WAFLT Fall Voice

Fall 2023

The VOICE of WAFLT

Volume 50 Number 2

Table of Contents

WAFLT Mission:

The purpose of WAFLT shall be to promote, strengthen, and facilitate the teaching and life-long learning of world languages and cultures in schools and communities to meet the needs of our increasingly interdependent world.

WAFLT Executive Board & Contacts for Wisconsin Association For Language Teachers

President

Victoria Carter Onalaska High School president@waflt org

President-Elect

Andrea Behn Parker High School, Janesville awards@waflt org

Past-President

Dan Tess Brookfield Central High School tessdanielp@gmail.com

Secretary

Josh LeGreve Green Lake School District joshlegreve@gmail com

Treasurer

Kellie Villalobos Muskego High School treasurer@waflt org

DPI International Education/ World Languages Consultant

Pamela Delfosse pamela delfosse@dpi wi gov

NNELL Representative

Josh LeGreve Green Lake School District joshlegreve@gmail.com

Finance Committee Chair

Cathy Stresing

Fond du Lac School District stresings@aol.com

New Visions

Josh LeGreve joshlegreve@gmail.com

Membership Committee Chair

Linda Havas

Greendale Schools

linda havas@greendaleschools org

Fall Conference Program Committee Co-Chairs

Rebecca Mai Cassville School District

Cathy Stresing Fond du Lac School District program@waflt org

Local Arrangements/Exhibits Sub-Committee

Lee Belanger-Gonzales Kenosha Unified School District lbelange@kusd edu

Lynne Tennie tennie5@athena net

Communications & Publications Chair

Lauren Rosen University of Wisconsin webmaster@waflt org

The VOICE of WAFLT Subcommittee Chair/Editor

Katy Dueppen Middleton High School voice@waflt org

eVoice Subcommittee Chair

Kara Torkelson Wausau West High School ktorklsn@wausauschools.org

Advertising Subcommittee Chair

Josh LeGreve Green Lake School District advertising@waflt.org

Public Relations / Advocacy

National Chair

Pablo Muirhead MATC advocacy@waflt.org

State Chair

Joslyn Hegelmeyer Brookfield East High School advocacy@waflt.org

Discover Languages Contest Coordinator

Devin Pettys Onalaska High School petde@onalaskaschools com

Grants & Scholarships

Bobbette Leu-Timmerman grants@waflt org

Professional Development Chair

Jamie Gurholt Stateline Community Foundation, Beloit/French Alliance, Milwaukee profdev@waflt.org

HS Guests Subcommittee Chairs

Danielle Chaussee Oconomowoc High School chausseed@oasd org

Amber Little Stoughton High School amber.little@stoughton.k12.wi.us

Summer PD Chair

Iva McLean Academies of Racine at Park High School

iva mclean@rusd org

MOPI Training Coordinator

Jodi Ziemann jziemann@berlin k12 wi us

Mentoring/Virtual PD

Julie Horvath

Beloit Memorial High School jhorvat1@sdb.k12.wi.us

Language Association Representatives

AATF-WI President

Cathy Stresing Fond du Lac School District presidentAATFWI@gmail com

AATG-WI President

Melanie Lasee

Ashwaubenon High School mlasee@ashwaubenonk12 org

WiATJ President

Patty Breun

Madison Country Day School pbreun@madisoncountryday.org

WLTA President

Nate Kolpin Wauwatosa School District kolpinna@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us

OWL

Vacant

WACLT President

Yongyan Liu

Milwaukee Chinese School yongyan.liu85@gmail.com

AATSP-WI President

Jessica Santiago New Berlin West High School jessica.santiago@nbexcellenc e.org

The VOICE of WAFLT appears twice annually, in the spring and fall, with copy deadlines of January 1 and June 1 Manuscripts describing world language pedagogy as well as study and travel opportunities and experiences are always welcome, and, if accepted, generally will appear in the next issue Submissions for publication should be saved as a Google document or Microsoft Word document and sent as an email attachment to voice@waflt.org. Any photos or graphics must be sent as separate attachments in a jpg format

From Your President ...

