Leading a shift to proficiency-based, acquisition-driven world language instruction requires more than selecting high-quality materials. It requires a shared instructional vision, coherent implementation across classrooms, and informed leadership practices that align observation, coaching, and evaluation with contemporary research on language acquisition.
To support instructional leaders in this work, we are launching Leadership Launch Club: a free, informal webinar series designed for department heads, instructional coaches, and administrators guiding world language programs toward proficiency-focused instruction.
This series is designed to complement your existing expertise. Whether you are early in the implementation process or refining established practices, Leadership Launch Club is intended to provide shared frameworks, language, and tools that strengthen leadership capacity and program coherence.
First Session: Proficiency and Target Language Use in Acquisition-Focused Classrooms
Date: Tuesday, February 10
Facilitator: Elicia Cárdenas, Director of Professional Learning, The Comprehensible Classroom
This inaugural session will address two foundational areas of instructional leadership in acquisition-driven programs:
- What is a comprehension-based, acquisition driven classroom all about?
- What is the role of Target Language - and who is doing the speaking?
Participants will examine how teacher and student talk supports language acquisition, how proficiency-oriented instruction may differ from traditional textbook-driven models, and how to interpret classroom practices through an acquisition lens.
Can't attend live?
All registrants will receive the session recording. We recognize that instructional leaders are frequently in classrooms, meetings, and school sites during the school day. Register to receive the recording and resources even if you are unable to attend live.
Intended Audience
Leadership Launch Club is designed for:
- Instructional coaches and district-level world language specialists
- Department heads and curriculum coordinators
- Principals, assistant principals, and district administrators
- Leaders responsible for teacher coaching, observation, and program implementation
While teachers are welcome to attend, the primary focus is on leadership practice and program-level coherence.
While this series will highlight implementation practices within the Somos family of curricula, it is designed to support leaders across all proficiency-based world language programs, including those using other curricula or locally developed materials.
Why Leadership Launch Club
Instructional leaders increasingly recognize the importance of proficiency-based instruction grounded in second language acquisition research. At the same time, many leaders have noted gaps between research, classroom practice, and traditional evaluation frameworks.
Common leadership questions include:
- How should proficiency-based instruction be observed and evaluated?
- How do we establish shared expectations across a department with varied pedagogical backgrounds?
- How can leaders support teacher growth while maintaining program coherence and accountability?
- What constitutes reasonable proficiency benchmarks for a K–12 world language program?
Leadership Launch Club is designed to provide shared conceptual frameworks and practical leadership tools to address these questions.
Upcoming Topics in the Series
Future Leadership Launch Club sessions will address topics such as:
- Observation and evaluation in acquisition-driven classrooms
- Navigating departmental misalignment and professional tension constructively
- Establishing realistic proficiency and mastery targets across programs
- Defining and operationalizing instructional “fidelity” in proficiency-based models
- Developing common assessments and cooperative instructional structures
Each session will emphasize leadership decision-making, instructional coherence, and research-aligned program design.
Register to Participate
Leadership Launch Club is offered at no cost and is designed to be accessible to busy instructional leaders. Sessions are structured to provide concise, actionable guidance with opportunities for discussion and reflection.
If you are responsible for leading or refining proficiency-based world language instruction, Leadership Launch Club is intended to support your leadership practice with clarity and precision.
