Your Polyglot for March, 2014

poly

The Digital Polyglot

A publication of the Inland Empire World Language Association since 1985

March, 2014

Editor - Bethany Thompson
Asst. Editor - Trini Rios

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Register for CLTA Conference
  • IEFLA/CASLA Honors Reception
  • Low Desert Share-a-Thon #3 - Virtual Resources
  • Arabic Summer Language Program for High School and College Students
  • Tech Corner – Socrative
  • World Language Binder
  • Language Links
  • YouTube Clip of the Month
  • Higher Level Thinking Skills
  • Recognition for Bi-Literate Students
  • April National Poetry Month

 

There’s still time to register for the CLTA Conference

Registration Booklet Now Online

The conference is at the beautiful Town and Country Resort in San Diego March 13-16, 2013. You can register online at http://www.clta.net/conference. Check out the CLTA Registration Booklet and website to register online. On Thursday and Friday there are 23 pre-conference workshops. On Saturday and Sunday there are 93 interest sessions, banquets, keynote speakers, and they'll be a drawing for two trips to Europe (for two).

Last day for online registration is March 7. After March 7, you must register on site.

IEFLA/CASLA 14th Annual Honors Reception
   

Honor your top five students.

On Wednesday, April 23, 2014, IEFLA and the Cal State San Bernardino Center for the Advancement of Second Language Acquisition will be sponsoring an Honors Reception to recognize outstanding foreign language students.  The reception will be at 5:00 p.m. at California State University, San Bernardino.

IEFLA members are invited to submit the names of students of any level whose world language achievement they would like recognized at the Honors Reception.  No more than five students may be nominated per IEFLA member. 

Each student that you nominate will be recognized and will receive a certificate. Deadline to nominate your students is Saturday, March 15, 2014. Space is limited so nominations will only be accepted from the first 40 teachers.

For additional information go to http://www.iefla.org/honorsreception.html.

 

Low Desert Share-A-Thon #3

Authentic Virtual Resources:

How to use authentic resources from the internet in the target language

Desert Hot Springs High School, March 12, 2014, 5:00 - 7:00 pm


March 12, IEFLA's Low Desert Share-a-Thon Wednesday, 5:00-7:00 pm. This month's topic: Authentic Virtual Resources: How to use authentic resources from the internet in the target language” presented by Danielle Farve.  Desert Hot Springs High School, room 214, in Desert Hot Springs, CA.  The Share-a-Thon is free, but you must register online at http://iefla.weebly.com/-share-a-thon-rsvp.html. For more information, please contact Danielle Farve at daniellefarve@hotmail.com.

For additional information go to http://www.iefla.org/.

Workshop is free, but you must register online.  To register go to http://iefla.weebly.com.

For more information, please contact Danielle Farve at daniellefarve@hotmail.com.

 

calligraphy

Arabic Summer Language Intensive Program at Callifornia State University, San Bernardino

For High School Students and College Students

June 18 - August 7, 2014

Study Arabic language and culture for 7 life-changing weeks this summer.

The Arabic Summer Language Intensive Program at CSUSB offers a unique opportunity to develop Arabic language skills that will enrich your life and jump-start your résumé!

High school students can enroll and earn college credits for Arabic at a fraction of the tuition cost when compared to college students.

The Arabic language is taught in context by exposing students to real-life situations and building their confidence in expressing themselves in Arabic. In addition, they will gain understanding and appreciation for the historical, cultural, social and geographic aspects of the Arab world. There is classroom instruction, lab work, activities such as dance, calligraphy and music, as well as field trips are all important elements of the program.

Please note that instruction and required activities take place from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays. In order to maximize the benefit of the intensive summer language experience, all students are encouraged but not required to live in the campus-provided, fully- furnished, modern housing facilities under supervision. The four-room suites include fully-equipped kitchens and living rooms. Internet, lounge areas and swimming are available. Participants who require special accommodations should discuss their needs with the program coordinator.

Contact Information:
For more information about the application call Georgia Pallas at 909-537-7135
For information about the program call Dr. Dany Doueiri at 310-392-3482
Email: slip@csusb.edu
Website: http://arabic.csusb.edu

Download flyer to share with your students.

tech

Tech Corner 

Each month we will explore a different aspect of technology that can help you in your classroom.  This month:  Socrative.com.  Socrative is a student response system that allows students to respond from their mobile devices or a computer.    You can create digital exit tickets and see students’ answers in real time.  Go to socrative.com and watch the video to show how it works.

IEFLA’s World Language Binder

IEFLA’s World Language Binder – for general information that applies to all language teachers including tabs for all of the links to websites featured in the Tech Corner, Common Core, participation and much, much more! 


