Spring 2023 SCOLTalk

SCOLTalk The newsletter of the Southern Conference on Language Teaching May, 2023

Greetings from the SCOLT President Hello everyone! As I finish up the Spring semester at my university, I always like to take time to reflect on the wonderful collaborations, learning opportunities and connections that were made not only by my students, but by me. In thinking about these experiences, my first year as president of SCOLT is foremost on my mind. I am so grateful that I get to serve such an amazing organization that provides me opportunities to grow as an educator and leader, collaborate with other outstanding language educators and connect with likeminded people from all over the southeast. If you were able to join us in Mobile for the SCOLT 2023 conference, then you know what I mean. This year’s conference was outstanding. From the amazing keynote delivered by ACTFL TOY, William Lee, to the naming of this year’s SCOLT Teacher of the Year, Dr. Ke Peng of Kentucky, to the awesome sessions provided by educators in our region, teachers were inspired and encouraged throughout the conference. In addition to the professional learning that our conference provides, one of the most important aspects for me is the opportunity to connect with colleagues and just have fun. The Sponsors and Patrons reception on Friday evening provided so much fun with a second line parade to the beautiful Mobile Carnival Museum. If you missed this opportunity in Mobile, be sure to become a sponsor or patron (SCOLT’s word for member) and join us for all the fun next year!

I want to personally thank the presenters who so freely share not only their time, ideas and materials but themselves with the world language community.

Without you, there would be no conference! I also would like to thank the SCOLT Board for their tremendous effort in planning this year’s conference.

While I cannot begin to name the contributions everyone on the board made to create such a successful conference, I would like to thank the program committee for their countless hours preparing a schedule of outstanding sessions and workshops including “Get Ready to Embark on ‘The Amazing Race’” by Shane Goodpasture which was chosen the Best of SCOLT session this year. As the winner, Shane will present his session at the 2023 ACTFL conference in Chicago this November.

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As we prepare for SCOLT 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia, the SCOLT board wants to celebrate YOU, the world language educator! Our theme for the conference is “Elevate, Innovate, Celebrate.” We want to elevate (our profession, our students, each other, proficiency), innovate (our profession, our classrooms) and celebrate (our profession, our students, each other).

The conference will be held March 7-9 in collaboration with The Foreign Language Association of Georgia (FLAG) and SEALLT. We will be staying at the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel.

The Call for Proposals is open through Oct. 16, 2023, via the SCOLT homepage.

I hope to see you in Atlanta next year!

-Dr. Krista Chambless SCOLT President

INDEX

President’s Greeting……………………………...…..…..1 Call for Proposals…………………………………….…..2 New Board Members…………………………………..4-5 Scholarships for Future Language Educators………….6-7 In Memoriam…………………………………………….9 SCOLT Award Recipients………………..……………..10 SCOLT Teacher of the Year Candidates…….………….11 SCOLT Teacher of the Year Interview……………...12-13 Sponsor/Patron Membership…………………………….15 Faces of SCOLT……………..………………………14-17 Dimensions Call for Papers……………………………..21 2021 Dimension Update….………………………….22-23 2021 JNCL Report…………………………………..24-26 ACTFL Update...………………………………………..28 SCOLT Board of Directors……………………………..30 Around the Region………………………………..…….31 1

SCOLT 2024 CALL FOR PROPOSALS Proposal window: April 15 – October 16, 2023 Submit your session proposal at www.scolt.org Conference Dates: March 7-9, 2024 Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel Theme: Elevate, Innovate, Celebrate

Submit your proposal for SCOLT/FLAG/ SEALLT 2024 now!

Thank you to all who made the SCOLT 2023 conference a success!

The AWLA and SEALLT Board members were extremely helpful in all aspects of planning and running the conference. Our sponsors and exhibitors were a vital component of the event! And of course, we couldn’t have a conference without our presenters and attendees!

Everyone worked together to have a great event and it was great to connect with everyone in-person!

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Introducing….New SCOLT Board Members!

