Category: Workshops

Educating Toward Advanced Performance Levels

April 29, 2019
Room TBA
The Graduate Center
10:00am – 1:00pm
Registration required: http://tiny.cc/1eiu3y

Presenter: Heidi Byrnes, Georgetown University

Workshop description:

In this workshop, we will consider how to enhance L2 instructed learners’ ability to attain advanced levels of ability through educational action. We will follow a three-step approach: First, we will lay out broad characteristics of ‘advancedness’ that differentiate that performance level from  intermediate levels of ability; second, using a functional, meaning-oriented approach, we will further specify advancedness in terms of register and genre in order to arrive at broad principles for curriculum construction and pedagogical action; finally, we will locate advancedness within the long-term development process of instructed learners and how programs might conceptualize and facilitate that extended movement. While the workshop will focus on writing, discussion will include all modalities of language use.

Heidi Byrnes is George M. Roth Distinguished Professor of German Emerita at Georgetown University. Her research focuses on adult L2 literacy acquisition, particularly at the advanced level. She has edited and co-edited books and special journal issues on the development of advanced literacy and the link between languaging and thinking, particularly in writing. She is a past president of AAAL, past editor of The Modern Language Journal, and is the recipient of numerous professional association awards, including the Distinguished Scholarship and Service Award of AAAL.

Spring 2019 ILETC Events

We are pleased to offer the following events in Spring 2019:

Lectures

Podcast Projects for Heritage Language Learners
(Click for more details)
April 12, 2019
Room 9204
The Graduate Center
11:00am – 1:00pm

This presentation explains how podcasting can be used in heritage language classes as a pedagogical tool for developing creativity and socially-engaged writing, interviewing, and listening skills.

When Heritage and Second Language Learners Come Together
(Click for more details)
February 15, 2019
Room 9206
The Graduate Center
10:30am – 12:30pm

Maria Carreira of California State University, Long Beach, presents some foundational principles behind teaching language classes with both second language learners (L2 learners) and HL learners in the same classroom. Applies to all languages.

Workshops

Educating toward Advanced Performance Levels: Theoretical, Curricular, and Developmental Considerations
(Click for more details)
April 29, 2019
Room TBA
The Graduate Center
10:00am – 1:00pm

Registration required: http://tiny.cc/1eiu3y

In this workshop, we will consider how to enhance L2 instructed learners’ ability to attain advanced levels of ability through educational action.

Symposia

Linguistic Diversity in Higher Education Symposium
(Click for more details)
May 2, 2019
Room 9204/9205
The Graduate Center
9:00am – 6:00pm

The symposium is free, however registration is required for lunch. The deadline for registration is April 26th. We will not be able to provide lunch for those who do not register or those who register after April 26th. Please visit the event page to register.

The symposium is an opportunity for scholars, practitioners, administrators, and students to engage in conversations about the ways in which multilingualism shapes access to higher education and to start collaborative projects such as scholarly publications, teaching materials, and educational programs. Students are particularly welcome.

For more information on any ILETC event, email ILETC@gc.cuny.edu or call 212-817-2083.

Photo by Mikes Photos from Pexels.

ACTFL Integrating Skills and Modes for Curriculum Design

October 6, 2017
10:00 AM–5:30 PM
Room 9204
The Graduate Center, CUNY
365 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016

This workshop focuses on how to build a curriculum that is designed to keep students making steady progress in terms of overall proficiency. ACTFL will customize the workshop to focus on achieving Intermediate level of proficiency in various skills (Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening) and modes (Interpersonal, Presentational, Interpretive) depending on the needs and aims of your program, faculty and students. The integration of Study Abroad experiences into the program of study will also be considered.

Facilitator: Cynthia L. Martin, University of Maryland
Biography/more information.

Registration for this workshop is now closed. Watch the ILETC website for the next workshop opportunity!

PBL Workshop with Dr. Julio Rodriguez

ILETC is pleased to announce that it will host a Workshop on Project-Based Learning (PBL), led by Dr. Julio Rodriguez, Director of the Center for Language & Technology and National Foreign Language Resource Center at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.

Dr. Rodriguez will give a presentation of approximately two hours, after which participants will develop their own ideas for lessons and activities using the PBL methodology in consultation with him. Participants are expected to bring a laptop (or other device to use in activities), as well as an idea for a lesson, project, or activity to be developed during the workshop.

We invite you to secure your registration using this form. Since space is limited, registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please email us if you have any questions about the workshop. 

We hope that you will take advantage of this valuable opportunity to learn more about PBL pedagogy!

Developing the Writing Skills of Spanish Heritage Learners

Who? Instructors of Spanish heritage learners who have completed the ACTFL Writing Guidelines Familiarization Workshop

When? Half-day: 6/2

What? This workshop delineates recommendations for the teaching of writing to Spanish heritage writers who fall within two ranges of proficiency: Intermediate and Advanced. It combines (i) discussion of the results of a study of the writing of 77 heritage writers of Spanish, conducted by the Center for Integrated Language Communities (CILC)* in collaboration with ACTFL, and (ii) guided, hands-on work by participants.

Space is limited. Registration is first-come, first-served!​

Click here to register:  https://goo.gl/forms/Lflz85TPKF497M3p2​

*CILC is funded by a Title VI Grant from the US DOE.