As we embark on a new school year, I am honored to address you as WAFLT President. The start of a school year is a time of renewed energy, fresh opportunities, and boundless potential. It is a time for us to come together as a community of educators, united by our passion for languages and our commitment to fostering global understanding and communication. Let us build upon the lessons we have learned and the strengths we have gained. Let us embrace growth and unity, knowing that by supporting one another, we can create a vibrant and enriching educational experience for our students. Together, we can continue to inspire a love for languages and cultures, preparing our students to be global citizens who can communicate and collaborate effectively in an interconnected world.

Speaking of connections, it is time for us to reconnect as a membership! Right around the corner is the 2023 WAFLT Fall Conference: Reconnect, Reflect, Renew. This conference is an invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow language educators, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insights to elevate our teaching practice. It’s a chance to learn from our colleagues, explore innovative teaching techniques, and discover new resources and ideas that will invigorate your classroom.

Between the Thursday Pre-Conference Workshop, Friday Workshops, Keynote Speaker, Awards Ceremony, Luncheon Celebrations, postcard contest, and all of the incredible sessions that our fellow language educators and colleagues from around the state and beyond,

there are so many ways to take full advantage of the conference as well as to network with other educators from around the state and beyond.

I invite each and every one of you to register for this year’s Fall Conference. Your participation will contribute to the vibrant tapestry of ideas and collaboration that defines our WAFLT community. Let’s come together once again to celebrate our shared passion for language education and propel our profession to new heights.

Please join us in celebrating the diverse linguistic and cultural tapestry that enriches our state. Let's collaborate on initiatives that promote cultural understanding, celebrate linguistic diversity, and advocate for the importance of language education. By working together, we can amplify our impact and ensure that language learning remains a vital part of the educational landscape.

As we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead this school year, I am confident that our collective

dedication and determination will make it a successful and fulfilling one. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to language education, and thank you for being a part of the WAFLT community. I am excited to collaborate with each and every one of you as we shape the future of language teaching in Wisconsin.

Wishing you a joyful and productive school year ahead!

Warm regards,

Victoria Carter

WAFLT Statement on Equity and Inclusion

As the state language teachers' association, WAFLT values inclusion, compassion, open- mindedness, unity, peace, and hope in our increasingly interdependent world. So much of our work is predicated on our commitment to these values. We stand united with our BIPOC colleagues and students as we continue to work together to achieve a global society that ensures equity and justice for everyone. We see you. We support you. We stand with you.

Victoria Carter

DPI Updates and Resources

by Pam Delfosse, DPI World Languages & Global Education

As we launch a new school year, it is a great time to renew attention to the joy of teaching and learning. Why did you become a language educator? How do you bring that purpose to life with your learners? What brings you joy as you guide learning with the students in your care? What ignites their interest and engages them in joyful learning experiences? How is that learning relevant to who they are, who they want to become, and to the wider world beyond the classroom? How can we design language programs, courses, and activities that center joy, identity, relevance? How can this approach support proficiency gains through learner- and life-centered language learning experiences? We seem to get busier with each passing year. This year, let’s try to protect time, and our head and heart space, to focus on the joy of engaged learning and see where it takes us

Educators are committed to preparing all students to be college, career, and community ready This year, Wisconsin is implementing a revised set of Career-Ready Standards to support this work. This framework includes a Standard for Global Competence. As world language educators, we are in a unique position to support CTE and ACP colleagues as they implement this standard. It is important to acknowledge our shared responsibility for preparing students to use their language and cultural skills in the workforce through career-connected learning experiences in our world language programs Consider collaborating with a colleague to plan units with rich opportunities to explore and engage with careers in which languages add value to the work

This spring, DPI designated the Seal of Biliteracy and the Certificate of Global Competence as Industry Recognized Credentials for optional inclusion within state, regional, and local Academic Career Planning (ACP) Pathways career maps. Consider meeting with your school and district ACP coordinators to encourage the inclusion of these student credentials for language, intercultural, and global competence within your school’s career maps. If your district has not yet applied to give students access to the Seal of Biliteracy and Global Scholars Programs that prepare students to qualify for these credentials, contact DPI for guidance and to apply. Be part of our journey toward recognizing the value and benefits of multilingualism and intercultural competence in the workforce and our communities.