With a background as an attorney, Jen Carson joined the field of education mid-career, teaching world languages at all levels K-12 from Spanish FLES to I.B. French. Since 2010, Jen has taught in the Old Dominion University Career Switcher Program, where she got her start in education, teaching a variety of courses including School Law, World Language Methodologies, Assessment, and Culturally Responsive Practices. In her current role as K-12 Account Executive & Learning Specialist for Language Testing International (LTI), Jen brings virtual exchanges and cross-cultural collaboration to learners in the U.S. and overseas through Level Up Village. Prior to joining LTI in 2022, Jen worked for world language publishing market leaders Wayside Publishing and Vista Higher Learning, following eight years as Coordinator of K-12 World Languages for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. In that role, she was responsible for developing curriculum and performance-based common assessments, facilitating professional development, and supervising instruction for 185 world language teachers in nine languages. Additionally, she directed a Spanish Partial Immersion Program at three elementary schools and one middle school and a grant-funded Summer Russian and Mandarin Chinese STARTALK Academy for elementary school students.

Inducted as a Chevalier in the French Order of the Academic Palms in 2018 for her distinguished contribution to French language and cultural education, Jen continues to serve the world language community as the Teacher Education & Professional Development Chair of the Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) and a Member of the Board of Directors for the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT). She is a former President of the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages (NADSFL) and two-time President of the Virginia Organization of World Language Supervisors (VOWLS). Jen co-authored the 2015 pioneering guide to world language supervision, the Principles of Effective World Language Programs, and is an active board member of Global Virginia, a grassroots movement to develop globally competent citizens. Jen regularly shares her expertise in second language acquisition, virtual instruction, interculturality and global competence, performance-based assessments, and proficiency-based grading at state, regional, and national conferences.

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Linda Lee Santiago serves Pinellas County Schools as a World Languages teacher at St. Petersburg High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. She teaches Spanish 2 thru Advanced Placement Literature as well as the IB Diploma program. At St Petersburg High School, Linda currently serves as Sponsor of the Student Government Association and Spanish State Competition team. Outside of her classroom, Linda is part of the advisory board, the curriculum writing team and the book adoption committee for the county’s Supervisor of World Languages. She has facilitated workshops for the betterment of her colleagues in her county, at the Florida Foreign Language Association, the Southern Conference of Language Teachers, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language, the College Board, and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese conferences. She has served her county and state colleagues as both the president of the World Languages Teachers Association (WLTA) in Pinellas County and the Executive director and Region 8 director of the Florida Foreign Language Association (FFLA). She was the president of the Florida chapter of AATSP and the registrar for the Florida State Spanish Competition. Currently, she is a member of the SCOLT Board in the program and social media committee.

Linda’s career is characterized by her desire to serve. She enjoys sharing her love of learning with both her students and colleagues on a path of constant improvement. For recreation, she likes to read and spend time with her family.

Linda will serve as Program Co-Director.

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Student Scholarships The SCOLT Board was excited to award three student scholarships at the 2023 conference! Two scholarships were given to college students and one to a high school senior. All three are promising future language educators! See below for more information about this year’s recipients.

The Ken Stewart Future Language Educator Scholarship has been available for high school seniors since 2019. This is a $1000 scholarship awarded to a high school senior in the SCOLT region who wants to become a language teacher. The funds can be used as needed for tuition, books, or other college expenses.

Five very deserving students have received the scholarship to date!

Vista Higher Learning is now also sponsoring scholarships for students! This opportunity includes a $1000 scholarship for a high school senior in each of the five regions, beginning in 2023. And to add to the good news, Vista Higher Learning is also sponsoring a $1000 scholarship for a current college student in the region who demonstrates passion, leadership, and promise as a future language teacher.

With the current teacher shortage and a critical need to encourage students to become educators, the SCOLT Board is extremely appreciative of the ability to provide these opportunities for high school and college students!

Applications and detailed information will be available in the Fall. Watch the SCOLT website, Facebook, and Twitter feeds for more information.

