DPI Updates and Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pam Delfosse

DPI Updates and Resources

by Pam Delfosse, DPI World Languages & Global Education

t is so exciting to be preparing to come together as a professional

Icommunity, in person, for the WAFLT Fall Conference this year! Let’s bring our stories, our struggles, and our successes to share. Let’s be open to learning from each other, and willing to lean on one another, to improve our practice and our well-being.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has enhanced its process for collecting data on world language education programs. This data will help us better understand the learners, languages, and learning experiences represented within Wisconsin’s world language landscape.

More detailed and accurate data can help us improve policies and practices for equitable and effective language learning. Please familiarize yourself with the working definitions for each program model, identify the programs within your school community, and help school and district colleagues who use WISEhome to submit world language and other program data to DPI.

World Language Education Program Models Submit WISEdata related inquiries

World language educators across the state continue to make progress implementing the 2019 Wisconsin Standards for World Languages. New resources are available to support standards- and proficiency-based planning. These planning and professional learning resources include a revised template for unit planning, sample units, and videos highlighting practices for engaged and equitable learning. I learned s o much from the design team who created these resources with all of you in mind. We value your feedback. Visit the DPI World Language Education website to access and engage with these new resources here.

We continue to make connections between language, intercultural and global learning, and school programs designed to prepare graduates who are workforce and world-ready. All of us are invited to reflect on how we introduce and connect language learners to community and career contexts for language use. Sample units and lessons are being collected and created as models for this work through DPI’s Careers in the Classroom project. Thanks to educators who have already contributed to this work! Please contact me to share more examples of how academic and career planning and world language learning inters ect within your school community. I look forward to sharing more of what world language educators already do!

Virtual collaboration throughout the global health pandemic highlighted the value of time to learn with and from others. In that spirit, I have scheduled three professional practice, peer consultancy sessions from 4:00–5:15 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of September, December, and March. Zoom links for each session will be posted on the World Language and Global Education Google Site and also sent to DPI’s languageleadership listserv two weeks prior to each session. To join the listserv, send a blank email to: [Join-languageleadership@lists.dpi.wi. gov] and reply to the confirmation email.

More Wisconsin school districts are participating in our state’s Seal of Biliteracy program. Please consider joining us to improve equity in access to this pre-college credential recognizing students for proficiency in languages in addition to English. Be a part of this national movement to celebrate and value multilingualism. A planning guide and application materials are available here.

Contact me anytime to share what’s new and what’s needed. Know that you are seen, heard, and valued. Wisconsin is world-language strong and, in WAFLT, we all belong!

pamela.delfosse@dpi.wi.gov

Pam Delfosse