This year is a great time to assess the proficiency outcomes of the language courses and programs available to students in your district. Before we map out the best route to a targeted destination, we need to first know where we are. Consider collaborating with language teaching colleagues to learn more the language proficiency scale, characteristics of each level, and learning experiences that students need to progress through levels over time. Advocate for district support to implement a formal student assessment at strategic grades or course levels to make students’ current performance levels visible. Discuss goals and draft course and program level benchmarks to improve proficiency gains toward your proficiency goals. Don’t forget to introduce students to the proficiency scale and engage them in goal setting,

self and peer assessment, and reflection for learning. Share and celebrate progress with this work! Wisconsin DPI will be partnering with the Minnesota Department of Education this year to offer ACTFL proficiency workshops for educators of Indigenous American Indian Languages, Hmong, and other less commonly taught languages. Through our partnership with Minnesota, Wisconsin students will have access, this spring, to Seal of Biliteracy assessments in Hmong, Ojibwe, Karen, Omro, Somali, Tamil, Vietnamese, and Amharic. We are committed to improving equity in access to this credential through partnerships

Speaking of equity, for the 2022-23 school year, our state’s data collection system for world languages will, for the first time, include Hmong, Hocak, Ojibwe, Oneida, Potawatomi, Menominee, and Mohican. We are excited to make the teaching and learning of these critical heritage and indigenous languages visible and to collaborate with the Hmong and Native American Indian communities to improve systems of support for language reawakening and revitalization.

Pam Delfosse

In closing, I wish to thank you. I see you, I hear you, and I do everything in my power to represent the needs, interests, and dreams of our discipline through my role at DPI. We are choosing to dedicate ourselves to work that, more often than not, feels undervalued. Why do we sustain the effort? The answer to that question is easy. We know the power of relationships and cultural learning experiences that can only be realized through direct interpersonal communication. Generative AI technology cannot replace shared human experiences. Never question the value of who you chose to be, a window, door, and mirror for your students to see, enter, and integrate the world around them. I respect and thank you.

pamela.delfosse@dpi.wi.gov

World Language Education website: dpi.wi.gov/world-language

Professional Development Opportunities

Wisconsin Association For Language Teachers (WAFLT) Fall Conference

November 2-4, 2023 | Information: waflt.org

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Conference

November 17-19, 2023, Chicago, IL | Information: actfl.org

FLESFEST

February 24, 2024 | Information: wi-nell.org

Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

March 14-16, 2024, Minneapolis, MN | Information: csctfl.org

Join a Language Leadership Listserv: join-languageleadership@lists.dpi.wi.gov

Join Your Language Association: Go to waflt.org/about-waflt/language-associations for a list of all organizations. Reach out to learn how to join their listserv.

WAFLT Fall Conference 2023!

We are thrilled to invite you to experience another inperson conference with us! We are excited to offer a wide variety of engaging professional development opportunities as we continue to fine tune our practice and Reconnect, Reflect, Renew. Along with your colleagues, explore the myriad of approaches to support our students’ quest for improved proficiency.

Here are a few key highlights of our conference in Appleton from November 2-4, 2023.

Thursday Pre-Conference Workshop

L.J. Randolph, Assistant Professor of World Language Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison and President-Elect of ACTFL, hosts an interactive workshop entitled Enacting a Justice-centered Language Curriculum. Social justice (SJ)-centered pedagogies seek to enact equitable, anti-discriminatory, inclusive, and liberating curricular and instructional practices. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how social justice learning goals and activities can be effectively embedded into their existing curricula.

Friday Morning Workshops

We are again featuring a range of interactive workshops encompassing a variety of topics. Consult the WAFLT Pre-Conference bulletin for more information.

Friday Morning Poster Sessions

Back by popular demand, colleagues will share their research and projects with attendees via Electronic Poster Sessions that will be presented in the exhibit hall on Friday morning.

Friday and Saturday One-Hour Sessions

This year’s conference includes an abundance of learning opportunities across languages, levels, and areas of focus

Friday Afternoon Awards and Keynote Event

Come and help us honor Jody Schneider, our 2023 Distinguished Language Educator. We will also be acknowledging other award winners—new teacher, student awards, among others. You will also be inspired by our keynote speaker, Ms. Annabelle Williamson aka “La Maestra Loca.”

Friday and Saturday

Do you have something you don’t need but perhaps someone else can use? Please consider bringing materials, posters, purchased items, and / or sub plans to our SWAP MEET table. Please stop by and see if there is a gem that you can use in your classroom.