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Ken Stewart Future Language Educator Scholarship Recipient Eliza Hendrick, Tallwood High School, VA Eliza plans to pursue a degree in Spanish Education and become an elementary Spanish teacher. Eliza is involved in the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow program and her school’s Global Studies and World Languages Academy.

Vista Higher Learning Future Language Educator Scholarship Recipients

Renee Fluet, James Madison University, VA Renee is a student at James Madison University, pursuing a degree in Modern Foreign Language (Spanish) and a minor in Linguistics. She showed an aptitude for teaching in high school while working with peers and younger students. Her passion for language and teaching is evident!

Cody Smith, University of Louisville, KY Cody is a former recipient of the Ken Stewart Future Language Educator Scholarship. He is a student at the University of Louisville where he is pursuing a degree in Middle and Secondary French Education. He is also studying Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish. Cody has attended 2 SCOLT conferences and shows great enthusiasm for the profession!

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In Memoriam

Carolyn Hansen, SCOLT President 2001, presenting Frank W. Medley, Jr., with the 2001 SCOLT Founders Award Carolyn Hansen, former SCOLT President, passed away February 9, 2023. Although Carolyn served as SCOLT President in 2001, she had long served both on the SCOLT Executive Board and as a member to enhance SCOLT activities and conferences. Not only did she make presentations at many conferences, but she also encouraged her University of South Carolina students and colleagues to participate. I found her help at conferences to be a key to operational success. She had honed her conference skills serving on and becoming the Executive Director of the South Carolina Foreign Language Teachers Association (SCFLTA) and encouraged her SCFLTA colleagues to present and attend SCOLT Conferences. Carolyn continued to make contributions after her time on the SCOLT Executive Board, and in 2008, she was awarded the Founders Award.

Submitted by Lynne McClendon, former SCOLT Executive Director See Carolyn’s obituary here.

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SCOLT 2023 Award Recipients

Founders Award—Carmen Scoggins Spanish Teacher, Watauga High School Boone, NC

Educator of Excellence—Dr. Victoria Russell Professor, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA

Leadership Award—Julie Roberts ESL Teacher, Clinton High School, Clinton , MS

Bostick Award Cayla Baker Tallahassee High School Tallahassee, AL

Latino Schools Travel Scholarship Victoria Taylor Parkland High School Winston-Salem, NC

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2023 SCOLT Teacher of the Year Candidates Sara Ahnell French Teacher Auburn High School Auburn, Alabama

Luisa Meyer Spanish Teacher Bartow Middle School Bartow, Florida

DiAnne Johnson Spanish Teacher Evans High School Evans, Georgia

Ke Peng Chinese Professor Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky

Leigh Grace Rouyer Latin Teacher St. Joseph’s Academy Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Julie Roberts ESL Teacher Clinton High School Clinton, Mississippi

Bethanie Drew Spanish Teacher Broughton Global Magnet High School Raleigh, North Carolina

Xiaolin (Rebecca) Feng Chinese Teacher River Bluff High School Lexington, South Carolina

Ryan Sellers Latin Teacher Memphis University School Memphis, Tennesse

Martha Davis Spanish Professor Northern Virginia Community College Virginia

Elizabeth Sanchez Spanish Teacher Spring Hills Middle School Martinsburg, West Virginia

Meet all of the Teacher of the Year candidates and hear their words of wisdom here!

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An Interview with Dr. Ke Peng, 2023 SCOLT Teacher of the Year Q. Tell us a little bit about your background as a world language (WL) teacher. For example, how many years have you taught, which language(s) and levels, and what is your educational background?

A. My name is Ke Peng. I am a professor of Chinese and Director of the Chinese Flagship Program at Western Kentucky University. I started my position in 2011, and was charged to establish the Chinese major and minor program. The students I work with mostly come from rural areas in Kentucky and neighboring states. They usually fall into two patterns: those who have little idea about college and are exploring a different future usually take the Chinese major; and those who are academic ready but socio-economically under-privileged usually do the Chinese Flagship program.

