NDE World Languages Newsletter

• Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Updates
• 2025 Nebraska World Language Week
• 2024 Fall NDE, NILA, CLTA SIG K12 Guest Speaker Series
• State, Reginal, & National Conference
• Well-received Session at AATSP Conference by Theresa Jensen
  
• Revisit Padlet: Engaging Students with Interactive Map, Sandbox, and AI Recipe
• Teacher Story - Maggie Toczek

Thanks to Kelly Garcia from ESU5 for reviewing this newsletter!

The Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Advisory Committee are pleased to announce that 75 Seals of Biliteracy have been awarded to 74 Nebraska students in August 2024. These prestigious awards recognize high school students who have achieved a high level of proficiency in English and at least one other language. For the August 2024 awards, students demonstrated their proficiency in Spanish, French, and Chinese. Below are the names of the awardees, printed with parent permission, and their respective award categories. Please check the NDE News Release here.

As announced in the Spring, Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and Minnesota Department (MDE) signed a MOU now that Nebraska students can take Minnesota Bilingual Seal Assessments for Indigenous/ heritage language via Extempore to apply for the Seal of Biliteracy. Languages available include Dakota, Lakota, Ojibwe, Hmong, Amharic, Somali, Vietnamese, Karen, Oromo, Tamil, Dari, Pashto, Swahili and Ukrainian. NDE World Language is working with MDE and Extempore on the procedures. Lisa Parra Staves will present "Bilingual Seals Training on Extempore" at 3:45 pm on September 25th. In her webinar, she will guide educators on ordering and administering these assessments, including details on languages, pricing, and results. Please register at https://bit.ly/3W6fDId or https://tinyurl.com/2024NdeFallGuest03.

Introducing the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Student Toolkit! This collection of flyers is designed to help students navigate their journey toward earning the Seal of Biliteracy. The toolkit includes:

• Benefits of Being Bilingual: Discover the personal, academic, and career advantages of being proficient in more than one language.
• Am I Ready to Take the Assessment?: This flyer offers reflective questions to help you evaluate your readiness for the proficiency assessment, encouraging thoughtful self-evaluation.
• Understanding Proficiency: Gain insight into the proficiency levels required to earn the Seal, with clear explanations to help you set realistic goals.

Additionally, teacher, parent, and school toolkits will be available by the end of the year, offering comprehensive support for everyone involved in this important achievement. The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Toolkit was developed with reference to the Minnesota Seal of Biliteracy Toolkit, ensuring a robust and well-rounded resource for all.

2025 Nebraska World Language Week will embrace the theme "Language Uniting Minds" from February 17th to February 23rd, 2025. This week-long celebration will emphasize the role of language in bridging cultures and sharing ideas. The thematic days include Spanish Day, French Day, German Day, Chinese Day, and World Cultures Day, each featuring a mix of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Dr. Nick Ziegler will lead Spanish Day and German Day, while Dr. Chrystal Liu will guide French Day, Chinese Day, and World Cultures Day.

Teacher Opportunities:

• Host guest speaker webinars on world language topics.
• Lead cultural sessions or online games.
• Review submissions for the Distinguished World Language Scholar Award.

Student Opportunities:

• Participate in engaging synchronous and asynchronous sessions.
• Compete for the Distinguished World Language Scholar Award, which recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional proficiency and commitment in their world language studies. Awardees will be honored for their outstanding achievements and contributions to language learning.
• Engage in the Student Language Spotlight, a new feature where students will submit and vote for their best learning evidence. The top submissions will be showcased on the Nebraska World Language Week website, providing a platform for students to highlight their achievements and share their learning experiences.

More details will be announced in late September.

World Language teachers, you're invited to attend the 2024 NDE, NILA, and CLTA SIG K12 Guest Speaker Series, featuring 11 renowned experts in World Language education! This exciting series will include sessions by notable speakers such as Dr. Aleidine Moeller, Paul Sandrock, Dr. Janet Eckerson, Dr. Christopher Jacobs, and many more influential voices in the field. Topics will cover a wide range of relevant subjects, including Standards, Proficiency, Integrated Performance Assessments (IPA), Heritage Speakers, Assessment, and more. Don't miss this incredible professional development opportunity! For dates and details, check out the master calendar, and be sure to follow NDE World Language on Facebook, X, and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements.

The Nebraska International Languages Association (NILA) is hosting its 2024 Fall Conference on Saturday, October 26, at Lincoln Northwest High School, 4901 W Holdrege St, Lincoln, NE 68528. The theme for this year’s event is “Access, Agency & Advocacy,” emphasizing the importance of broadening access to language education, empowering students, and advocating for meaningful change.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Alicia Shoemaker, the 2024 ACTFL Teacher of the Year. Alicia will also lead a pre-conference workshop on Friday, October 25th, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm (CT).