ACTFL OPI Familiarization

Who? All language instructors

When? Two days: 5/30-5/31

What? This two-day workshop familiarizes language instructors with the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, including an overview of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, and the ACTFL Rating Scale. Participants observe and rate live interviews conducted by the trainer. They discuss the implications of proficiency for academic and professional purposes. The workshop emphasizes implications and applications for instruction and assessment.

Space is limited. Registration is first-come, first-served!​

Click here to register:  https://goo.gl/forms/Lflz85TPKF497M3p2​

Spring 2017 ILETC Events

Welcome to Spring 2017! ILETC is looking forward to a semester filled with stimulating and illuminating public events. Here’s what we have on the calendar so far:

Lectures

Analyzing the Role of Ideology in Arabic Language Accommodation
April 6, 2017, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Room C203
The Graduate Center, CUNY
365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016
ILETC and its partner organization CILC are excited to announce a talk on “Analyzing the Role of Ideology in Arabic Language Accommodation” by Dr. Brahim Chakrani, Associate Professor of Arabic at Michigan State University.

Workshops

Registration required, click through to each workshop for details and registration link!

Space is limited. Registration is first-come, first-served!​

ACTFL OPI Familiarization
May 30-31, 2017 (Two full days)
Room TBA
The Graduate Center, CUNY
365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016
This two-day workshop familiarizes language instructors with the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, including an overview of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, and the ACTFL Rating Scale.
Click link above for more details and registration link.

ACTFL Writing Guidelines Familiarization
June 1, 2017 (All day)
Room TBA
The Graduate Center, CUNY
365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016
Intended as an introduction to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 – Writing, this workshop introduces participants to the major and minor level descriptors and the criteria for assigning a global writing proficiency rating.
Click link above for more details and registration link.

Developing the Writing Skills of Spanish Heritage Learners
June 2, 2017 (Half day)
Room TBA
The Graduate Center, CUNY
365 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10016
This workshop delineates recommendations for the teaching of writing to Spanish heritage writers who fall within two ranges of proficiency: Intermediate and Advanced.
Click link above for more details and registration link.

Download workshop flyer.

Summer 2014 ILETC Events

Start sharpening your pencils! Prepare for the Fall 2014 semester by attending the following workshop:

ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) Workshop
August 18-21, 2013
Training on the use of ACTFL proficiency guidelines in the assessment of oral proficiency, with the option to become a certified ACTFL rater!

For more information or to reserve a place at any ILETC event, email ILETC@gc.cuny.edu or call 212-817-2083.

Summer 2013 ILETC Events

Sure, summer just started, but maybe you’re looking for an opportunity to gain valuable skills during the break?

ILETC is happy to announce the following opportunity:

ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) Workshop
June 4-7, 2013
Training on the use of ACTFL proficiency guidelines in the assessment of oral proficiency, with the option to become a certified ACTFL rater!

For more information or to reserve a place at any ILETC event, email ILETC@gc.cuny.edu or call 212-817-2083.

Project-Based Language Learning for the Chinese Classroom

Workshop Description

The Institute for Language Education in Transcultural Context (ILETC) invites CUNY full- and part-time Chinese language instructors to participate in a year-long workshop aimed at acquiring the tools to design project-based language learning (PBLL) curricula. PBLL is a student-centered pedagogy that focuses on meaning making in the target language. PBLL courses are organized around a complex question or problem. Learners develop linguistic and cultural competence by working toward addressing the question or problem. For sample PBLL projects, visit http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/pebbles/.

We at ILETC consider collaboration to be a key aspect of improving language education. The workshop sessions offer organized spaces for participants to work with and learn from each other. There will be group meetings to discuss progress with colleagues, reading groups and lectures from experts to keep ourselves up-to-date on the changing dynamics of language education, and structured activities to facilitate curriculum development. This professional development activity will be led by Dr. Megan M. Ferry, Professor of Chinese and Asian Studies at Union College in Schenectady, NY, and assisted by a graduate student.

The workshop entails six 2-hour long sessions, which will take place over the course of the 2018-2019 academic year. Most of the meetings will be virtual, although two of them will take place in person at the Graduate Center. The first meeting will be in person, tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 21, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., and the last in May 2019. In addition, we will invite ACTFL to offer a day-long workshop to participants in early November. The complete schedule for this workshop will be available in early September.

There are a limited number of spots available. To apply, please fill out the application form (found here) no later than August 30, 2018. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to ILETC@gc.cuny.edu.

Workshop Facilitator

Megan M. Ferry is Professor of Chinese and Asian Studies in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Union College (Schenectady, NY). She received her B.A. in Asian Studies and German from Mt. Holyoke College, M.A. and Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature (Chinese and German, with an emphasis on modern Chinese literature and culture) from Washington University in St. Louis. The results of her studies have yielded a diverse body of research and courses. In addition to Chinese language at all levels, she teaches Chinese and Asian American film, Gender and Sexuality on Modern China, East Asian literature and culture, Media China, as well as co-teaches an interdisciplinary course with a civil engineer on China’s Three Gorges Dam and development. She has written on Chinese women writers and the literary field in 1920s and 1930s China, advertising, consumerism, and sexuality in contemporary China, and China-Latin America and China-African relations. In addition to these publications, she has written the Chinese curriculum for the Schenectady Public Schools District and served as evaluator for several K-16 Chinese language programs.