Teaching world languages - good resources for all teachers:
http://www.pinterest.com/csctfl/teaching-world-languages/

Language specific resources:
Other Languages (ASL, ESL, Latin, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Japanese and more): http://www.pinterest.com/csctfl/other-languages-teacher-favorites/
For French Teachers: http://www.pinterest.com/csctfl/french-teacher-favorites/
For German Teachers: http://www.pinterest.com/csctfl/german-teacher-favorites/
For Spanish teachers: http://www.pinterest.com/csctfl/spanish-teacher-favorites/

For other resources such as Languages/Language Advocacy, Literacy, Early Language Learning, Art and Music in the world language classroom, international foods, History Connections, etc., see: http://www.pinterest.com/csctfl/


The Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CSCTFL) is very active on social media in an effort to support and stay in touch with world language teachers before, during, and after our conferences. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter (in addition to Pinterest) for constantly updated resources, ideas, information and news items.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CSCTFL
Twitter: https://twitter.com/csctfl   (We will also use hashtag #csctfl14 to share CCTFL 2014 experiences)
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/csctfl/

youtube

YouTube Clip of the Month

Lego Movie Trailer in Spanish

Ready-Made Flash Cards:
Because sometimes you just don’t want to look up all the words.  This site has a great collection of ready-made flashcards for all different vocabulary sets.  Download three sizes. 
http://www.eslflashcards.com/

Elementary French Fill-In Passages
Want some short generic fill in the blank passages?  Check out Bob and Marie Ponterio’s site.  Exercises are divided by concept. http://web.cortland.edu/ponterior/frcloze/

Ideas and Resources for Modern Language Teachers
http://neiljones.org/

Higher Level Thinking Skills

Use this picture to ask your students to do some higher level common core thinking! 

lockerscene

http://www.spring.hachette-education.com/org/core/images/stories/Illustration5e_BIG/01_Scene02A.jpg

Ask your students:
What do we know about this person?
What does he like?
What is her personality?
What can you predict about what he might be studying in school and what his future will be like?

Recognition for Bi-Literate Students

Since 2012 the State of California and the Temecula Valley Unified School District have been presenting their students for the California Bi-literacy Seal on their high school diplomas.  This high honor quickly came to attention of the students and teachers in TVUSD; the students and teachers wanted to take it further.  

The students at Chaparral High School requested that they be considered for the honor of recognition at their Senior graduation with the wearing of a Bi-literacy Stole. This stole would show their peers, family and community that they were exceptional scholars in more than one language. Principal Gil Compton approved the request for their recognition and wearing the stole at graduation.  The counseling department then was informed of this honor and thought it appropriate to honor the students at Senior Awards night with the presentation of a certificate from the high school as well as the presentation of their stole.  The students and their families were thrilled of the validation this brought them.

Mrs. Monteros-Garcia, the World Language Curriculum Chair, then took the idea of the special recognitions to the World Language Curriculum Council and Secondary Curriculum Council.  The Councils welcomed the recognition for the students.  Starting this spring Temecula Valley Unified School District will be distinguishing all of their scholars that have earned the Bi-literacy Seal with stoles and formal recognitions at the Senior Awards as well as at graduation, during the ceremony as well as on the graduation program.

They believe that the students that have earned this honor and shown exceptional endurance and rigor in accomplishing the requirements for the Bi-literacy Seal.  In recognizing their efforts this also lets their peers, families and community, know that we have high performing Bi-literate students in their schools.  This honor also motivates students to pursue their efforts in language acquisition through the fourth year and to earn high marks in their English and World Language classes as well as state and national assessments.

Quick Activity
Looking for a quick fun activity that will last an entire period with minimal prep?  Try an improve skit!  Choose from the below “improve” ideas that best meet your students’ level.  Give two students a topic and 15 minutes to prepare a short sketch.  Laughter and fun will follow.

Improv ideas:
http://www.ket.org/Trips/horsecave/improv_list.htm

http://upstagereview.org/ImprovArticles/starters.pdf

April Is National Poetry Month:
Ideas for Spanish:
http://lisibo.com/2013/04/national-poetry-month-spanish-ideas/

Ideas for all Languages:
http://www.traceeorman.com/2013/03/hands-on-poetry-activities.html

Appolinaire’s Calligram’s:
Use these concrete visual poems as a starting point for early language learners. 
http://lafranceaulycee.blogspot.com/2013/11/calligrammes-la-poesie-visuelle.html

The Polyglot is a publication of the Inland Empire Foreign Language Association. For questions or comments, contact Bethany Thompson, editor, bethany_thompson@avusd.org or Trini Rios, trios327@gmail.com. Would you like to help with the Polyglot? Contact Bethany Thompson, editor, at bethany_thompson@avusd.org.