Registration

The best way to register for the conference is online. You must have a current email address and create a login on the WAFLT website (waflt.org). As you register, be sure to carefully read instructions and note the sessions that require an additional fee. Remember to register early and check deadlines for the conference and hotel reservations. For the latter, contact the Hilton Appleton Paper Valley directly.

We encourage you to share this information with your colleagues who are new to the profession and/or your building, as well as those who may not be WAFLT members. We also encourage you to renew your WAFLT membership online at waflt.org WAFLT members receive many benefits throughout the year, such as reduced registration fees for the Fall Conference and FLESFEST as well as the opportunity to apply for grants and scholarships, and participate in other professional development opportunities throughout the year.

We hope you will join us for the energy, professional development, and collegiality of the 2023 WAFLT Fall Conference!

Becky Mai & Cathy Stresing WAFLT Program Co-chairs program@waflt.org

Wisconsin French Teacher Leverages UW-Madison Resources to Expand Curriculum

By Eleanor Conrad and Kelsey Aouane

Although many teachers know that the University of Wisconsin-Madison international area studies centers offer a wide array of professional development opportunities, activities, and educational materials to benefit K-14 language educators, not as many are aware that the centers can work closely with educators to create or expand language curriculum. In 2021 and 2022, the Center for European Studies partnered with teachers at two Wisconsin high schools to support the development of curriculum on the 1930s francophone literary movement, Négritude.

A key contributor to this collaboration was Madison East French teacher Kelsey Aouane. Mme. Aouane saw a dearth of representation of diverse French language curricula, “When students, and people in general, think of France, many times it is a white-washed movie-esque picture; kissing under the Eiffel Tower, eating croissants along the Champs Elysées, etc.” Outdated textbooks (often used in French language classrooms due to a lack of resources to replace them) with content that focuses on Paris and stereotypes of French culture paint an incomplete picture of French language and Francophone culture. This outdated curriculum can entirely neglect much of the Francophonie; French-speaking African countries, the French Antilles, and French Overseas Territories, as well as marginalized populations within France, and leaves French language learners unprepared for real-life Francophone experiences.

“One of my goals in becoming a French teacher was to showcase the amazing, richly diverse cultures that fall under the Francophone umbrella.” To develop a new unit that would improve student’s understanding not only of French history, literature, and culture, but also of the relationship between France and the rest of the Francophone world, Mme. Aouane turned to the Center for European Studies for support. She selected Négritude, a literary movement similar to the Harlem Renaissance in the United States, as an introductory historical unit to the broader Francophonie for her upper-level French classes

Despite her extensive experience in Francophone countries, Mme. Aouane only discovered the Négritude movement while she was searching for books to add to her classroom library. “I started to think about how I could bring this into my classes at East, a diverse public high school with students from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds, including those of French-speaking Africa. I knew that it was something important to incorporate into the upper-level curriculum, but I was struggling to find the best way to approach it, as well as the best resources that were appropriate for students.” European Studies helped to identify and purchase copies of important works from the movement in the original French for the participating high school French Departments.

To open the unit, Mme. Aouane first started with the history of French colonization before introducing students to some of the movement’s most influential writers: Senghor, Césaire, and Damas. During the unit, students read complete poems and excerpts from longer works in French and researched the history of the movement. Each year, the unit concluded with a virtual guest speaker to provide more information and bring vitality and modern-day significance to the subject. We were fortunate to have two leading experts on this topic, Prof. Michelle M. Wright of Emory University and Prof. Tracy Denean SharpleyWhiting of Vanderbilt University, present virtually to the students. These amazing speakers provided valuable background context and transatlantic comparison with the Harlem Renaissance. Because of their intimate knowledge of the movement, the speakers were able to bring more detail and engagement to the subject. Importantly, they also recommended lesser-known authors of Négritude for further reading.

Students were active participants in the presentations, asking thoughtful questions and leaving with a wealth of information. Many expressed their gratitude in learning about such an influential movement and were interested in reading more of the literature.