A little background information about the Chinese Flagship Program. It is one of the 13 such programs in the nation. Our program is sponsored by the National Security Education Program. Flagship focuses on supporting students in reaching a Superior, or professional, level of proficiency, during their undergraduate. The majority of our students are true beginners with two or three majors, and within 3-4 years, they must reach advancedlevel before they are eligible for the one-year Capstone program in Taiwan or Defense Language Institute in California.

As for what I do, I spent the past decade doing basically two things: First, I built a value-based community of a cross-functional high-performance team with 6 full-time and 12 part-time positions.

Second, I built a learner-center proficiency-based curriculum coupled with dynamic cultural enrichment activities.

received my doctorate in Chinese linguistics with a focus on Second Language Acquisition and Teaching from the University of Arizona. I earned my master’s degree in Foreign Language Education at Indiana University. I teach modern Chinese language and content classes at all levels and offers courses in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching Methods of Foreign Languages to both undergraduate and graduate pre-service teachers.

Q. In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of being a WL teacher today?

A. There are many challenges and opportunities in serving as a WL teacher in the current time and condition. One of the most challenging aspects of being a WL teacher is that there are many confusions and distractions out there about the value of world language learning and teaching. My solution is not to lose sight of my vision and focus on what I can do at every moment with every opportunity for every student that I have the privilege to interact with. My vision is to inspire and help students make massive life transformations through holistic learning and intercultural experiences. In holistic learning, I empower students to overcome their existing limitations and boundaries; in holistic learning, I enable students to achieve personal mastery and professional acceleration; in holistic learning, I heal students by immersing them in a new language, new culture, new mindset, and re-building them up through nurturing their inner life force.

I grew up in a small city in China and my dream in high school was to study and travel abroad. I 12

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job as a objectively. The fourth way is will, to honor and respect their will. I may offer my opinions and WL teacher? suggestions as a teacher or facilitator, but students must be in their own authority. Ultimately, it’s their A. The most rewarding part of my work as a WL life. I remind myself to fully accept who they are teacher is to witness the little progress that we and where they are. (students, teachers and I) make every day. It’s exciting to wake up every morning and know that I will see a better version of students and me myself Q. Is there anything else that you would like to today. add?

A. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share! Thank you for reading this far! One last point Q. What advice would you give to new people I would like to share is that, to make our field thrive, coming into the WL teaching profession? to get ready for the immense opportunities ahead, we not only must be masters in teaching, but also A. This is a profession that you will never regret to visionary leaders, effective program builders, active community servants and strong advocates for dedicate to. The return on your investment of time policies and resources at the state and national and energy in this profession only gets higher year after year. I have three pieces of advice to share with levels. With a clear vision, the right mindset and indomitable will, and by creating a set of systems new teachers: First, language is powerful. Always use language to build people up, not tear them down. and processes that fit for our ecosystem, WL education will thrive.

When you use this powerful tool effectively and wisely, you will get all the things you want in life.

Second, be a visionary leader. Our program will never outgrow our vision. Develop a clear vision for the program you desire to build and create a valuebased holistic community to achieve your goal.

Third, invest in yourself, always be learning.

Personal mastery will lead to professional acceleration.

Q. How do you motivate students to learn language?

A. I wouldn’t say that I motivate students to learn. I tend to believe that I only connect with students. I do it through four methods: (1) Faith or trust; (2) emotions and feelings; (3) reason; (4) Will.

First, authenticity and professionalism help students build faith and trust in teachers. I hold high standards of myself, and I enjoy being authentic with students because it helps us communicate and collaborate most effectively. Second, true love and genuine care help me bond with students’ emotions and feelings. When students feel safe, calm, supported, being loved and empowered, they work hard, and they excel. The third way to connect with students is by reasoning. Listen to them wholeheartedly, understand them deeply, and advise them 13

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Support SCOLT! SCOLT is different from some organizations in that we do not have general membership.

