NDE World Languages Newsletter
Year 2024 No. 4
November Round Processing Timline
The application deadline for the November round is November 1st, with the application form closing at midnight for data analysis and review. The form will reopen on December 2nd for applications due April 1st. Medallion orders submitted by October 5th will be included in November processing, while orders received after November 5th will be held for the April batch. The review board will convene in the first week of November to assess applications. Requests for additional materials, if needed, will be sent by November 7th, and applicants have until November 12th to submit any requested items. Denial notifications will be sent by November 15th, and awardees will be publicly announced in early December. All certificates, letters, and medallions will be mailed in early December.
Please Nominate Your Students for the Distinguished World Language Award and Student Language Spotlight
We invite all Nebraska World Language teachers to recognize students who exemplify Leadership in Language Learning, Commitment to Language Study, Appreciation for Cultural Diversity, and Communicative Competence by nominating them for the 2025 Distinguished World Language Scholar Award. This award honors students who excel in their language studies and demonstrate an appreciation for other cultures. Teachers can nominate one exceptional student per level and language, with nominations due by December 15th, and students completing their responses by January 15th. Additionally, teachers can showcase the best example of student learning evidence for each class through the Student Language Spotlight, with submissions due by February 1st. Nominate today and celebrate the accomplishments of your dedicated language learners!
Please Attend the Webinar for more details
Held on October 26th, the 2024 NILA Conference proved to be a remarkable success, featuring 20 engaging sessions covering a diverse range of topics. During the NILA General Meeting held at lunch, organizations such as NATSP, NATF, NTAG, and CLTA-NE recognized their Teachers of the Year: Jill Camargo (Spanish), Terri Dimon (French), Kelleen Rosebaugh (German), and Yiju Ting (Chinese). NILA also honored outstanding contributions in the field of education by awarding the Tew Teacher Award to Ashton Krueger, the Pro Lingua Award to Dr. Nick Ziegler, and the Outstanding Educator Award to Shanna Held. A heartfelt thank you goes to all the sponsors for their generous support, as well as to Danielle Fulcher, the NILA president, and the board for orchestrating such a successful event. The collaborative spirit and dedication showcased during the conference underscored the importance of professional growth and community in language education.
Celebrating Excellence: Ms. Melissa Kuskie Receives UNO AP Outstanding Dual Enrollment Instructor Award
Congratulations to Ms. Melissa Kuskie, Spanish teacher at Omaha Central High School in Omaha Public Schools, for receiving the UNO AP Outstanding Dual Enrollment Instructor Award! Ms. Kuskie’s journey as a Spanish teacher began in her elementary school years and grew through her own immersion experiences studying in Monterrey, Mexico, and later traveling to share her love for Spanish language and culture. With a teaching career spanning 20 years at Central High School, Ms. Kuskie has been an AP Spanish and UNO Dual Enrollment instructor since 2005, consistently striving for excellence in education. We are incredibly proud of her dedication and commitment to empowering students through language learning and cultural understanding!
The 47th Annual UNL Language Fair
Mark your calendars for the 47th Annual Language Fair, taking place on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the City Campus Union at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This year's event will feature mini lessons in various languages, allowing students to explore and engage with different cultures. Attendees can view student poster entries in the Poster Session Room and connect with local community partners in the Community Room, who will showcase career opportunities available to those with a language major. To help students prepare for the fair, we encourage participation in several categories: Poetry (students can recite a poem or write their own), Music (performing songs in their language, either solo or in groups), Drama (performing scenes or monologues), Posters (cultural topic), Folk Dancing (group performances with costumes), and Film (student-produced entries with a maximum length of 3 ½ minutes, featuring English subtitles). Additionally, students are invited to submit designs for our promotional materials; the selected artwork will be recognized at the closing ceremony. For more details, visit the Language Fair website and check the FAQ. More information will be provided soon!
The Department of World Languages and Literature at the University of Nebraska at Omaha is excited to announce the annual Language Celebration for high school students, set to take place in March 2025. This engaging event will feature information booths where students can learn about programs in Spanish, Spanish for Health Sciences, French, German, and coursework in Japanese, as well as explore topics such as study abroad opportunities, dual enrollment options, and the benefits of pursuing language as a double major. Local businesses and organizations, including the Omaha Fire Department, World Speaks Omaha, Immigrant Legal Center, and One World Omaha, will also participate, highlighting the diverse career opportunities available to bilingual individuals. Students can participate in various judged events, including skits, dance performances, singing, and poetry recitations, showcasing their linguistic and cultural knowledge. Each performance will be assessed based on cultural significance, presentation, interpretation, and execution. Participants will be grouped by their proficiency level, with opportunities for both first and second-year students, as well as those in their third year or beyond. Registration details for the Language Celebration will be available soon—stay tuned for more information! For more details, please check the website, and the registration link is here.
At Las Abejitas Bilingual Education Center, the belief that each child is unique drives their commitment to meet every child where they are developmentally, socially, and cognitively. Recognizing that children have a natural love for learning, the center fosters this inclination by providing a safe and nurturing environment that encourages exploration and play. As a bilingual center, it lays a strong foundation in the child’s first language while also creating opportunities for second language acquisition. The mission of Las Abejitas is to deliver quality child care by nurturing a love of lifelong learning within a safe environment that promotes social, emotional, and cognitive development. The bilingual nature of the program deepens children’s understanding of the world around them while enhancing brain development.
