It’s that time of year…time for one lucky reader to win a FREE registration to iFLT 2016!
There are many excellent language teaching conferences happening this spring and summer. Regional organizations like CSCTFL and SCOLT will be hosting their conferences within the next few weeks, the TELL Collab will be hosting conferences in Nashville this April and in Austin this June, and Sara-Elizabeth Cottrell will be running several Camp Musicuentos throughout June and July. I’m sure there are many more, and I’d be happy to list them here; just leave a comment or email me with info! Each of these conferences boasts a unique learning experience and approaches language education from a particular angle. A teacher with an open mind will be able to learn and grow at any conference that he or she chooses to attend. There has been a lot of conversation recently about divisions in the language teaching community, and attending new and different conferences–even ones that *shudder* have sessions that present ideas that you disagree with–is a great way to break down those barriers. Earlier this week, Bob Patrick shared a quote from Grant Boulanger: “No experimentation, no evolution“. To learn and grow and do better by our students, it is imperative that we experiment. That we wander outside of our comfort zones, that we walk a mile with a particular teaching strategy before we write it off. That we listen with open minds and ask thoughtful questions to all language teachers, regardless of age, experience, or education. In a different life, you would find me at all of these conferences; but it’s not a different life and I have four mostly sweet babes here at home that need me more than I need conferences. Someday…
That being said, there are three major conferences this summer that are designed to provide training specifically in CI methodologies. Whether you use CI methods exclusively or are looking to learn more about them in order to see how you might fit them into your instructional tool belt, these three conferences–iFLT, NTPRS, and Agen–are sure to provide you with plenty of ideas with which to experiment and help you evolve as a language educator. Each conference is unique in format even though they present similar content. Please visit the conference websites or contact past attendees to determine which one might be the best fit for you!
I’m giving away a free registration to iFLT because that is the only conference that I’ll be attending this year; also, money doesn’t grow on trees and my husband isn’t down with me giving away registrations for multiple conferences ;-). Whether you are completely new to TCI methods, a seasoned expert, or somewhere in-between, iFLT will provide you with valuable professional development. My favorite feature of iFLT is its language labs: the conference organizers bring in real students and place them in language classes with master teachers from around the world. Attendees get to observe the classes and debrief with the teachers! Live observations like this are the best way to get a feel for what a TCI course looks like, in addition to picking up tips and tricks from the lessons themselves. It’s a wonderful conference, and I am so glad that I will be able to participate again this year!
To enter to win the free registration, simply complete this form! You will need to acknowledge that you are responsible for your own travel and lodging and that your school is not willing to pay your conference registration. (I want to make sure that the winner is someone who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend!) All entries must be received by Saturday, March 5 at midnight. I will announce the winner on Sunday, March 6!
Best of luck!!
Also there’s OWL Bootcamp! West Coast Bootcamp 2016: June 19-24 (http://www.owlanguage.com/event/west-coast-bootcamp-2016/), and East Coast: August 7-12 (http://www.owlanguage.com/event/east-coast-bootcamp-2016/)
Thanks for sharing! I’ll add it!
Thanks for the opportunity for a lucky teacher!
Sharon FROEDGE
Monroe County High School
Tompkinsville KY
For some reason I can’t fill out the form. It only allows me to select the last two selections.
I also cannot complete the form…is there something I can do differently? Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for doing this! What a blessing to some lucky teacher!
Muchas gracias Martina. Thank you for your generosity. If I win I will thank you and Mr. Bex 🙂
Hi Martina,
Thanks for the invitation for us to email you with more summer World Language PD opportunities! Here are a few:
– Concordia Language Villages’ 11-Day Teacher Seminar on Language Immersion Methodology http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/adult-programs/educator-programs/seminars
– CARLA Institutes at UMinn (http://carla.umn.edu/institutes/2016/schedule.html), and other ProDev from the National Language Centers: https://cli.northwestern.edu/resources/offerings/
– OWL [Organic World Language] Bootcamp: West Coast (http://www.owlanguage.com/event/west-coast-bootcamp-2016/) and East Coast (http://www.owlanguage.com/event/east-coast-bootcamp-2016/)
– OPI Training (http://www.actfl.org/professional-development/professional-development-workshops/actfl-sponsored-workshops)
¡Gracias!
Awesome! I need to start a calendar for all of these; I think that would be the easiest way to view them all! Thanks for sharing; I will add them to the list!
As someone who just finished his education studies, and is a firm believer in CI teaching in conjunction with Critical Pedagogy, I look forward to winning. 😉 Thank you for doing this for everyone!!
Reblogged this on The Comprehensible Classroom and commented:
Only two days left to win a FREE registration to iFLT in Chattanooga! Also check the comments for additional professional development opportunities this spring and summer.
Thank you for this opportunity, Martina! Very generous!
I am humbly grateful to you for offering this opportunity to win this Conference Registration. I use a plethora of your Comprehensible Input activities in my classroom, Martina! I really need to see how this all works in person, however, and am hoping to really optimize my teaching with the first hand experience that this conference offers! Thank you for everything that you do for us, Martina, and for offering this up. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!