The University of Nebraska Omaha Department of Foreign Languages & Literature Masters of Arts in Language Teaching (MALT) 14^th Annual Colloquium convened Saturday February 8. Ninety educators attended the free event that featured sessions, a key-note, and a discussion panel. Presenter and participant Jamie Honke commented, “The Colloquium was very informative and transformative in our understanding of Transnational Awareness in immigrant youth, connections to intercultural competence, and holistic communicative language teaching. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to present on Crenshaw’s idea of Intersectionality and how it pertains to intercultural identity and the Cultural Iceberg model to relate to Strand 2 of our revised World Language Standards.” More information about the Colloquium will be featured in our March newsletter.

This month celebrates the announcement of the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy. A collaborative project with the Nebraska International Language Association, the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy recognizes high school students who have achieved proficiency in English and a language other than English. NILA began this work three years ago, yet this updated Seal reflects the standards of the national Seal of Biliteracy organization and has been streamlined for ease of application and processing. Momentum for World Language learning has certainly begun to grow in Nebraska. A recent review of data submitted by schools showed that 98 % of secondary students in Nebraska are enrolled in a world language course. As the Nebraska Seal rolls out, World Language Week Distinguished Scholar applications get under way, and we continue to move on standards implementation, it’s easy to feel excited for 2020.

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America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far
Omaha
January 18-March 19
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Les Misèrables
Omaha
January 14-16
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NCA Chinese Lunar New Year’s Gala
Omaha
February 3
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UNO MALT Colloquium on Language Teaching
Omaha
February 8
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An American in Paris
Lincoln
February 8-9
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Russian Dances
Lincoln
February 22
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Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Minneapolis
March 12-14
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Michael Londra and the Celtic Fire
Lincoln
March 17
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Nebraska World Language Week
April 5-11

Please email event information to stephanie.call@nebraska.gov

The following teaching positions were posted as of January 15, 2020 on the Teach in Nebraska website.

• French Teacher 9-12: Mount Michael Benedictine School, Elkhorn
• German Teacher 9-12: Papillion La Vista High School, Papillion La Vista Community Schools, Papillion
• Spanish Teacher 7-12, Elgin Public Schools, Elgin
• Spanish Teacher 7-12, Guardian Angels Central Catholic School, West Point
• Spanish Teacher 7-12: Maxwell Public Schools, Maxwell
• Spanish Teacher 7-12: St. Mary’s Catholic School, O’Neill
• Spanish Teacher 9-12, Cedar Catholic Jr.-Sr. High School, Hartington
• Spanish Teacher 9-12, Fremont Public Schools, Fremont
• Spanish Teacher 9-12, Grand Island Public Schools, Grand Island
• Spanish Teacher 9-12, Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Public Schools, Syracuse
• Spanish Teacher 9-12, Wahoo Public Schools, Wahoo
• Spanish Teacher 9-12: East Butler High School, East Butler Public Schools, Brainard
• Spanish Teacher 9-12: Falls City High School, Falls City Public Schools, Falls City
• Spanish Teacher 9-12: Scottsbluff High School, Scottsbluff Public Schools, Scottsbluff
• World Language Teacher: Lourdes Central Catholic School (9-12), Nebraska City

The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota has provided high-quality professional development for language teachers for over two decades. Launched in 1996, this internationally known program reflects CARLA’s commitment to link research and theory with practical applications for the classroom. Each institute is highly interactive and includes discussion, hands-on activities, and networking. CARLA summer institute participants—more than 6,300 to date—have come from every state and from countries all over the world. They have included foreign/world language, ESL/EFL, heritage language, and immersion educators at all levels of instruction, as well as program administrators, curriculum specialists, and language teacher educators.

The 2020 session includes three online institutes with varying costs. Courses may offer college credit. Registration is open now at www.carla.umn.edu/institutes.

The Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CSCTFL) is coming to Minneapolis, March 12-14, 2020, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the Nicolett Mall, in the heart of the city’s lively walking district. This year’s conference offers more than 250 workshops and sessions by nationally recognized and regionally respected presenters. The keynote speaker, Dr. Katy Arnett, will focus on inclusion both in her formal address and in two additional workshops. Learn new ways to make room for everyone at the world language table!

New this year, there will be an informal learning center in the exhibit hall called Grand Central. From tech tips and informal discussions to opportunities to meet the national Teacher of the Year and the keynote speaker, our informal learning center will provide a more relaxed and interactive professional development experience. Some activities are simply designed to meet the needs of the whole person. Be sure to put morning yoga sessions, 15-minute “chair yoga” breaks, massage, and artistry stations on your convention itinerary… and don’t forget the Thursday evening Exhibit Hall Opening Gala and the new Friday TGIF (5:00 – 6:30, in the exhibit hall).

For a complete run-down of workshops, sessions, and activities, check out the Preliminary Program at https://csctfl.wildapricot.org/. Registration is available online as well. Questions can be directed to Anne Nerenz, Executive Director, at csctfl.exec.director@gmail.com.

Four host families for three girls and one teacher from France are needed February 8 -28. Michelle Schermer, Coordinator of Hosting Programs for Language & Friendship Inc., is looking for Nebraska host families. This exchange group is from a school near Lyon that concentrates on English study. Students are expected to attend school with their hosts while in Nebraska. Host schools will have to give permission for exchange students to be on campus. There are no planned group activities. For more information, contact Schermer at 952-215-3867 or michelle@languageandfriendship.com.

