If you are standing up while you read this, you may want to sit down, because you are about to read something very exciting. Actually, you are about to read three somethings that are very exciting!!

EXCITING SOMETHING #1

The iFLT 2014 Conference is open for registration!!! The International Forum on Language Teaching is a conference focused on comprehension based strategies through interactive teacher training. This year, the conference will be held in beautiful Denver, CO from July 15-18, and it features Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a Pirate! Read more about this year’s conference here! iFLT is an excellent conference for Comprehensible Input teachers with all levels of experience, as they offer beginning training, ‘re-launching’ training, and advanced training. One of the coolest features that is unique to iFLT are the Language Labs, in which attendees have the opportunity to watch experienced TPRS Teachers teach language to groups of real, live students!!

EXCITING SOMETHING #2

I’m going to be there! I’ll be 32 weeks pregnant, but that won’t stop me! (Well, unless it does..so prayers for a safe and healthy pregnancy are greatly appreciated! My doctor gave me the all-clear for now, anyway!) I’ll be presenting several sessions for both beginning and advanced CI teachers. To see the complete schedule, click here.

EXCITING SOMETHING #3

I’m giving away a FREE conference registration to one very lucky reader, so that YOU can be there too! Here are the two things that you need to do in order to enter the iFLT 2014 giveaway:

  1. Make sure that you are able to attend the conference on July 15-18. Keep in mind that you will need to arrange and pay for your own transportation to Denver. If you are unable to do that, please do not enter the giveaway.
  2. Leave a comment on this post that lists (1) Your first and last name and (2) The school district, city, and state in which you teach. This way, I can hunt you down if your email address doesn’t work for some reason.

Here are the “rules”, if you can even call them that:

  • Please do not enter if you don’t think that you will be able to attend, either for financial reasons (you will need to pay for your own transportation to Denver) or because of timing. Don’t enter until you are SURE that you can make it happen!
  • You are not eligible to win if your school is willing to pay for your conference registration. I’ll have to take you at your word!
  • Your entry must be received prior to midnight AKST (4am EST) on March 7. 
  • Two alternate winners will be selected in case the winner becomes unable to attend due to any unforeseen circumstance.
  • I will register you for the conference, so you will not receive any money from me–don’t think you can use your winnings to buy a flight to Mexico!

Early Bird registration is open until May 31, so you will have plenty of time after the giveaway ends to purchase your own registration at the reduced Early Bird rate of $379 if you do not win. (Early Bird registration for 1st year teachers is $239 and for Student Teachers it is just $179.)

87 replies on “iFLT 2014

    1. Heike Domine — TEAM Academy Charter School in Newark NJ!

      I’m hoping to be there! Our whole region uses TPRS and comprehensible input!

    2. Brenda Murray
      Rochester STEM high school
      Rochester, New York
      Thank you very much!

      1. Hey, I went to school in Rochester–at Nazareth! Did my student teaching at East High School and many hours of observation at School Without Walls 🙂 Small world!

  1. I am glad I was sitting down for this one — what an awesome giveaway!

    Crystal Barragan
    Lockhart Independent School District
    Lockhart, TX

    This summer will be a busy one. Both conferences, back to back — so difficult to choose, but definitely interested in iFLT’s Language Labs. Good luck to all. Hope you’re doing well Martina!

  2. I was so glad to see this post. I have really been rethinking my teaching style lately and this conference would be a perfect start.

    Amanda Mora
    Racine Unified School District
    Racine, WI

    I can’t wait to hear who the winner is. Thanks for the awesome opportunity!

  3. This is a fantastic giveaway! I really want to go but I’ve already spent most of the $300 my district provides for professional development so this would be great to win!

    Karen Wilson
    USD 270 Plainville
    Plainville, KS

  4. Wow! I just asked my school about being able to attend, and was told it wouldn’t be possible for financial reasons. We are a small public charter school targeting special needs middle- and high-schoolers. I am a first-year language teacher (served as a missionary in Latin America for 12 years first . . . so I’m older than most rookies!) . . . would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this opportunity!

    Deborah Climie
    Positive Outcomes Charter School
    Camden, DE

  5. Congratulations on your pregnancy, and WOW! thank you for offering such a fantastic giveaway!

    Andrea Brown
    Chattooga High School
    Summerville, GA

  6. This sounds amazing! My district doesn’t pay for professional development opportunities, so it’s hard for new teachers like myself to be able to go to these sorts of things. Thank you for providing this opportunity!!

