Virtual Workshops
NYSAFLT Virtual Workshop Series
2023–2024
Co-sponsored by the NYS Language Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network at NYU
Virtual workshops are free to all current NYSAFLT members.
If you are a member of a NECTFL organization, contact info@nectfl.org for access.
Monday, October 30 — 7:00 PM (1 hour)
2023 NYSAFLT Annual Un-conference and Debrief
(LIVE ONLY. This session will not be recorded.)
Presenter: Swaz Piron – NYSAFLT President-Elect – South Jefferson CSD, Retired, Adams, NY
Did you attend the 2023 annual conference in Syracuse and have lots to share? Were you inspired but feel the need to debrief? Were you unable to attend this year’s event and suffer from serious FOMO? In any case, this virtual workshop is for you. We are offering a chance for NYSAFLT members to meet, share and network in our first-ever “Unconference”. Please join us with some ideas, questions, memories, and perhaps suggestions for future events. This session will give us the opportunity to interact with each other while things are fresh in our minds and may help us continue to shape the new school year.
This session was not recorded.
Thursday, November 9 — 7:00 PM (1 hour)
Making AI Work for Language Teachers
Presenter: Maureen Lamb – Ethel Walker School, Simsbury, CT
This webinar will address how teachers and students can harness the power and avoid the pitfalls of AI in the classroom. Through demonstrating how to use a wide variety of Generative AI tools, participants will learn how to use AI to generate prompts, rubrics, diagrams, differentiated texts, image generation, study tools, assessment generators, and more. Participants will come away with a wide variety of activities and AI tools that they can use right away in their classes.
Maureen Lamb is the Dean of Faculty, Dean of Academic Technology and Innovative Pedagogy, and Latin Instructor at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, CT. She is committed to creating an inclusive and engaging classroom environment that helps all students reach their learning potential. She was most recently recognized for her work with the ACTFL/IALLT Teaching with Technology K-12 award (2022-2023) and the SCS/ACL K-12 Classics Teaching Award (2022-2023). She was also the Connecticut Language Teacher of the Year (2016-2017), a Fulbright teacher (2009), and the Classical Association of New England Weinecke Award winner, among other things.
Monday, December 4 — 7:00 PM (1 hour)
Creative Presentational Speaking Assessments that Lead to Refreshing Results
Presenter: Bertha Delgadillo – Woodville Tompkins Technical & Career High School, Savannah, GA
Looking for creative ways to assess & find out how much language your students have acquired? Join us as we examine a variety of ideas and tweaks to reengage your learners in presentational speaking assessments without losing your mind.
Bertha Delgadillo, NBCT is a high school Spanish teacher in Savannah, GA. Originally from Tampico, Tamaulipas, México, she enjoys empowering teachers to continue to stay connected to their passion for world language teaching through sharing practical engagement & student agency strategies all while placing students at the center of the learning experience. In 2023, Bertha was recognized as Georgia’s Teacher of the Year.
Wednesday, January 10 — 7:00 PM (1 hour)
Surviving Your 1st or 31st Year as a World Language Teacher
Presenter: Will Anderson – Massapequa School District, Massapequa, NY
Our 1st or 31st year as a language teacher can be stressful! Teacher education programs simply cannot cover all the things that we need to be prepared for. 20-30 years in the classroom can wear us out. Let’s discuss some tips and strategies to help manage your To-Do list and find success as a language educator.
Will Anderson has a B.A. in Spanish and Political Science (Syracuse University) and an M.S. Ed. in Foreign Language Education (Syracuse University). He is currently the Director of World Language Education at Hofstra University and the K-12 Curriculum Associate for World Languages and English as a New Language in the Massapequa School District. Will has served as President of NYSAFLT (2014), on the NECTFL Board of Directors (2015-2019), and on the ACTFL Board of Directors (2016-2018).
Tuesday, February 6 — 4:00 PM (1 hour)
Subversive Social Justice in the Language Classroom
Presenter: Julia Koch – Bernards Township Public Schools, Basking Ridge, NY
The term “Social Justice” either makes people gather ‘round or run for the hills. Whether we’re excited about it, intimidated by it, or dreading another change we need to make, we’re probably ignoring the incredibly simple ways that we can (and already do) include it in our activities and materials. Participants will leave with a Diversity and Inclusion Checklist that will allow them to open the world to their students without giving themselves a headache!
Julia Koch is a French teacher working in a Blue Ribbon high school in northern New Jersey. She was a 2022 NECTFL MEAD Fellow and received the “Best of New Jersey” award from FLENJ in 2019. While teaching at Montville Township High School in Montville, NJ, Julia was honored by the American Association of Teachers of French with an Exemplary French Program Award. Her primary focus is on practices that allow teachers to stretch their students’ interactive linguistic skills and their intercultural awareness. Julia blogs about teaching and learning at La Prof Caféinée!
