 7am on Friday and 8am on Saturday.
- Lunch will be included in conference registration Friday and Saturday.
- Friday NYSAFLT Awards Banquet dinner tickets ($75) can be purchased with conference registration.
CTLE
NYSAFLT is an approved Sponsor of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) pursuant to Section 80-6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, beginning July 1, 2016 and ending June 30, 2026, CTLE Identification number: 23167. Attendees will be able to submit a request after the conference via our online form (below), in which you will verify which sessions you attended and/or viewed, if recorded. Submission of the form will generate an email confirmation of attendance. Certificates are only available upon request. It is attendees’ responsibility to maintain accurate records, including a copy of the program with session details, presenter names, etc. Credit-bearing components of the conference are as follows:
- Three-hour pre-conference workshops, 3 hours (Friday)
- General session, keynote address, and annual business meeting, 1 hour
- Regular sessions A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, 1 hour each (Friday and Saturday)
Please refer to your local school district guidelines for professional development credit. If your school requires a certificate format, please submit the online request form first and then contact us at info@nysaflt.org to request a PDF certificate.
Click here to submit a form for CTLE credit.
Scholarships
2023 Scholarship Information
There are THREE types of scholarships available:
| Option # 1: The Statewide Language RBERN Mentor/Mentee Scholarship Program (10 sponsorships and 10 stipends)
The NYS Statewide Language RBERN at NYU sponsors ten NYS public school world language teachers to attend the NYSAFLT annual conference for the first time and ten $50 stipends for experienced teachers to serve as their mentors. The ten new teachers are paired with a mentor to make their first conference experience a meaningful and productive one! Deadline: September 13, 2023 |
Option # 2: NYSAFLT-funded Annual Conference Scholarships (4 full scholarships)
For teachers who have not attended any of the past three Annual Conferences (2020–2022): There are 4 scholarships given annually, divided between 2 categories: Teachers who have been teaching 3 years or less, and teachers who have been teaching more than three years. Each scholarship covers conference registration and will be awarded to world language teachers at any grade level from elementary to post-secondary who are members of NYSAFLT, and have full-time world language teaching responsibilities. Winners are expected to attend the entire Annual Conference from Friday through Saturday. Deadline: September 13, 2023 |
Option # 3: Heidi Connell Memorial Scholarship (1 available)
If you are a Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes-area French teacher, consider applying for this award, which was funded by a donation from the AATF-Rochester Chapter and other donors in memory of former board member Heidi Connell. Heidi was a curious, fun-loving and adventurous individual. She loved to travel, experience all that life had to offer and forge lasting friendships wherever she went. After having spent many happy years at home with her husband and three children, Heidi began her teaching career in the Canandaigua City School District in 2012. She is remembered fondly by her students and colleagues as an innovative and inspiring teacher. Heidi demonstrated her passion for education through her membership and active participation with the PEO Chapter CJ in New York as well as in NYSAFLT. Heidi was a long-time member of the NYSAFLT Rochester Regional Planning Committee and also served as the Western New York Director for NYSAFLT from 2016–2018. Throughout her teaching career, Heidi offered numerous professional development workshops for her colleagues on such topics as student engagement and technology integration. She would be pleased to know that this scholarship will promote the next generation of language educators. In addition to the conference registration fee, this award includes one year of membership to NYSAFLT. Deadline: September 13, 2023 |
2024 Conference
NYSAFLT 2024 107th Annual Conference: Niagara Falls, NY
Nov. 8-9, 2024
Chair: Alexis Thornton
Pre-conference workshops
Three-hour ticketed pre-conference workshops have their own time slot on Friday morning. Please note: There is a separate $35 fee for pre-conference workshops.
101. Calling all learners-Using Stations and Playlists for Differentiation (Trudy Anderson) – SOLD OUT – Have you ever wondered how a class of 25 students can have many learning differences and interests? In this hands-on “creating together” session, we will explore how using stations and playlists can foster differentiation and independence while meeting proficiency goals for all students. We will use a variety of methods to choose materials and create activities for commonly taught units.
102. Plan for Proficiency (Martina Bex) – SOLD OUT – Unpack the definition of Proficiency Oriented Language Instruction (POLI) and consider its practical application to lesson design! Workshop attendees will participate as students in a series of effective proficiency-oriented activities that students love and that can be done entirely in the target language, regardless of which language they teach, and they will leave with an adaptable template for planning proficiency oriented lessons that maximize student engagement.
103. Orientation to the World Languages Administrator Reference Guide (Bill Heller) – This workshop will provide administrators, supervisors, department chairs and teacher leaders with an overview of the Administrator Reference Guide to the revised New York State Learning Standards for World Languages (2021). The presentation will highlight the key instructional shifts inherent in the successful implementation of the revised standards. Participants will then have time to reflect upon the classroom practices identified in the Lesson Observation Guides that describe what effective language teaching looks like. The presenter will also propose ways to use the Administrator Reference Guide as a means to advocate for investment of time and resources into developing aligned and articulated World Language programs. Finally, participants will examine resources for facilitating curriculum development and articulation, and consider strategies for creating individualized professional development plans. Everyone is welcome to this session.
104. Centering Voices: Discussion and tools for representation in the WL Classroom (Ingrid Paredes & Diana Perez) – In this seminar, participants will explore how the identities of educators, students and diverse cultures, the NYS Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education (CRSE) Framework, and NYS Content Standards apply to world language instruction. This workshop will include exploration of identity and culture with tools and activities that can also be used with their peers and students. Participants will also explore how these tools connect with their Bridge to Practice, the process whereby the learning from the professional learning environment is applied to what happens in the classroom.
105. Leveraging Literacy in the World Language Classroom (Beth Slocum & Sally Barnes) – This session will explore how literacy can be developed in the world language classroom using the crosswalk between the revised NYS WL Standards and the Next Gen ELA Standards as a guide. The presenters will present literacy strategies and demonstrate ways to meaningfully apply them with authentic resources for novice and intermediate learners. Next, by working in breakout groups in French and Spanish, the presenters will provide a walk through of how to apply one authentic resource 3 ways for Checkpoints A, B and C. Finally, attendees will have the opportunity for language-specific work time to collaborate with colleagues and gather feedback on developing resources for a unit they are planning to use this semester.
Exhibitors & Sponsorship
Check out our list of regular sessions & presenters:
Click here for a video tutorial to learn how to use Sched.
View the NYSAFLT Annual Conference 2023 schedule & directory.
