The Center for Integrated Language Communities (CILC, one of sixteen  National Language Resource Centers) is offering two virtual language pedagogy trainings this summer—one for L2 instructors and one for heritage language instructors.  

Participants will learn how to develop level-appropriate text-based tasks and integrate them into an existing syllabus, avoiding the need to redesign an entire course plan. The training will also introduce participants to various strategies for implementing the tasks in their teaching. Spots are limited!  

Text-based instruction uses texts sourced from target-language discourse communities to teach learners how to read texts critically, recognize features in the texts, and create their own texts. This pedagogy has been shown to be highly effective in advancing the linguistic development of both L2 and heritage language learners (Byrnes, Maxim, & Norris, 2010; Rossomondo & Lord, 2023). Yet, text-based tasks are rarely included in commercially available textbooks. During this training, participants will create their own tasks and learn how to implement them, facilitating language development in a challenging and engaging way, using an approach that has been tested by research.  

Participants will be assigned homework between synchronous sessions.  

L2 | Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Russian, & Spanish

Dates and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 3, 5, 10,12, 17, and 19, 2025
10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, EDT.
Level: Secondary and post-secondary
Modality: Synchronous virtual
Facilitators: Alberta Gatti and Chiara Montera
Registration is open now until full or May 30th, 2025, 11:30 PM EDT. Register here.

Heritage | Spanish

Dates and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, August 5, 7,12, 14, 19, and 21
10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, EDT.
Level: Post-secondary
Modality: Synchronous virtual
Facilitator: Alberta Gatti 
Registration is open now until full or August 1st, 2025, 11:30 PM EDT. Register here. 

Fee Schedule & Info (per training)  

• Instructors (part- and full-time) outside CUNY and University of Pittsburgh: $125
• Instructors (part- and full-time) at CUNY and University of Pittsburgh: $90
• Graduate students: $50  
• Payments by credit card incur a 2.65% service fee.
• In order to receive a certificate, all training requirements must be completed, including attendance and assignments. 
• Questions? Contact [email protected].