Tuesday, March 19 — 4:00 PM (1 hour)
Indigenous Peoples in the Spanish Language Classroom: Keeping it Current and Authentic
Presenter: Abi Cleary – Lansing High School, Lansing, NY
Indigenous peoples in the Spanish language curriculum are too often limited to creation myths, historical roles, and cultural “traditions” involving music and dance. As such they become relics of the historical and cultural past instead of recognizing the current realities, roles, and influences of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas today. Indigenous peoples are part of the “pop Latino” music scene. Their presence is key to environmental and social movements. This workshop highlights the many ways indigenous peoples can be included at all levels and topics – from relationships and bullying to clothing and the environment.
Abi Cleary has been teaching Spanish for over 30 years in public and independent schools around the United States. Keeping what she teaches inclusive, current, authentic, and engaging is her passion. This helps her stay relevant, inspired, excited, and proud to be a World Language teacher.
Monday, April 8 — 7:00 PM (1 hour)
The Input is Compelling, But What About the Output?
Presenter: Joshua Cabral – Brookwood School; World Language Classroom Podcast, Manchester, MA
It is essential that language be comprehensible so that students can make form-meaning connections, however, it also has to be of interest and compelling to learners. This is what motivates them to engage and make meaning. But, what about how students use the language they are acquiring? That also needs to be compelling to students. We will look at how to make input compelling along with output activities that are of particular interest to learners as well.
Joshua Cabral has been teaching French and Spanish at the elementary, middle and high school levels for 27 years. He regularly presents workshops on language proficiency and cultural competence at state, regional, and national conferences. Joshua has done extensive graduate work in Applied Linguistics and second language acquisition and consults with schools and districts throughout the USA working toward building and improving proficiency-based programs. Joshua is passionate about access to education and also works closely with schools in Haiti and Nicaragua where he travels to work with teachers and students. He is also the host of the World Language Classroom Podcast.
Wednesday, May 15 — 4:00 PM (1 hour)
Using ChatGPT for Efficient Language Resource Creation
Presenter: Joe Dale – Freelance, Isle of Wight, UK
Join our 60-minute webinar looking at the use of ChatGPT in the WL classroom presented by Joe Dale, and delve into the art of efficient language resource creation. Explore the multifaceted utility of ChatGPT in crafting dynamic lesson plans, generating captivating reading materials, and designing interactive activities. Discover how ChatGPT can elevate speaking practice conversations, streamline assessment with rubrics, and enhance feedback on student work. Witness real student examples and ChatGPT-enhanced feedback. Elevate your language teaching strategies and harness the power of AI. Stick around for a Q&A session to address all your queries!
Joe Dale is an independent languages consultant from the UK who works with a range of organizations such as The Association for Language Learning, The British Council, the BBC, Skype, Microsoft, and The Guardian. He was a host of the TES MFL forum for 6 years, a former SSAT Languages Lead Practitioner, a regular conference speaker, and a recognized expert on technology and language learning. He has spoken at conferences and run training courses in Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, the Far East, and Australasia. He was described in a Guardian article as an ‘MFL guru’ and ‘the man behind the #mfltwitterati’’. Joe’s FB group ‘Language Teaching with AI’ already has over 1700 members!
Archived Virtual Workshops
Recordings of past years’ virtual workshops are available for a small fee to help us cover our costs. Topics of past workshops vary widely and are still pertinent today. Recorded workshops are a great tool for department meetings and school PD days. Order a recorded NYSAFLT virtual workshop to view as a group and discuss! View our archived virtual workshops here.
CTLE Credit (Members Only)
You may request CTLE credit for sessions that you participated in live or which you viewed as a recording. Once you have participated in/viewed a webinar, please fill out this form.
When you submit your form, you will receive an email which you may use as proof of your participation. If your school absolutely requires something in certificate format, please contact us at info@nysaflt.org.
The NYSAFLT virtual workshop series offers professional development throughout the school year that addresses multiple facets of world language education. You are encouraged to register early for any of the workshops above or for past virtual workshops, which are available as recordings (fee applies).
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.
A member testimonial:
This is just to thank you for the Webinar Series that NYSAFLT offered this year. I have learned so much from them!! What is impressive to me is the large variety of topics presented, their uniqueness, and the high quality of their content. I truly admire the presenters as much as the moderators and organizers for doing such an amazing job. All webinars that I attended were very informative, helpful, and enjoyable. To make them even better, not only they were free this year, but we even got a recording of the webinar so we didn’t have to worry about taking notes, and missing information in the process. The presenters were very knowledgeable and very well prepared and organized every time. They presented a wealth of information and/or ideas, in just 50 minutes!! The moderators were very good at their role as well. I can’t thank you enough. I enjoyed them very much and I am already looking forward to the 2016-2017 Webinar Series.
Respectfully,
J.B.
