President’s Letter

Dear AATG Members,

As we enter the holiday season, one of the things I enjoy most is introducing new people to holidays traditions from Germany that I have enjoyed getting to know. For the final meeting of my German club, I did a variety of activities with the kids including introducing them to some winter vocabulary – e.g. die Schneeflocke, der Schneemann und die Kerze –and playing a variety of games from bingo and color by number to a word search I created here (bit.ly/3W2qOjz). I also find the website TeachersPayTeachers.com a useful resource for finding activities like this. I love the fact that not only do you find helpful resources, but you are paying teachers for their labor!

It was wonderful seeing many of you at ACTFL in Boston last month. It has been so long since we had an in-person event. I enjoyed meeting first-time ACTFL attendees, past presidents, veteran teachers and our many partners from the cultural sector. Katharina Grüninger from the German Embassy even gave me an idea for a great holiday craft involving fake poinsettia flowers, silver bells, and holly. The kids had a blast creating them. Below is a photo of my son and his best friend showing off theirs. As always ACTFL is a wonderful way not only to network and hear fascinating presentations, but also have these kinds of informal conversations with important stakeholders in German.

I’d like to encourage everyone to consider submitting a session for next year’s ACTFL, which will be in my hometown of Chicago! Here are important deadlines to keep in mind:

ACTFL 2023 Session Proposal Timeframe:

December 15, 2022 - Submit your idea on this form (aatg.org/page/2023OrganizeSession) for a session you plan to lead December 16, 2022 - AATG posts session ideas on the website (aatg.org/page/2023CallForProposals) January 11, 2023 - People send abstracts directly to session leaders for considerations January 27, 2023 - Session leaders submit final session proposals on ACTFL's submission portal, and follow up with all people who sent abstracts for consideration

I wish everyone a joyous holiday season!

Priscilla Layne AATG President Professor of German University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill layne.aatg@unc.edu