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Resources Available for World Language Learning During the COVID-19 Crisis

Nebraska Department of Education World Language Program List of Resources

Provides list of online courses, reference materials, tutorials, and authentic resources. List is ongoing and suggestions are welcome. Materials referenced must be completely subscription free, open educational resources.

ACTFL offers a free one-year membership and access to their materials which include professional development online learning modules, professional library of journals, an online community, and access to AAPPL Communication Builder. AAPPL CB is an online workspace in which teachers can assign tasks in all three modes of communication.

NCSSFL Resource Response to COVID-19 Crisis

NCSSFL leadership has gathered an extensive collection of resources regarding COVID-19, instructional methodology, authentic resources, technology resources for teaching online, and dual language learning online.

CARLA Resources to Support Language Teaching Online

CARLA offers a list of webinars, online resources, social media conversations, newsletters and blogs.



A Crisis Response

Like many aspects of life, the World Language Review was put on hold last month as we all struggled to respond to the COVID-19 Crisis. Working with teachers across the state, I am able to see a wide variety of responses to our new world of online teaching. Eventually we will move beyond this crisis. When we do, there will be some important lessons to keep in mind. Having an online presence is no longer an option in education. While most teachers, especially world language teachers, work with technology in teaching, many of us are not comfortable with online communication software, online course content software, and online grading practices. I encourage you to look for resources to support these areas. Some helpful organizations include NETAGoogle for Education, and ISTE. While there may still be some things to learn, overall educators throughout the state have responded admirably to this crisis by maintaining a sense of norm and a connection for all of their students.

Stephanie Call, World Languages Specialist ♦ 402-471-4331 ♦ stephanie.call@nebraska.gov



Creating a Timeline to Standards Implementation

The Nebraska World Language Standards were approved by the Nebraska State Board of Education in September 2019. Educators around Nebraska have been working through the implementation process. Supporting resources and materials are found at the NDE WL Standards website.

 



Workshop Portals Offer Easy Standards Guides

Two workshop portals provide resources to work through exploration and to begin initial implementation. Learn about the standards at “Quick Guide to Nebraska’s World Language Standards” and “Program Building with Nebraska’s World Language Standards”. Online workshops can be scheduled for ESU’s or districts. Contact stephanie.call@nebraska.gov to request a workshop.



Meet Your NILA Board: Secretary Jonathan Dettman

Dr. Jonathan Dettman
Associate Professor, Chair of Modern Languages
University of Nebraska Kearney
dettmanjc@unk.edu

Jonathan speaks…Spanish, Portuguese, and English.

How do you maintain your proficiency in the language?
Daily communication and professional activity, mainly teaching and writing.
What would you recommend to educators to build their pedagogy and practice?
Get involved with causes and professional networks beyond your classroom and school.



COVID-19 and The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy

Submissions for The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy will continue. Students may still follow the online process. Applications received by April 15 have been reviewed and awards will be made by the end of May. Processing time is seriously delayed due to the restrictions in place from COVID-19. Applications can still be made. Those applications will be held until September for review and awarding. It is possible for students to receive The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy after graduation.

Students who wish to apply for the Seal will apply through the online application. The application process has no fee and can be found from the Seal website. The application requests the student’s contact information, an upload of proof of eligibility for English and for another language, school information, teacher name, and parent contact information. Once the form is submitted, an automatic response is sent to the parent to notify them that the student has submitted the application.



Call for Proposals NILA 2020: Conference Goes Virtual

The Nebraska International Languages Association invites proposals for the 2020 Fall Conference. Proposals should be appropriate for 50-minute sessions on a variety of topics and are due by Monday June 1, 2020.

The theme of this year’s conference is:  Believe Achieve: Biliteracy in Nebraska…Honestly, it IS for everyone. The NILA Fall Conference will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2020.  This year’s conference will be delivered via a virtual platform (Zoom).

All presenters must still register for the NILA conference: this form does not serve as a formal registration. Please visit the link for the Proposal Form. https://forms.gle/VxdxSh7GRi5s1HL57



NATSP Announces Winning Posters

Nebraska Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (NATSP) entered two students into the AATSP Annual Poster Contest in the “Hand-Drawn” category. Aiden Lewald of Milliard North High School and Cristian Ryan de Castro Cartel of Alfonza W. Davis Middle School were selected to represent Nebraska’s high school and middle schools respectively. Cristian’s poster made it to the final judging and we are awaiting results. Winning entries will be revealed on the AATSP website. Congratulations to both of these very talented World Language artists. This year’s theme was “Spanish and Portuguese for a Multi-Lingual, Multi-Cultural World” or Español y Portugués para un mundo multilingüe y multicultural
Espanhol e Português para um mundo multilíngue e multicultural.

Be sure to look out for information for next year’s contest. The National contest deadline is in the spring (usually around March), but local school level contests can be held anytime during the school year. The contest is open to K-12 students of Spanish / Portuguese whose teachers are members of AATSP. Membership to the Nebraska chapter is free, but teachers must be members of the National AATSP to have posters entered into the contest.



Nebraska Chinese Scholars Recognized

The University of Nebraska Lincoln Confucius Institute (UNL-CI) hosted its annual Speech Competition and Character Bee. The contest is open to non-heritage learners of Chinese in the state of Nebraska. Five school districts, ESU 5, and the University of Nebraska High School offer Chinese programming. As of 2018-2019, 797 Nebraska students were enrolled in Chinese programming 7-12.

UNL-CI’s Speech Competition and Character Bee requires students to present prepared 3-5 minute speeches in Chinese and to respond in Chinese characters to questions posed in Chinese.