English and Spanish language acquisition is a key goal of the program. Early childhood education serves as the perfect context for introducing a second language in a natural and consistent manner. At this age, children acquire language more passively, primarily through play and socialization, benefiting from their ability to form neural connections at a faster pace than older children and adults.
Throughout their day, children will have two main teachers—one who predominantly speaks English and another who primarily speaks Spanish. The teaching staff employs simple language, utilizing clear and concise speech, pictures, actions, and repetition. Students engage with the preschool curriculum in both languages, participating in a variety of activities, including speaking, listening, drawing, creating, manipulating, and playing.
Las Abejitas Bilingual Education Center implements Creative Curriculum, which aligns with Nebraska state standards. This curriculum involves gathering information about each child’s developmental abilities and evaluating their progress to provide the best individualized instruction possible. Families receive periodic communication regarding their child's development through various formal and informal tools, forms, and resources.
In conjunction with curriculum-based assessments, the center monitors each child's achievement of developmental milestones, health, and physical development, sharing observations with parents and guardians. As needed, resource information is provided for further screenings, evaluations, and early intervention. The developmental screening process is collaborative, involving parents or guardians alongside the child’s primary care provider, health, education, and early intervention consultants. Written consent from parents or guardians is required for developmental screenings to be conducted.
SUNO showcases the innovative potential of AI in enhancing language learning experiences. In Dr. Nick Ziegler's webinar, "AI for World Language," he highlighted how SUNO can create engaging songs to teach complex grammar concepts, making lessons both fun and memorable. For instance, educators can use SUNO to generate a lively song that distinguishes between the Spanish prepositions por and para. The lyrics cleverly outline their different uses, with verses like “Por's the reason, the drive behind, / Para's your goal, future in mind.” This catchy format not only helps students grasp the distinctions between the two prepositions but also encourages active participation through singing. By integrating music into the classroom, SUNO transforms grammar lessons into an enjoyable and dynamic learning experience, fostering deeper understanding and retention among students. This approach exemplifies how technology can bring creativity and excitement to language education.
Just like many other teachers, my teaching dream started in childhood. However, I never thought I would become a teacher outside my own country, as the path seemed too difficult and convoluted. My father is a professor, and we lived on the campus of the Teachers' University in our province where he worked. Naturally, I eventually attended the same Teachers' University, where I resided for many years, studying Chinese Language and Literature. My close friends and family used to tease me about being a "product" of the university system.
After three months of interning at a local middle school, I realized that teaching at that level was not my calling. Nor did I want to work in a government office, spending my days drinking tea, reading newspapers, and handling paperwork until retiring at the age of 55. This predictable life—where the end seemed visible from the start—felt suffocating. Besides, I had never even left the city where I grew up! So, after about two years of preparation, I left for Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, to pursue a master’s degree in Public Administration. My goal was to work at a university in China as a counselor or administrator.
However, during my first month at Drake, I learned that the Chinese teacher at the university was from the same city and university as me. Since my major was in Chinese Language and Literature, he recruited me to help with his language lab. He was the first person to tell me, “It would be wasteful if you didn’t use your degree.” That made me realize how much I truly loved Chinese culture. I had felt adrift after changing my field of study, but this reignited my interest in teaching Chinese as a second language. I began observing Chinese classes at high schools and other colleges. My friend Yan Li, a Chinese teacher, was the second person to tell me that I shouldn’t waste my degree. After visiting her class, I became more involved by hosting Chinese culture workshops after graduating from Drake, while also working as an administrative assistant. After a few years, I finally decided that teaching was my true passion.
Since then, I have taught across all levels, from K-16. I’ve worked in both public and Catholic schools, including several years at an all-boys school in the Boston area. Now, I teach at Marian High School, an all-girls private school in Nebraska—the only school in the state with a Mandarin Chinese program.
Most students walk into my classroom with the assumption that “Chinese is difficult.” Since none of them have studied the language before, my goal is to shift that mindset to “Chinese is not difficult; it’s just different.” I aim to spark a long-term interest in my students to continue studying Chinese in college and beyond. I’m not just teaching the language; I’m teaching the language through culture. For example, students get hands-on experience making sticky rice balls during Chinese New Year and mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I love sharing Chinese food and snacks with them, and while I make it clear they don’t have to like everything, I always appreciate that they try it! My hope is that learning a new language broadens their perspectives and perhaps even opens doors for their future careers.
NDE World Language Education will continue to offer customized professional development opportunities to meet the unique needs of Nebraska Educational Service Units (ESUs) and school districts. Our comprehensive offerings for the 2024-2025 academic year encompass a variety of enriching themes. Please check the document for details or contact Chrystal Liu at chrystal.liu@nebraska.gov for questions.
Please check this document for the 2024-2025 annual events for Nebraska World Language Education. If you or your organization have events to share, please email Chrystal Liu (chrystal.liu@nebraska.gov) to add your events in the shared calendar.
Chrystal Liu, World Language Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education
Email: chrystal.liu@nebraska.gov
Website: https://www.education.ne.gov/worldlanguage/
Location: 500 S 84th St 2nd Floor, Lincoln, NE 68510
Phone: 402-430-8147
Facebook: https://secure.smore.com/n/g35ek
X: @NDE_WorldLang
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