The Digital Polyglot

A publication of the Inland Empire World Language Association since 1985

September, 2015

Editor - Bethany Thompson
Asst. Editor - Trini Rios

IN THIS ISSUE:

• IEFLA Fall Workshop: Enhancing World Language Instruction with Tech Tools In the Age of Common Core
• Fall Workshop Free Registration Drawing
• Five Ideas for Staying in the Target Language
• Great Hints
• YouTube Clips of the Month
• Languages in the News
• Cal State University Happenings
• Need a Teacher? Need a Job?
• Tech Corner
• ACTFL Convention in San Diego
• Long Term Spanish Substitute Needed
• SWCOLT Conference in Honolulu
  

IEFLA Fall Workshop
California State University, San Bernardino
Saturday, August 26, 2015
8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Enhancing World Language Instruction with
Tech Tools In the Age of Common Core
 with
Bethany Thompson

You have the technology.  What do you do with it?

In this hands-on workshop, the presenter will show you how to incorporate technology into the lessons you already have.  You will leave with simple tools to address the three modes of communication and Common Core State Standards.  Participants will need a charged laptop running the Google Chrome Browser or a Chromebook in order to create the lessons. However the lessons are designed for students to use on any device (iPad, smartphone, Chromebook, etc.)  Due to their limitations, iPads are discouraged for workshop participants.

Registration:  $50   We cannot take PO’s.
When and Where:  Saturday, September 26, 2015, College of Education Room CE-209, California State University, San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407
Schedule:
8:00 am – 8:30 am  Registration and  continental breakfast.  8:30 am -  8:45 am Log in
8:45 - 3:30 pm Workshop.  Handouts and lunch included.

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

Fall Workshop Free Registration

Win a free registration to the IEFLA Fall Workshop!  How?  Just fill out this brief survey about your needs as a language teacher.  Complete the survey by September 11th.   Your name will be entered into a drawing, and one lucky teacher will win a free registration for the Fall Workshop.

IE STARS Professional Development at Cal State San Bernardino

IE STARS has unveiled the five-day series of professional development seminarsfor world language teachers that will begin in November. This year they are offering three different strands to choose from:

Tier 1A - Standards-Based World Language and ELL Instruction to Address the Common Core and Today’s Students
Tier 1B - Using Stories to Enhance Standards-Based Foreign Language and ELL Instruction and to Address the Common Core
Tier 2 - Standards-Based Instructional Practices to Address the Common Core for Teachers of Advanced Spanish Classes

Program will be offered on four Saturdays: November 14, December 5, 2015 and January 30, February 27, 2016, and an observation day at a local school.*: Tiers 1A and 1B on December 3; Tier 2 on December 2, 2015.

If your school cannot send you, IE STARS has a partial scholarship for you. In addition, you can register for credit for an optional fee.

For details and registration information, go to http://www.ie-stars.net/.

Five Ideas for Staying in the Target Language

1. Use Class Dojo to give immediate feedback on behavior.
2. Establish a specific place in your classroom where English is spoken.
3. Start small.  Tell students “We’re going to stay in the TL for 10 minutes.”  After 10 minutes take a break and ask if they’re ready for more.  Each day increase the time you are in the TL.
4. Model for students how to stay in the TL.  Give them practice with circumlocution.  Try this 30 second circumlocution game.
5. Use a visual sign to let students know when it is ok for you and them to speak English.

Great Hints

Activities, activities, activities:
What can you do with verbs and red solo cups?  Click here to see this inductive grammar activity.

Wordplay.com- Spanish games for students.

Some thoughts on assessments and improving assessments from the Language Gym.

Authentic resources for Spanish teachers from Spanishplans.org
Use celebrity masks to bring your stories to life!  All you need is a popsicle stick and a printer! 

Use Go Fish! To review stories you’ve read in class. 

Not sure how to use authentic resources?  The UCLA Language Materials Project has some ideas and suggestions for a variety of topics.  You can view them topic by topic or all at once here.