Anyone can register and attend the conference without paying a membership fee. However, we do have Sponsors and Patrons, which is a group of people who pay a Sponsor or Patron membership fee to further support SCOLT. The Sponsors and Patrons have voting rights, which means they elect new board members and can vote on bylaws amendments when necessary. Also, nominees for the board must be Sponsors or Patrons. These individuals can register for the conference at a reduced rate and there is a special reception and business meeting at the conference for this group. See all the fun pictures of the band and the Carnival Museum in “Faces of SCOLT”? That was the 2023 reception! Sponsor/Patron information can be found here, Become a SCOLT Sponsor or Patron today, or when you register for the 2024 conference!

Faces of SCOLT

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Faces of SCOLT

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Faces of SCOLT

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DIMENSION 2024 CALL FOR PAPERS Dimensions 2024 Special Issue: Focus on Bridging Language Education Fields Co-editors: Dr. Paula Garrett-Rucks (Georgia State University) and Dr. Jason A. Kemp (WIDA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison) This edition will focus on bridging the Language Education fields of Bilingual, Dual Language, Heritage Language, and World Languages Education. These areas of language teaching and learning are often understood as separate disciplines with distinct pedagogies. The focus of this special issue is on the ways in which these language fields share knowledge, theories, and best practices. Arguably, at the heart of each field there is a common goal to foster learners’ ability to function across languages and cultures in spoken and written communications.

Ultimately, the call for papers for this special issue aims to inspire diverse researchers to share their understanding of what we think language education should look like across the U.S. In what ways are the national standards and best teaching practices similar or different across Bilingual, Dual Language, Heritage Language and World Languages Education? How do assessment practices vary? How is language education similar or different across various regions of the U.S.? In what ways can findings on best-teaching practices in border communities (e.g., Canada and Mexico) inform bilingual and biliteracy practices in communities with less frequent cross-cultural contact? In what ways does learning a heritage or world language (e.g., Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish) compare to learning English in an ESOL context? This edition aims to highlight empirical and theoretical papers, as well as new programmatic directions and professional development, that focus on our shared goal of promoting and maintaining multilingualism. In addition, we welcome papers from a variety of educational contexts, including K-12 and post-secondary; urban, suburban, and rural; as well as how language teaching and learning can promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Priority will be given to submissions received by the July 1st, 2023 deadline.

Submissions guidelines can be found at: http://www.scolt.org/index.php/publications/dimension

For additional information on manuscript submission or the publication process, please contact prucks@gsu.edu or jason.kemp@wisc.edu or Dimenions@SCOLT.org

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2023 Editorial Board for SCOLT Dimension

Michele Back University of Connecticut Mansfield, CT

Lara Lomicka-Anderson University of South Carolina Columbia, SC

Melisa (Misha) Cahnmann-Taylor University of Georgia Athens, GA

Linwood J. Randolph Jr. University of Wisconsin Madison, WI

Kelly Davidson Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA

Victoria Russell Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA

Stacey M. Johnson Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN

Sheri Spaine Long Executive Director of AATSP ­ Birmingham, AL

Jason Kemp University of Wisconsin Madison, WI

Paul D. Toth Temple University Philadelphia, PA

Shuai Li Georgia State University Atlanta, Ga

Manuela Wagner University of Connecticut Mansfield, CT

With gratitude to proofreader April Remey

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Dimension 2023 Articles 1.

Brian Olovson Kennesaw State University

Collaboration and Writing Development in L2 Spanish: A Microanalytic Perspective

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Giulia Negretto Transformative Experiences of Beginner L2 University of Arizona Learners in the Italian Classroom for Social Justice Borbala Gaspar University of Arizona

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Gregory De La Piedra Word Analysis: Contemplating the Word La MaSt. Petersburg College dre to Develop an Approach for the Instruction of Cultural Perspectives

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Carolyn Gascoigne A Review of Language Practice Exercises within University of Houston Commercially Available eBooks and Electronic Companion Practice

Christina Huhn Multi-Level World Language Classes: Teacher Indiana University of Pennsylvania Perspectives and Practical Solutions Patricia Davis-Wiley The University of Tennessee

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JNCL Language Advocacy Day 2023 February 8-10 Virtual/Washington D.C. SCOLT was well represented at the 2023 Language Advocacy Day with JNCL-NCLIS! Six SCOLT Board members attended the virtual event, as well as many other educators active in the SCOLT region. The Board members in attendance were Krista Chambless, Liz Lawrence-Baez, Bertha Delgadillo, Amanda Hajji Minillo, Bonnie Wang, and Leslie Baldwin.

