ACTFL Conference
I attended the ACTFL conference in New Orleans from October 21–23 this year, along with three colleagues from the World Language Department. Over the three days, I participated in several workshops covering topics such as Chinese language teaching, strategies for supporting students with ADHD, world language pedagogies and activities in reading, listening, speaking, and writing, as well as cultural project design.
I especially benefited from two sessions. One was led by Chinese teacher Ying Jin, who shared insights on fostering identity, pride, and growth in the Chinese classroom. The other was presented by a Spanish teacher who introduced engaging activities for teaching world languages as a second language, such as “talk around a word,” “talking beans,” and “mystery bags.”
I also attended a workshop on using AI to create monologues about cultural figures—such as monsters or heroes from the legends of the culture—an activity that students typically enjoy. In addition, I met another Chinese teacher who runs a pen pal program with students in China, similar to ours. We exchanged ideas and activities, and I’m excited to incorporate these new ideas into my 8th-grade classes this year.
I also plan to take both the 7th and 8th graders to Chinatown during Lunar New Year for a field trip so they can apply their language skills in real-life situations. After the field trip, they will share and write about their experiences in Chinese.
Overall, I’m looking forward to using these new strategies and activities in my classes at Burkes to enhance students’ language skills and cultural understanding.