YouTube Clips of the Month

“La rentrée scolaire”-
“Les achats scolaires”- Just in time to review all of the school supplies they learned the first month of school.
Even kittens need a prep talk when going back to school. 

And even a German video this month!
“Life in Germany:  Doors, Windows and Rolladen”

Great video in Spanish using questions every Spanish 1 student knows.

Languages in the News

“How Foreign Language Fosters Empathy in Children”

“Why Schools Should Focus on Foreign Language Learning Earlier”
“MIT Researchs Claime to Have Discovered a Language Universal”

Cal State San Bernardino Happenings

Free Movie - Inside Out
Sept. 10 at 8:00 pm: The seventh movie Inside Out in the Movie Night series will take place on Pfau library south lawn. It is open to the public with free parking in lot D and free popcorn. There is free parking available in Lot D. Tacos, nachos, hot dogs, drinks, and much more will be available for purchase from Family First Catering and Party Rentals.

First Annual Freshman Convocation on Wednesday Sept 23 from 10-11:00 am.

Spanish Healthcare Certificate
With support from a federal grant, a new Spanish Healthcare Certificate program will be offered at CSUSB in Fall 2015 for students in healthcare professions.

50,000 Book Giveaway for CSUSB's 50th Anniversary
On Saturday, September 19, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools will be conducting the Vision 2 Read Rally here on campus at the College of Education. Over 3,000 families will be on campus to learn how to help their children improve their reading skills. The Watson and Associates Literacy Center (through the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation), thanks to a donation from The Molina Foundation, will be able to give 50,000 children attending schools throughout San Bernardino County a brand new book.  Dr. Morales will be on hand, as well as Drs. Bernadett and Jim & Judy Watson, to kick-off the rally and to celebrate CSUSB’s 50th anniversary.  The books will be distributed on this day!

Need a teacher? Need a job?

Go to LA STARS Jobs Bulletin Board for world language teachers in Southern California.

This is a free service provided by LA STARS Professional Development Seminars for World Language Teachers. http://la-stars.net/jobs/

Looking for a job?
See job openings.
List your name as a candidate looking for a job.

Looking for a teacher?
List your school's job opening.
See list of candidates looking for a job.

Tech Corner 

Each month we will explore a different aspect of technology that can help you in your classroom.  This month:  Remind.com.  We’ve featured Remind.com before when it was Remind 101, but along with the new name there are some new features.  Remind is a text messaging service that allows students to sign up for teachers to text message them without using their personal phone numbers.  In addition, Remind has just added a chat feature and you can set up your account to have “office hours” when students can chat back and forth with you.  Use it with students and parents to send out reminders for homework or projects.  Use it with students to send out brief message in the target language.  Instead of an exit ticket, use an entrance ticket.

ACTFL Convention, 2015

This year's ACTFL Convention will be held in San Diego on November 20-22, 2015. You will have the option to choose from more than 700 educational sessions in a variety of formats covering a wide spectrum of the language profession.

Visit with more than 250 exhibiting companies showcasing the latest products and services for you and your students.

The ACTFL Convention is an international event bringing together more than 6,000 language educators from all languages, levels and assignments. Thought-provoking speakers will inspire you, innovative formats will keep you engaged, and smart practices will allow you to transform your classroom.

For information and registration, go to http://www.actfl.org/.

Long Term Spanish Substitute Needed

Santiago High School in Corona has an opening for a Long Term Spanish substitute teacher. This will go until March, 2016.  Contact Jeff Henrichsen at 951-317-4593.

SWCOLT / HALT 2016  Honolulu, Hawaii
Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel, March 3-5, 2016

Next year's SWCOLT Conference will be held at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel in Honolulu. The Southwest Council on Language Teaching (SWCOLT) is teaming up with the Hawaiian Association of Language Teachers to present the 2016 conference.

Watch for information at http://www.swcolt.org.

Phone: (405) 613-1481
Email: jody.klopp@okstate.edu

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.