    Megan Sulewski
    Troy School District
    Troy, MI

  7. I have really been wanting to change my teaching style. I am a book user and I am ready for a change. I would love to be able to learn from some amazing teachers! Thanks for the contest:)

    Kim McFetridge
    Punxsutawney area high school

  8. I am really trying to change my teaching style. I am a book user and need to change! I would really love to learn from some of the best teachers! Thank you for this offer!

    Kim McFetridge
    Punxsutawney Area High School
    Punxsutawney , Pa

  9. Looking forward to this summer!

    Laena Esposti
    Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS)
    Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal

  10. What an incredible and generous offer! Just this past week I asked if our district would cover this expense and I was turned down due to a lack of funds. I will certainly pray for you and your pregnancy, you are a brave soul for so many things that you do! :~} Thank you for being a leader in this movement and in comprehensible teaching!!

    Melissa Robitaille
    Norway Vulcan Area Schools
    Norway, MI

  11. Thank you for offering such an opportunity! I have worked with Diana Noonan and have used your knowledge about CI to start teaching my classes differently – I can’t wait to learn more!

    Maria Sloan
    McAuliffe International School
    Stapleton, Colorado

  12. Here’s my contest entry, gracias.
    Richard Detwiler
    Jenkintown Middle/High School
    Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

  13. Holy moly! How very generous of you. My school district has always paid for conferences in the past, but new superintendent=new rules.
    Kelly Hoopes
    Bonner Springs High School
    Bonner Springs, Kansas

  14. Wow! How very generous of you. My school district used to pay for all PD, but new superintendent=new rules. 🙁 Here’s hoping I win!

    Kelly Hoopes
    Bonner Springs High School
    Bonner Springs, KS

  15. How have I never heard of this conference? it sounds fascinating! I recently took a short class about CI, but need more ideas and inspiration from professionals to really start using it. Thanks for offering the contest!

    Terri Kowalski
    Virginia High School
    Virginia, Minnesota

  16. What an awesome giveaway!
    Here are my stats…
    Loree Cain
    Ogallala Middle School Spanish Teacher
    Ogallala Public Schools
    Ogallala, NE 69153

  17. Love your energy and talent! Me gustaria conocerte! Gracias por la oportunidad……..

    Cathy McElfresh, K-12 Spanish Teacher
    United Faith Christian Academy, 6312 Providence Road, Charlotte NC 28277 (704) 541-1742

  18. My school doesn’t pay anything and my flight is very expensive from Europe, but I’ve never been to iFLT and thid year I really want to be there. My school gave me permission to go (although we still have tasks tat school that week).

    Good luck to you, Martina! Hope to see you in Denver and if I’d win free entrance for this conference, that would be awesome!

    Alike Last
    Hotelschool MBOAmersfoort, Vrolijk & Frans, Taalleermethoden.nl
    Ermelo, The Netherlands

  19. You are so awesome in so many ways! Thanks for offering such a great opportunity!

    Morgan Johnson
    East Wake Academy
    Zebulon, NC

    1. Hi Morgan,
      I just attended the iflt conference and I’m looking for people that are in the Raleigh area that would be interested in connecting around Tprs. I’m hooked but I am just starting out. I teach in Cary. My email is tyler_gaviria@caryacademy.org.

      Let’s chat soon!
      Tyler

  20. ¡Gracias por la oportunidad!
    Jaime Basham
    Campbell County High School
    Campbell County School Dist. No. 1
    Gillette, WY

  21. Like others…small charter school – few resources. Mil gracias por la oportunidad!

    Janette Olson
    Monument Academy (Middle School)
    Lewis Palmer District 38
    Monument, CO

  22. Martina, my colleagues and I have been pouring over your blog and sing your praises everyday! Thank you for all you do and sharing it with us!
    Would looove to come! I have to go to another training this summer for AP, so any break financially would be awesome! I’d really like to see how I can use the material from the iFLT conference in an AP class, so having these conferences back to back will be interesting.

    Samantha Uebel
    Centennial High School
    Williamson County School District
    Franklin, TN

  23. Merci beaucoup! I really want to attend this conference. The last time I did a TPRS training was back in 2006 at the NTPRS in Vermont – I’m super due for a shot-in-the-arm!! 🙂

  24. Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! After more than 10 years as a stay-at-home mom, I’ve returned back to teaching this year. I need help, lots of help.

