Personalized Learning Network

This page includes four major organizations that serve to support language teachers; ACTFL, NYSAFLT, MLA, and CLEAR. Of the four listed I most often turn to ACTFL for support. Currently, I receive the ACTFL Smartbrief, the ACTFL Connection (newsletter), and updates from three ACTFL SIGs that I have joined. Daily I receive valuable information and through the SIG forums can collaborate with colleagues across the globe.

Additionally, I included three teacher produced networking sites that I am finding to be incredibly helpful. My particular favorite is the Creative Language Class which is constantly being updated by Kara and Megan, two inspirational and creative language teachers.

Below you will find mission statements, web addresses, conference dates, and other helpful information for the organizations in my PLN.


American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
http://www.actfl.org/

"ACTFL is dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. It is an individual membership organization of more than 12,500 language educators, students, and administrators.

Benefits:

1.  FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO Professional development journals

• The Language Educator—published four times a year, our award winning magazine highlights proven classroom techniques, new technology, innovative products, and much more
• Foreign Language Annals—published quarterly and featuring original work focused on the latest practices, methods, and research

2.  DISCOUNTS ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

• ACTFL Annual Convention & World Languages Expo—more than 6,000 language professionals and 600 educational sessions under one roof, the most extensive event of its kind
• ACTFL Webinars for Professionals—designed to inspire and led by educational experts, each series delivers new insights and proven techniques that you can use right away
• Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) Assessment Workshops—the nation's standard for proficiency testing

3.  ACCESS TO:

• Members-only news and information—receive the ACTFL Connection e-newsletter, ACTFL SmartBrief, and use of the ACTFL Members Directory online
• ACTFL Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and other Online Community eGroups—networking and information sharing on specific topic areas of interest to different subsets of the membership at-large 

4.  CAREER RESOURCES:

• ACTFL Job Central—connecting job seekers and employers at all levels and languages
• ACTFL Mentoring Program—designed to help early career language educators succeed in their current assignments and learn the skills to be successful"

2015 Annual Convention and World Languages Expo

November 20-22, 2015

San Diego, California (Pre-convention workshops, November 19)  
http://www.actfl.org/convention-expo#sthash.B0BLG1ME.dpuf

ACTFL SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGs)

"The purpose of the Community College Special Interest Group is to provide leadership and cohesiveness to the teaching of world languages at the community college level."

http://www.actfl.org/membership/special-interest-groups-sigs/community-colleges#sthash.PXw6OK4D.dpuf

"The Cinema SIG, organized in November 1998, seeks to respond to the increasing interest in and use of films of all types (feature-length, shorts, documentaries, news, soap operas, etc.) in language instruction, acquisition and assessment. While video has taken center stage in this instructional thrust, it appears that increasingly DVD will insinuate itself as the medium of choice. The Cinema SIG provides a forum for all to keep abreast of the potential of this powerful communication and instructional tool." 

http://www.actfl.org/membership/special-interest-groups-sigs/cinema#sthash.lJYATU61.dpuf

"The SIG on the Teaching and Learning of Culture has as its mission the encouragement of a better understanding of the teaching of culture and its place in the foreign language curriculum. Each year the Culture SIG normally sponsors two sessions at the ACTFL Annual Meeting, one devoted to practical aspects of teaching culture in the foreign language classroom and the other dedicated to presenting theoretical approaches to the study and teaching of culture."

http://www.actfl.org/membership/special-interest-groups-sigs/teaching-and-learning-culture#sthash.CSl7Y5mF.dpuf

New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers (NYSAFLT) http://www.nysaflt.org/home3.shtml

Mission: 

"promote the study of languages and cultures as outlined in the state and national standards

serve all areas of language study including the Classics, Heritage Languages, English to Speakers of Other Languages, Bilingual Education, Native American Languages and American Sign Language;

view foreign languages as an integral part of a multi-disciplinary education and core-curriculum;

serve as a model for the interweaving of content and pedagogy;

serve as a clearinghouse for research and information (e.g., exchange programs, grants, courses, study opportunities);

encourage the foreign language educator to engage in action research for the classroom;

foster and promote articulation with and among all levels of foreign language learning;

provide and serve as a resource for quality professional development and lifelong learning;

provide a network of support services to the foreign language educator;

respond to the changing needs of foreign language professionals;

assume the responsibility to develop future leaders in the foreign language profession;

serve as a liaison to other professional and educational organizations."

21st Century LOTE Education: Providing the Keys to College and Career Readiness

October 30-31, 2015

Saratoga Springs, NY http://conference.nysaflt.org/2015/

Modern Language Association (MLA)
https://www.mla.org/

"The Modern Language Association promotes the study and teaching of languages and literatures through its programs, publications, annual convention, and advocacy work. 
The MLA exists to support the intellectual and professional lives of its members; it provides opportunities for members to share their scholarly work and teaching experiences with colleagues, discuss trends in the academy, and advocate humanities education and workplace equity. The association aims to advance the many areas of the humanities in which its members currently work, including literature, language, writing studies, screen arts, digital humanities, pedagogy, and library studies. The MLA facilitates scholarly inquiry in and across periods, geographic sites, genres, languages, and disciplines in higher education that focus on communication, aesthetic production and reception, translation, and interpretation.

As projects of the Modern Language Association, the Association of Departments of English (ADE) and the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages (ADFL) advocate for departments of English and departments of languages other than English, respectively. The ADE and ADFL provide information and research for member departments, creating institutional, national, and professional contexts for exploring policy, disciplinary challenges, trends, and best practices in the fields of composition and rhetoric, language studies, and literature in higher education."

131st MLA Annual Convention

Austin, 7–10 January 2016

https://www.mla.org/convention 

Center for Language Education and Research (CLEAR)

http://clear.msu.edu/clear/about/

CLEAR strives to promote and support the teaching and learning of foreign languages in the United States through its various projects and outreach activities.

"CLEAR continues to develop materials for foreign language teaching and learning, conduct research on the teaching and learning of foreign languages, and provide professional development opportunities for educators in the field." 

CLEAR's Projects for 2014-18

Current projects are arranged into four categories:

• Materials Development Projects
• Professional Development and Outreach Projects
• Research Projects
• Collaborative Projects

CLEAR is hosting the 2016 CALICO conference at Michigan State University

Evolving Interactions in Digital Language Learning

May 10-14, 2016

https://www.calico.org/page.php?id=456

TEACHER CREATED SOURCES

CreativeLanguageClass.com

http://www.creativelanguageclass.com/

The product of two teachers with a passion to improve the language learning experience for students and make teachers' lives easier. They use this site to share ideas and resources and connect language teachers to each other.

Edutopia "is the leading voice illuminating and showcasing what works in education. We show people how they can adopt best practices and we tell stories of innovation and continuous learning in the real world."
http://www.edutopia.org/

Foreign Language begins with T, Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom

http://spanish4teachers.org/techblog/foreign-language-professional-development-from-home

LangChat on Twitter

"Every week language colleagues get together to discuss topics of interest via Twitter using the #langchat hashtag. They maintain a live stream on the site. The chat archives and additional resources are available on the #LangChat Resources page of this wiki."