February 8 Wednesday began with an address by U.S. Representative Mary Peltola, the first native Alaskan to serve in Congress. Her insightful interview was followed by multilingual congressional staff offering their advocacy insights, and then planning for the legislative “asks” for the next day’s meetings. See below for a summary of the legislation and funding requests that were the focus of this year’s meetings.

During the evening networking event, Ramu Damodaran, First Chief, United Nations Academic Impact, provided the keynote address. He shared a unique perspective on the opportunities for languages brought by the combination of competition and cooperation.

February 9 Congressional Visits The focus of this day was virtual congressional visits to advocate for legislation and funding described above. LAD attendees are divided in groups by state, as each person or group visits the offices of which they are constituents. Leslie Baldwin and the rest of the North Carolina team had 6 visits: 4 with House of Representatives offices and 2 with Senate offices. The other attendees from NC team were Helga Fasciano, Bonnie Wang, Mary Pedergraft, and Yi-Wen Liu. All the meetings were positive and included productive conversations with members of the staff. Several staff members were particularly interested in the WLARA grant program, as that program aligns closely with the congress member’s goals and committees. There was also strong interest in the forthcoming World LEAP legislation and the team expects support for these initiatives from several of the offices visited.

The day of advocacy ended with the Awards Ceremony and remarks from Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Jimmy Panetta, both now leaders of the Americas Languages Caucus.

North Carolina Delegation - Virtual Congressional Visits

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2023 Language Advocacy Day Requests

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February 10, Delegate Assembly Delegate Assembly The Delegate Assembly is the official business meeting for JNCL-NCLIS. As Executive Director, Leslie Baldwin is SCOLT’s official delegate to JNCL.

Amanda Seewald, JNCL Executive Director, presented the 2022 Annual Report. The 2022 LAD was a successful, virtual event. The theme led to webinars and interviews conducted throughout the year. There were legislative successes with the passage of the Native American Language Resource Center Act, establishing a new resource center for Native American languages, continued funding of WLARA grants, and support for the BEST Act. Language education programs received increases in funding and the Secretary of Education, Dr. Cardona, continues to stress the advantages of multilingualism and language programs.

The budget was presented and approved. Board members were recognized for their service and a reminder was given that all official delegates can serve on various committees to further the work of JNCL. LAD events continued with a live interview with Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education, Roberto J. Rodriguez. He spoke about his own language journey as a son of Venezuelan immigrants in the US and the need for his own children to have access to dual language programs. He spoke to goals of the Department of Education in supporting and expanding language programs, especially for heritage speakers of languages other than English and capitalizing on their language skills. Dr. Rodriguez thanked the group for their advocacy efforts and emphasized the need to continue such efforts and conversations.

After the interview there were breakout sessions with school superintendents from each region, giving their perspective on language programs and education. Afterwards, Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction, provided remarks.

A panel of peers spoke to ways in which advocacy can be expanded on the local and state levels.

To close the event, Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation Principal, provided the final keynote address. He described the Nation’s efforts to preserve their language and culture by caring for older Cherokee speakers by providing housing and health care. Chief Hoskin brought a unique perspective regarding native language preservation.