    Richelle Trevino
    Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School
    8506 E. Central
    Wichita, KS 67206

  25. Ay!!! Dios mío! This is a crazy opportunity! Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and desire to spread the opportunity for us to continue to grow as teachers! My school district offers $0 for professional development. Through Twitter, I discovered you and your blog, and have been the recipient of some fabulous P.D.
    Sharon Birch , James M. Bennett High School, Wicomico County Public Schools, Maryland

    1. Um, Sharon Birch…thank YOU for YOUR incredible generosity and the most amazing blog ever! And I’m not just saying that to be nice! I love your blog!!!!!

  26. TPRS newbie here! Excited for the chance to win and going either way!
    Therese Tucker
    Helena High School
    1300 Billings Av.
    Helena, MT 59601
    Email is 1st initial last name @Helena.k12.mt.us

    Hope your pregnancy is going well!

    1. NTPRS still exists and is awesome!! It is the following week in July in Chicago. I was supposed to present there, too, but my doctor nix’ed it as it would require me to fly past the 34 week mark. Attending either conference would be great!

  27. Gracias, mil gracias Martina por la oportunidad de este regalo enorme. Me encantaría conocerte en persona.

    Elena López
    1800 Vettleson Rd.
    Hartland, WI 53029

    Saluditos 🙂

  28. Thank you for your generosity! The winner will be very lucky indeed!

    Tamara Batcha
    West Senior High School
    5376 N Long Lk
    Traverse City, Mi 49685

  29. Throw my name in the hat! I’d love to attend the conference.

    Sara Delman
    Oceana High School
    401 Paloma Drive, Pacifica, CA 94044

  30. Hola!
    Tengo muchas ganas de aprender más sobre TPR/S. Ojalá ser la afortunada.

    Angelica Chavira
    Tucson High Magnet School
    400 N. 2nd Avenue
    Tucson, AZ 85705

    ajcr28@live.com

  31. It’s payday and a Friday! Happy Friday!
    Latricia Donahue
    Brainworx Academy
    San Joaquin County Office of Education
    Stockton,

  32. I can’t see my comment even though it says I posted it. If this is a repeat, ignore it. Thanks so much for the opportunity!

    Elaine Davis
    Cornerstone School
    Birmingham, Alabama

  33. Exciting opportunity, thanks for offering!
    Kristin York
    Nevada, Iowa
    kyork arroba nevada.k12.ia.us

  34. Love. Spanish teacher prof. dev. overseas is sparse.
    Elizabeth Elansari
    Kadena High School
    Okinawa Japan

    1. I would love to attend! Comprehensible Input has changed my teaching life, and I enjoy teaching much more than ever! I’m the only one in my area and would love to meet others using TPRS/CI.

      Sharon FROEDGE
      Monroe County High School
      Tompkinsville, KY

  35. (Cruzando los dedos)
    Amanda Miranda
    The School for Legal Studies
    Brooklyn, New York

  36. After following your site for a while now, I’d love to meet you and hear your ideas in person. Not only would I love to visit Colorado, but I’d love to learn more about comprehension based strategies that I can integrate into my curriculum.

    Chalsie Kennedy
    Jamestown Area School District
    Jamestown, PA 16134

  37. Martina! Thank you for the possible opportunity! It was great to meet you at the ACTFL Conference in November as well!

    Karolyn Krol
    University of Chicago Charter School
    Chicago, IL
    karolyn.krol@gmail.com

  38. Thank you for all of the resources, and for offering such a wonderful opportunity! I have never been and am very interested in attending.
    Zachary Bryant
    Sacramento City Unified School District
    Sacramento, Ca

  39. Martina, Can you help me decide whether I am experienced or a beginner?
    I read the books by Blaine Ray, Ben Slavic and more. I have and have read the materials sample of novels from Blaine Ray and Carol Gaab, Look I Can Talk. I attended Blaine’s three day workshop in Charlotte last summer. I have taught CI both a middle school (3 months before workshop) and elementary school (2013-2014 school year). I also receive the TPRS list serve and read it pretty consistently once in a while I chime in. I am wanting more clarity on making the class more exciting and engaging for the students and getting better at creating a story with students.

  40. Lenore Rudolph Charleston Progressive Academy, Charleston Public Schools, Charleston, SC

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