This conference presents a valuable opportunity for educators to gain insights, connect with peers, and enhance their professional skills. For registration and additional details, please visit the NILA website. Early registration is encouraged to secure your spot and take advantage of discounted rates.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Conference is a premier event for language educators, researchers, and professionals dedicated to advancing the field of language education. This year’s conference, taking place in Philadelphia from November 22-24, is themed "Connect for the Love of Languages!" This theme emphasizes the importance of building connections and fostering a shared passion for languages among educators and learners. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear from esteemed keynote speakers, including Sheryl Lee Ralph, who will deliver the opening address, and Blessing Offor, who will provide the closing remarks. The conference will feature a diverse range of sessions, workshops, and networking events designed to inspire and equip educators with innovative strategies and resources. Whether you are looking to enhance your teaching methods, explore new research, or connect with fellow language professionals, this conference offers something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this chance to engage with the language education community—register now and join us in celebrating and advancing the field of language education!

Two regional directors of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, Theresa Jensen of Millard North High School in Omaha, NE, and MilyBett Llanos-Gremillion of Westwood High School in Austin, TX, recently presented at the national convention of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese in Portland, Oregon. Their well-received roundtable session, "We're All Ears: Shared Wisdom About Improving Students' Listening Comprehension," fostered lively discussions on assessing growth and effectively leveling listening activities. Attendees benefited from an extensive array of Spanish and Portuguese audio resources shared during the session. Special thanks to Theresa Jensen for generously sharing her presentation with colleagues for contributing to the growth of our field. To explore their insightful tips, tricks, and a comprehensive list of resources, access their slides here: https://tinyurl.com/allearsAATSP24.

As Google Jamboard is being phased out, educators may find Padlet’s Interactive Map and Sandbox features to be effective alternatives for classroom engagement. Padlet Sandbox offers a highly customizable platform with various templates and multimedia options. Unlike Jamboard, Padlet Sandbox allows for greater flexibility, including the ability to import content from Flip and Jamboard. Teachers (discussion facilitators) can share individual cards (slides) to different groups for focused topic discussion. For a detailed guide on using Padlet Sandbox and its import features, check out the tutorial here.

In addition to the Sandbox, Padlet’s Interactive Map is useful for including all learners in introductory activities. It enables students to pin and share information based on geographical locations, which enhances interaction through visual elements. Padlet’s AI Recipes also support personalized learning by offering tailored prompts and suggestions.

My name is Maggie Toczek and I am currently the German Teacher at Papillion La Vista Senior High School. I have known since I was in high school that I wanted to be a German teacher, and I can thank Frau Amina Long for opening that door for me. I remember her classes fondly, and have particularly strong memories of her being a teacher who taught with a lot of heart and passion, and she was the first stepping stone that inspired me to be the teacher I am today.

I received my BA in German and French with a Secondary Endorsement from Doane University in 2015. My German and French professors, Drs. Kristin Hetrick and Maureen Franklin, were the next stepping stones on my path. They taught me how to help look at culture from a comparative lens, rather than the presentational lens many of us are introduced to in language classes. Following my graduation, I immediately transitioned into the Fulbright Program. While teaching in the Saarland, I was exposed to many students from 5-12th grade. The one thing that apparently was most shocking to them was that I, the American, could speak German. When asked why that shocked them, I was greeted with a litany of wonderful (really less than wonderful) stereotypes about Americans and their learning abilities in general, nevermind their attitudes towards speaking other languages. That is when I realized that I wanted to be a teacher who would help my students defy those stereotypes.

That decision has followed me as a teacher from my first days in my own classroom, whether it was a German language class or a French language class. I have always wanted my students to see the culture of the language they are learning and realize that language learning isn’t just about learning how to speak to people. It’s about learning how to forge cultural connections and understand why people associated with language families or certain regions act the way they do. To me, language is more than words. Our language is the basis of our culture. It is the key to helping us as humans not only understand our differences, but to see our similarities across regional, cultural, and linguistic divides. We live in a world where we are simultaneously closer than ever, yet driven further and further apart by our differences. Simple understanding of a culture can help bridge many divides before misunderstanding even occurs. To truly understand the depth and nuance of a culture, we need to start by learning their language. This philosophy is something that I want to share with my students and my own daughter, and something that guides me each day as a teacher.

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.

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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