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This book (272 pages / 6 x 9) has resources for all levels of Spanish, a chapter on Latin American Studies, and sections on Chicana/o Studies and Brazil. An essential theme is the emphasis on issues of social justice. It was inspired by a 2007 article in Dimension by Anne Fountain and Catherine Fountain, “Maya and Nahuatl in the Teaching of Spanish.” (www.press.georgetown.edu) Paperback, 9781647123536, $34.95 Ebook, 9781647123543, $34.95

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ACTFL Update 1. ACTFL is actively recruiting for the Mentoring Program. Find out more here: https:// www.actfl.org/learn/mentoring-program Apply to be a mentor or to receive mentoring.

2. Registration & Housing is already open for ACTFL 2023 in Chicago. https:// www.xpressreg.net/register/ACTF1123/landing.asp? o=&pb=&sc=&aban=&hkey=&iq=&vip=&tm= The Opening Keynote Speaker will be Kal Pen. https://www.actfl.org/keynote-speaker-kal-penn Sarah Eagle Heart will be the Saturday speaker. Registration early bird deadline is July 12, 2023. Advance registration ends October 25, 2023 and late registration begins October 25, 2023 and extends till the end of the conference. The Marriott Marquis Chicago is the Headquarters Hotel. There are several other designated ACTFL hotels: https://www.actfl.org/attend/housing-instructions 3. Stipends are offered to first time attendees, BIPOC attendees, and New Teachers (first 3 years of career). Application deadline, October 9, 2023 https://www.actfl.org/attend/stipendaward-program 4. ACTFL issued a Statement Regarding the Michigan State shooting: https://www.actfl.org/ news/actfl-statement-on-michigan-state-university-shooting 5. ACTFL’s Language Connects Foundation was launched in November: https:// www.languageconnectsfoundation.org/ Submitted by Pam Benton, SCOLT Representative on the ACTFL Board of Directors

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Faces of SCOLT: Board of Directors

Dr. Leslie Baldwin, Executive Director Dr. Krista Chambless, President

Dr. Bobby Hobgood, Immediate Past President

Pam Benton, President Elect, Recording Secretary; Representative to ACTFL Albert Fernandez, Scholarships Co-Director Lisa Worthington-Groce, Co-Registrar, SCOLTalk Co-Editor

Bonnie Wang, Program Co-Director Michelle Olah, Co-Registrar, SCOLTalk Co-Editor Bertha Delgadillo, Program Co-Director

Jen Carson, Scholarships Co-Director Linda Santiago, Program Co-Director Liz Lawrence-Baez, Awards Director

Dr. Paula Garrett Rucks, Dimension Editor

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Stay Connected Around the SCOLT Region SCOLT: The next conference will be in Atlanta, GA March 7-9, 2024. Web ·Facebook ·Twitter AWLA: The Alabama World Languages Association updates can be found here : Web · Facebook · Twitter

AFLTA: The Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association updates can be found here: Web · Facebook

FFLA: Florida’s annual conference will be held on October 26-28, 2023 in Daytona Beach, FL. Web · Facebook · Twitter

FLAG: The Foreign Language Association of Georgia updates can be found here: Facebook · Twitter KWLA: Kentucky’s 2023 conference will be held in Lexington, KY September 29-30, 2023. Web · Facebook · Twitter

LFLTA: Louisiana’s conference information will be available on their website. Facebook · Twitter MFLA: Mississippi Foreign Language Association’s conference information will be available on their website. Web · Facebook · Twitter FLANC: North Carolina will hold their’ annual conference in Winston-Salem on October 7-8, 2023 .

Web · Facebook · Twitter

SCFLTA: South Carolina’s Foreign Language Teachers’ Association updates can be found here: Web · Facebook · Twitter

TWLTA: Tennessee World Language Teaching Association annual conference will be held November 34, 2023 in Franklin, TN.. Web · Facebook · Twitter TFLA: Texas will hold its Summer Institute in Corpus Christi, TX July 14-15, 2023. Web · Facebook · Twitter

FLAVA: Virginia will hold their fall conference in Norfolk, VA on October 12-14, 2023. Web · Facebook · Twitter

WVFLTA: West Virginia Foreign Language Teachers Association information can be found here : Web · Facebook · Twitter

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