This year’s winners are:

The UNL Confucius Institute (Online) Chinese Speech Competition Level 1
First Place Mackenzie Reidy
Second Place Aurora Gunubu
Third Place Alyssa Carlson
Honorable Mention: Zainab Elhag

The UNL Confucius Institute (Online) Chinese Character Bee Level 1
First Place Zainab Elhag
Second Place Ariana Chism
Third Place MacKenzie Reidy

The UNL Confucius Institute (Online) Chinese Speech Competition Level 2
First Place Devon Pope
Second Place Sofia Rodriguez Argaza
Third Place Tricia Sherwood

The UNL Confucius Institute (Online) Chinese Character Bee Level 2
First Place Devon Pope
Second Place Tricia Sherwood

The UNL Confucius Institute (Online) Chinese Speech Competition Level 3
First Place Suong Tran
Second Place Ellie Saksena
Third Place Elise Benson

The UNL Confucius Institute (Online) Chinese Character Bee Level 3
First Place Suong Tran
Second Place Ellie Saksena
Third Place Hajer Aleid



World Language Positions in Nebraska

The following teaching positions were posted as of May 12, 2020 on the Teach in Nebraska website. They are listed from most recent to oldest.

  • World Language Teacher 9-12, Wilber-Clatonia Public School, Wilber
  • Spanish Teacher, South Sioux City Community Schools, South Sioux City
  • Spanish Teacher 9-12, Hastings High School, Hastings
  • Spanish Teacher 6-8, Bluffs Middle School, Scottsbluff
  • Spanish Teacher 7-12, Alma Public Schools, Alma
  • French Teacher 9-12, Mount Michael Benedictine School, Elkhorn
  • Spanish Teacher 9-12, Schuyler High School, Schuyler
  • Spanish Teacher 9-12, Mount Michael Benedictine School, Elkhorn
  • Spanish Teacher 7-12, Humphrey Public Schools, Humphrey


World Language Events


Go to the Museum Virtually
Anytime

WEBINAR: Fostering Spanish Language and Literacy Development
CAL
May 19
2:00-3:30 PM CT

WEBINAR: CAL SIOP for Dual Language Programs: A Focus on Scaffolding for Students Learning in Two Languages
CAL
May 26
2-3:30 PM CT

WEBINAR: Are Discussion Forums Really Interactive?
Florencia Henshaw,
U of Illinois
IALLT
June 24
1 PM CT

ONLINE MINI-COURSE: Get Your Students Speaking! Intentionally Raising Oral Proficiency in the Language Classroom
Nina Wilson,
UTeach
COERLL
June 24
9:45-3:00 CT

ONLINE MINI-COURSE: Effective Methods to Advance Heritage Spanish Teaching
COERLL
June 25-26



Things To Do


Go to the Museum Virtually
Anytime

ONLINE Presentation: “No soy marroquí; soy andalusí
Chronotopic Constructions of Language and Identity
CARLA
April 9
12-1 PM CT

ONLINE Presentation: Moving to Multiliteracies: Tools to Support Teacher Understanding
CARLA
April 16
12-1 PM CT

ONLINE Presentation:
NDE Guest Lecture Series
Dr. Michelle Warren, University of Nebraska Kearney
Preparing Lessons Based on Cinema
April 15
3-3:45 PM CT

ONLINE Presentation: Channeling “Voices” to Improve Second Language
CARLA
April 23
12-1 PM CT

ONLINE Presentation: Land as Interlocutor: Transcribing and Analyzing Material Participation in Interaction
CARLA
April 30
12-1 PM CT



World Language Positions in Nebraska

The following teaching positions were posted as of April 6, 2020 on the Teach in Nebraska website. They are listed from most recent to oldest.

  • French Teacher 9-12, Mount Michael Benedictine School, Elkhorn
  • Spanish Teacher 6-8, Norris Middle School, Firth
  • World Language Teacher 9-12, Norfolk Public Schools, Norfolk
  • Dual Language, Elementary K-4, Fremont Public Schools, Fremont
  • Spanish Teacher 7-12, Humphrey Public Schools, Humphrey
  • Spanish Teacher 9-12, Loomis Public Schools, Loomis
  • Spanish Teacher 7-12, Osceola Public Schools, Osceola
  • Spanish Teacher K-8, St. Thomas More, Omaha
  • World Language Teacher 9-12, Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools, Wilber
  • Spanish Teacher 9-12, North Platte Public Schools, North Platte
  • Spanish Teacher 7-12, Lincoln Christian School, Lincoln
  • Spanish Teacher 9-12, Ralston Public Schools, Ralston
  • Spanish Teacher 9-12, Scottsbluff Public Schools, Scottsbluff


NAATF Offers Support for French Teachers

The Nebraska chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French (NAATF) recently shared updates from the national organization (AATF). AATF offers resources and materials online for members and the public. Visit AATF for webinars regarding online teaching, sample AP French Language and Culture activities, and other resources. AATF also advised that Societe Honoraire de Francais sponsors are encouraged to be flexible and creative in devising creative celebrations to end the school year.



COVID-19 and The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy

Submissions for The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy will continue. Students may still follow the online process. Applications received by April 15 will be reviewed and awards will be made by the end of May. Processing time is seriously delayed due to the restrictions in place from COVID-19. Applications can still be made after April 15. Those applications will be held until September for review and awarding. It is possible for students to receive The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy after graduation.

Students who wish to apply for the Seal will apply through the online application. The application process has no fee and can be found from the Seal website. The application requests the student’s contact information, an upload of proof of eligibility for English and for another language, school information, teacher name, and parent contact information. Once the form is submitted, an automatic response is sent to the parent to notify them that the student has submitted the application.