Happy New Year! Before you settle on a New Year's Resolution, read this month's newsletter which is full of ways to re-envision your classroom to engage your technologically savvy students.

This month's newsletter continues our exploration of the Millennials in our classrooms by focusing on how to use technology in the world language classroom to enhance instruction! The feature article is Digital Technologies: Friend or Foe for the World Language Teacher. The discussion continues in the Critical Languages section with an article on the development and implementation of teaching Arabic online. The Teacher's Diary reflects on professional development and how educators of the same language don't always see eye to eye. YANA welcomes the New Year by challenging teachers to implement Five Resolutions in their classroom this semester.

Digital Technologies: Friend or Foe for the World Language Teacher
by John Ross

I recently read about schools using a popular software program as the sole means of language instruction for their students. You may have, too. The language community is buzzing with the news. The idea that computers can replace teachers is an old one. One that routinely proves unfounded, at least with currently available technologies. But cash-strapped school administrators are often forced to make difficult decisions based on dollars rather than, well, sense. School budgeting is often a balancing act with too much pressure and too few dollars.

Read more...

It's a new year and time for some resolutions!  The start of a new semester presents a wonderful opportunity to institute some new ideas, tighten up procedures, and generally spruce up the classroom environment.  These five are relatively easy to execute and should go a long way toward getting you through February.  (Where I live, February is chilly, grey, dreary, and often drippy, with very little sunshine, and lots of humidity.  The year's shortest month often feels as long as two Januarys!)

Monthly Question
This month's question is: Do you think that the terminology used to refer to languages matters? How or why? Click here to answer the Question.

Last month we asked "What technology innovations have you found successful in your teaching?" Read responses here.

Poll
This month's poll asks about: Which term is used to refer to language programs at your school? Click here to participate in the poll.

Last month, we asked, "Which of the following opportunities for digital interaction have you used with your students?" Click here to see the responses

We would love to hear your thoughts and feelings regarding this month's questions! All insights are welcome!

• 54th Annual Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society in Chicago on March 1st, 2010 from 8:00-9:30am
  Presentation: "Arabic in the U.S. Classroom: Survey of Schools Teaching Arabic as a Core Course"
  
• Georgetown University Round Table 2010 on Arabic Language and Linguistics in Washington, DC March 12-14, 2010
  Presentation: "The State of Teaching Arabic K-12 in the U.S.: 'We've come a long way, habibi!'"
  

edited by Christine Meloni

Visit the Culture Club to see the new materials for January 2010! In the Teachers' Lounge you will discover "El Origen y el Uso de la Tortilladora," a lesson plan by Sheila Cockey for teachers of Spanish, and in the Speaker's Corner you will find "Nocturnal Adventure in Paris: A French Teacher’s Panic Turns to Glee," a humorous account by a teacher traveling with her students in France. You will find reviews of French, German, Italian, and Spanish books in the Library as well as new cinquains in the three Poetry Rooms. Reviews of French, Korean, Italian, and Spanish films are available in the Screening Room. And, as always, there is a new Where in the World? Mystery Photo Contest in the Photo Gallery. Please consider contributing to the February Culture Club. We welcome stories of culture shock for the blog and cinquains for the Poetry Rooms as well as lesson plans, culture articles, recipes, and film and book reviews. Send them to Christine. Thank you!

We have not had winners yet for the Italian and Spanish Scavenger Hunts. These contests have been extended indefinitely. Winners will receive tuition to a one-day 2010 NCLRC Summer Institute of their choice. Contest rules can be found in the Current Directory.

 

Registration for NCLRC 2010 Summer Institutes is now available! Select from a variety of professional development opportunities in the nation's capital.

NEW! Arts Integration in the Foreign Language Classroom - June 28
In this workshop, language teachers will learn to build a framework for incorporating the arts into their teaching. Arts integration helps teachers draw the intellectual and creative potential from all students. Participants will learn Arts integration strategies that provide a wonderful way to wrap language content into a rich, creative, and cultural context. Any subject comes to life when students can participate in unique explorations of learning while using their hands and their minds. Hands-on activities will allow participating teachers to explore different arts integration strategies and learn how to balance rigorous content and personal expression. Among the art forms to be included are: poetry, mask-making, dance, and song.

NEW! An Ivory Coast Cultural Immersion in French - June 28-July 1
Participants will stay in a dormitory on the campus of The George Washington University and share meals, speaking French together and participating in sessions held entirely in French at the Embassy of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire on the production of coffee and cocoa, a presentation and discussion on "La Francophonie" by Retired Ambassador Pascal D. Kokora, and food tasting of authentic Ivorian dishes. Some sessions will occur at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art; a narrated tour of museum art works, viewing of the film: "Les arts traditionnels de Cote d'Ivoire" by Phil Ravenhill, and a session on West African strip-cloth weaving and textiles with Louise Meyer, textile artist.


Click here for information on Summer Institutes!

Find out about all of the upcoming local and national conferences in one easy-to-access place, the Teachers' Calendar. We also list fellowship and grant opportunities and teacher exchange and study programs, along with student scholarships for foreign language study.