Annual Conference 2024
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NYSAFLT 2024 will be in Niagara Falls!
Niagara Falls Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY
November 8-9, 2024
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, November 8-9
- Up to 11 hours of CTLE credit
- Option to add a three-hour pre-conference workshop ($35)
If you are a member of a World Language organization outside of New York State and would like to attend this event, please email info@nysaflt.org
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 October 7, 2024, 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 Convention Center. 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 will take place during Friday’s lunch.
- A special Niagara Falls themed event 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 Niagara Falls Convention Center. 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 5pm –6 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
Celia Chomón Zamora
Dr. Celia Chomón Zamora, CAE currently serves as ACTFL’s Director of Professional Learning and Certification. She has worked for over 15 years as a K-12 language teacher and administrator in public and private school settings, a postsecondary language program instructor, assistant director, and researcher. Dr. Zamora completed her doctoral degree in Spanish Applied Linguistics from Georgetown University, where she was awarded the Harold N. Glassman Distinguished Dissertation Award in the social sciences.
Hotel
SHERATON NIAGARA FALLS
300 Third Street
Niagara Falls, Ny 14303
716-285-3361
Please use this link to book your reservation or you may call the hotel at 716-285-3361 Our negotiated hotel rate is valid Thursday, Nov. 7 – Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Based on availability. First come, first served.)
Single/Double rate: $179
Reservation Cut-off Date: October 7. 2024. Requests after this date will be taken on a space available basis.
Check-In time at the Sheraton Niagara Falls is 4:00 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.
Meals
Meal Information
- Breakfast will be on your own. Torrent, on the lower level of the hotel, is open for breakfast 7am-11am daily. There is also a Starbucks in the lobby.
- Lunch on Friday and Saturday are both included in your registration fees. To assist us in accurate catering, kindly select the day(s) you plan to attend on your registration form. Please note that YOU’LL ONLY BE ABLE TO ENJOY LUNCH ON THE DAYS YOU SELECT, as the caterer requires meal counts in advance. Your thoughtful cooperation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
- 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
2024 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: October 7, 2024 |
Option # 2: NYSAFLT-funded Annual Conference Scholarships (4 full scholarships)
For teachers who have not attended any of the past three Annual Conferences (2021–2023): 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: October 7, 2024 |
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: October 7, 2024 |
2025 Conference
NYSAFLT 2025 108th Annual Conference: Albany, NY
Oct. 17-18, 2025
Chair: Wendy Mercado
Submit a Workshop Proposal starting November 9th by clicking “Conferences” above.
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. Lead with Culture through CI (Noemi Rodriguez) – How can you lead with culture? Let’s explore how we can use comprehensible input strategies such as Clip Chat, Picture Talk, Traveling Dictation and more, combined with cultural topics for this hands-on workshop! This workshop will equip you to lead with authentic cultural content in a comprehensible way! We’ll explore how to consider social justice topics and use authentic resources such as images, art, music, legends, geography, and film to design comprehensible input activities. Through these activities, you’ll discover how to connect with the target culture while ensuring understanding for ALL learners. Dive deep – join us for a cultural adventure in language learning!
102. Bridging Bytes: Building Language Connections in the AI Classroom (Celia Chomón Zamora) – Embark on a transformative journey into AI with this interactive workshop. This session offers hands-on experiences with diverse AI tools to enhance your teaching strategies. Learn to integrate AI seamlessly into language lessons, create compelling activities, and leverage technology for enriching homework, all while adhering to proficiency-oriented teaching principles. We’ll also explore ethical considerations and digital literacy in education. Ideal for teachers aiming to captivate language learners with innovative, proficiency-focused methods. Bringing your own computer is highly recommended for full participation. Join us to revolutionize your teaching approach with AI, staying true to ACTFL’s vision of high-quality language education. The presentation will be in English, with examples in Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese (and whichever the audience choose)!
103. Designing Practical Instruction Using the Revised World Language Standards (Joshua Wigle-Harris, Zoey Baird, Dr. Joanne O’Toole) – This workshop takes a deep dive into how to design practical, everyday teaching that meaningfully enacts the revised NYS Learning Standards for World Languages at Checkpoint A. The presenters—two classroom teachers and a unit plan exemplar author—describe their journey, processes, and strategies for bringing a standards-based unit plan to life for novice learners. They will share the sequenced and scaffolded learning tasks they designed and implemented to boost learner confidence and performance. Participants will then design practical unit-based learning tasks that they can use in their own instructional practice.
104. Du français colonial au français post-impérial : quelle francophonie enseigner en 2024? (Alice Polanski) – 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.
Exhibitors & Sponsorship
Plan your visit to Niagara Falls
Check out our list of regular sessions & presenters:
Other than Pre-conference Workshops, this is a VERY tentative list of sessions and presenters that will be subject to change. Attendees will be invited to join our Sched event about a week prior to the conference at the email address used to register for the Conference.
Click here for a video tutorial to learn how to use Sched.
View the NYSAFLT Annual Conference 2024 schedule & directory.
