ADE World & Native Language Updates

Let’s reframe how teachers act on the terms “proficiency” and “performance”. What happens when we consider these as two ends of a continuum with proficiency at one end fully independent of any curriculum or instruction and performance at the other end fully dependent on the teacher? Now, the task before us as educators is to make sure we move from teacher control to learners’ more independent expression, using language to accomplish meaningful tasks, to prepare learners to confidently use language outside the engineered environment of the classroom. Explore how to use AAPPL data to guide instructional decisions, to identify each learner’s profile of strengths and challenges in different modes, and to strategically connect all modes of communication to develop learners’ proficiency.

Join CERCLL for an enlightening webinar with University of Arizona's Dr. Peter Ecke as he presents "Empowering High School and College Students to Learn and Maintain Languages for Life Through Courses on Multilingualism." Discover how his successful decade-long course can serve as a model for similar initiatives across universities. He will share course objectives, learning outcomes, and student feedback while demonstrating how such programs can particularly benefit students from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This presentation offers valuable insights for faculty looking to enhance their programs and better support multilingual students. This free webinar is an excellent opportunity to explore innovative approaches that could strengthen your own departmental offerings.

Rethinking language teaching resources: Language teaching resources are critical to effective language education span a diverse spectrum—from textbooks to digital tools and authentic materials. The key challenge lies in strategically selecting, adapting, and implementing these resources to meet diverse learning needs.

Our webinar series explores this crucial intersection, offering educators innovative strategies to bridge theoretical approaches with practical classroom implementation. Each session provides unique insights into transforming language teaching materials.

Visit The Center for Applied Second Language Studies' YouTube page for 200 videos about language modeling and learning.

CASLS understands the pressures of today’s teaching environment. Time and resource scarcities make finding time to engage in professional development difficult.

To help educators navigate this reality, CASLS is developing a series of free professional development modules. Each asynchronous module is comprised of several lessons and provides educators with an overview of the stated topic. All modules imbed a special focus on contemporary trends in language education, such as career-related connections, and include both opportunities to reflect and checks for understanding along the way. Also, because each lesson is mobile-friendly and designed to last for about 15 minutes, they are easy to complete on the go! Learn more HERE

Educators, you’re invited to the Heard Museum for an exciting night of professional learning and celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week! Join us for exclusive museum access, dinner catered by the Heard’s Courtyard Café, and a keynote presentation and song by recording artist, motivational speaker, and youth advocate Talibah Begay (Diné).

Teachers, mentors, administrators! The nomination window for the 2025 LTI Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Scholarship Award is open! For the third year running, we are excited to offer this great opportunity to your students to showcase their bilingualism and tell us what attaining the Seal means to them. For information on this year’s theme and submission details, please visit this page.

Nominations are due May 1, 2025

• Elementary (e.g. DLI, FLEX, FLES)
• Secondary
• Post-Secondary

Dedicated to addressing a critical national shortage by bolstering the pipeline of future language educators, this award provides merit-based scholarships to graduating high school seniors committed to pursuing the language teaching profession in languages other than English.

Launched in 2019, Language Connects Foundation's Teacher Scholarship Program provides recipients with an award of $1,500 per academic year. Scholarships may be renewed three times following the initial award, for a cumulative total of $6,000 per recipient.

Want to take your students on an adventure to visit a new place or space? With Geoliteracies and Place Based Learning you can transform your language classroom with a pedagogically designed lesson plan. Liudmila Klimanova (University of Arizona) received a CERCLL Faculty Fellowship with Lara Lomicka Anderson (University of South Carolina), and worked with Graduate Student Collaborators to create this web-guide for using maps and other tools to connect language teaching to students' immediate surroundings for the development of intercultural awareness and interpretation skills.

School leaders (principals, superintendents, curriculum coordinators, and more) are invited to come learn more about implementing the proficiency-based Arizona World & Native Languages state standards in your world language classes.

Skysong 1, 1475 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ

On Friday, November 21, Miguel Cervantes, who for years was the actor behind the most visible role in performing arts, Alexander Hamilton, in Broadway’s Hamilton: An American Musical, will keynote the Opening General Session.

ICC 2026: Call for Proposals

Intercultural Competence in a Rapidly Changing World:

Supporting Sustainable Futures for All

The Tenth International Conference on the
Development and Assessment of Intercultural Competence

Call for Proposals One Pager

As dual language immersion (DLI) programs transition into secondary schools, teachers and administrators are often faced with unique challenges that are less frequently addressed in general DLI literature, research, and professional development programs. During this five-day institute specifically designed for the secondary (middle and high school) dual language immersion context, participants will explore the what, how, and why of secondary continuation programs. In particular, the group will consider program structure, curriculum and assessment perspectives, and instructional practices that are necessary to ensure that DLI students continue toward high levels of bilingualism and biliteracy. Throughout this institute, participants will engage in constructive conversation, connect research to personal experiences, and apply new ideas directly to their teaching context.

This popular three-day summer institute is designed especially for K-12 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) practitioners. After an introduction to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, participants will examine how the proficiency levels and sublevels have been defined and, also, how they have evolved over time from focusing on oral language assessment to include all modes of communication. The presenters will also share research on assessing performance toward proficiency of DLI students.

This institute is designed for future or new educators, instructional coaches and administrators in K-12 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs, including one-way, two-way, indigenous, and developmental bilingual schools. Presenters and guest speakers will explore the three foundations of DLI instruction: 1) bilingualism/biliteracy; 2) academic achievement in two languages; and 3) intercultural competence PLUS critical consciousness (3 Pillars PLUS). Participants will learn research-based instructional approaches and will collaboratively create and practice ten power strategies of effective DLI teachers.

2025 Summer Institute – Forced and Chosen Journeys: Refugee and Immigrant Experiences in Youth Literature

Dr. Short will be running a four-day summer institute June 2-5, 2025, that will connect educators with literature related to refugee and immigrant communities. Expect to see an announcement on their website early next year!