The Education Office of the Embassy of Spain has partnered with renowned universities across Spain to offer three masters and nine courses at very affordable prices during the summer of 2020. These activities are specifically designed for US and Canadian educators and administrators seeking to update their language skills, teaching methodologies or even to get to know Spain and its wonderfully diverse culture. In most cases, prices include registration fees and full board accommodation.

Courses include Spanish Language and Culture, Varieties of Spanish as a Heritage Language, and the Teaching and Learning of Spanish Language and Culture. Programs are offered at universities in Madrid, Alicante, Castilla-La Mancha, Duesto-Bilbao, Granada, Huelva, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, and Vigo. More information can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/w46udo9.

The University of Nebraska Omaha Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures and Masters of Arts in Language Teaching Program invites world language educators from the region to attend the 2020 Colloquium on Language Teaching Saturday February 8 at Mammel Hall on the Scott Campus. The event is free. For more information, contact Marie Lee at mglee@unomaha.edu.

Nebraska will celebrate World Language Week 2020 April 5-11. World Language Week celebrates the teaching and learning of world languages in the state of Nebraska. Nebraska has a long heritage of multilingualism from Swedish Oakland to German from Russia in Lincoln and Czech in Wilbur. Twentieth century immigration enriched Nebraska with more languages such as Spanish, Karen, Arabic, Bosnian, and Vietnamese. Nebraska also relies on languages to promote enterprise and build global relationships. Nebraska has long known that language has the power to make one college, career, and civic ready. Teachers are encouraged to share out their plans for World Language Week on our Facebook event page. Community businesses and organizations wishing to offer events may also share activities for World Language Week. Resources are available at www.education.ne.gov/worldlanguage.

The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy is a collaboration of the Nebraska International Language Association and the Nebraska Department of Education. The Seal is awarded to students who have demonstrated at least an Intermediate Mid proficiency in English and one other language through one of the established methods. Students can apply directly through an online process. The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy is a recognition of a student’s multilingual abilities in postsecondary education and the workforce. Colleges and universities may consider the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy in the college placement process. Employers may consider the Seal as superior evidence of a candidate’s abilities.

The World Language Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes Nebraska high school students for their leadership in language learning, commitment to language study, appreciation for cultural diversity, and communicative competence. The Distinguished Scholar Award encourages students to continue their path to proficiency through language study and is awarded to students at any level of language learning.

Public and private high schools in Nebraska may nominate one student per level, per language. The four levels are Level I/II, Level III/IV, Level V/AP/IB, Heritage/Native Speakers. Nominations must be made by a world language teacher or guidance counselor using the online form by 11:59 pm February 15, 2020.

Nominated students will receive a web link to an online registration and application form. Students will have from February 25, 2020 until March 8, 2020 to complete the registration and application.
Nominate students at the Nebraska Department of Education World Language website or https://forms.gle/HyoFDe1XAgK1qfUw6.

Alicia Dallman Shoemaker, Past President
Spanish Educator at Elkhorn Public Schools
President, Malaika Foundation
adallmanshoemaker@epsne.org

Alicia speaks…
French, Spanish, Japanese.

How do you maintain your proficiency in the language?
Practicing with friends and family in person or via technology is by far my preferred method of maintaining and enhancing proficiency levels. As often as possible, I also creatively seek opportunities and slices of time to practice the various modes.

If you were involved in the standards revision, please share what you feel is a strength within the new standards.
The fourth and fifth standards bring an entirely new dimension to the standards this year. However, I also feel that all standards were elevated to match increasing demands and opportunities for students.

What would you recommend to educators to build their pedagogy and practice?
Work to find time to build your network within NILA and other language-centered communities; we are together as one in our efforts to improve our skillsets and offerings.

Sutton Public Schools Spanish Teacher Dara Rodriguez recently connected her three groups of Spanish 2 and 3 via Skpe with the Department of Modern Langauges at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Professor Kelly Kingsbury Brunetto, undergraduate students Rebeca Portales de Jacobson and Andrew Holzman, and assistant teachers Lara Armenteros Garrido and Ana Maria Tudela Martinez conversed with Sutton students about the importance of language learning in Nebraska and connections to career paths. Rodriguez initiated the conversation as a way of showing her Sutton students how language learning connects to college and career readiness.

Washington D.C. has both southern hospitality and northern efficiency. From the quick and courteous Uber drivers to the staff at the Capitol Visitor Center, everyone manages to treat each visitor as a guest. This bonhomie carried into the ACTFL Conference and NCSSFL annual meeting as the level of dialogue and discourse truly elevated this event into a policy changing catalyst. Throughout the many meetings, networking quickly developed into opportunities for future collaboration and programming. Already work has begun in response to these conversations. ACTFL D.C. will certainly have a monumental impact in world language programming in Nebraska and throughout the United States.

Nebraska’s capital is one of many cities named in honor of the 16th president. The exterior of the building is adorned with a frieze listing the names of the states.

This grand sculpture fills a three-story window in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The compass design features both state images and state postal codes.

Statues recognizing key figures from each state adorn the Capitol Visitor Center. J. Sterling Morton represents Nebraska.