Mme. Aouane was able to use this unit as a springboard to discuss the general theme of immigration in France; the history and modern

controversy surrounding Laïcité, and the contributions of prominent North African authors to French literature. In 2023, her department was able to expand the curriculum again to include the influence of the French language in Vietnam

The Center for European Studies is a federally funded National Resource Center and member of the Wisconsin International Resource Consortium (WIRC). A collaboration of nine distinct University of Wisconsin-Madison area studies centers dedicated to providing internationally themed outreach programming, resources, and support

to K-14 teachers and students, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and Community Colleges. Collectively, WIRC sponsors or cosponsors events such as World Cinema Day, Global Learning Summit, Languages of the World Day, and Children’s Literature Celebration.

If you have an idea for a project or event that promotes language learning at the K-14 level, please contact wirc@iris.wisc.edu and you will be put in contact with the relevant area studies center to inquire about support. WIRC members include African Studies Program; Center for

East Asian Studies; European Studies; Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program; Middle East Studies Program; Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia; Center for South Asia; Center for Southeast Asian Studies; Institute for Regional and International Studies National Resource Center.

Linguiphile ($100+)

Donna L. Clementi

Lauren Rosen

Benefactor ($50-99)

Danielle Chaussee

Linda Havas

Josh LeGreve

Janet Rowe

Paul Sandrock

Thank You, Contributors!

WAFLT thanks the following individuals for their contributions in 2022–23.

General Endowment Fund

Sponsor ($25-49)

Anne Chartier (in memory of Jim Oakley)

Jaci Collins

Katy Dueppen

Barb Olsen

Deana Zorko

Contributor ($1-24)

Katelynn Jensen

Vera Klekovkina

Tyser Lindsey

Pablo Muirhead

Kelsie Pattillo

Cathy Stresing

Robbie Twohig

Professional Development Scholarship Fund

(Honoring Dr. Roma Hoff, Dr. Connie Knop & Dr. Irène Kraemer)

Linguiphile ($100+)

Donna L. Clementi

Benefactor ($50-99)

Deborah Hoem-Esparza

Peter Hoff

Karen Luond Fowdy

Sponsor ($25-49)

Sy Kreilein

Michelle Nielsen

Lauren Rosen

Deana Zorko

Contributor ($1-24)

Anne Chartier (in memory of Jim Oakley)

Kelly Ferguson

Karen Luond Fowdy

Katelynn Jensen

Vera Klekovkina

Pablo Muirhead

Kelsie Pattillo

Cathy Stresing

Student Travel Scholarship Fund

(Honoring O. Lynn Bolton)

Benefactor ($50-99)

Peter Hoff

Janet Rowe

Sponsor ($25-49)

Katy Dueppen

Julie Larson-Guenette

Thomas Rusch

Lauren Rosen

Deana Zorko

Your Contributions Are Appreciated!

Please consider contributing to one or more of these funds for 2023-24. You can do this online at waflt.org – log into your online account, and click “Endowment Contributions” on the top of the page to make your contribution, or mail your check to P.O. Box 1493, Appleton, WI 54912, noting to which fund(s) you would like your donation assigned.

Contributor ($1-24)

Anne Chartier (in memory of Jim Oakley)

Kelly Ferguson

Katelynn Jensen

Vera Klekovkina

Pablo Muirhead

Kelsie Pattillo

Cathy Stresing

Wisconsin Representative to NNELL

Josh LeGreve

Green Lake School District

joshlegreve@gmail.com

FLESFEST Co-Chairs

Carley Goodkind

Jody Schneider

Hello All!

I am very excited to be taking on the role of Wisconsin Representative to NNELL on behalf of the WAFLT Executive Board and the Wisconsin FLESFEST Committee. As language educators, we all know the value of early language learning, whether that be through dual language immersion, early start/long sequences, or other programs that get language and culture into the younger grades. I hope that in this position I have the opportunity to network with many of you and collaborate on early language learning.

Upcoming Professional Development

Save the date! Next year’s Wisconsin FLESFEST will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024. FLESFEST is a great energy booster toward the end of winter to help propel us into the spring. Additionally, anyone who teaches novice levels (or beyond) is invited and will take away great ideas for the classroom. Much of what I have learned over the years at FLESFEST applies not just to my elementary classes, but are also high quality strategies for engaging my middle school and high school classes as well. More information will be coming soon, and you can find updates on wi-nell.org. Registration usually opens around January 1st.

Central States East Regional Representative to NNELL

Kathy Olson-Studler

Minnesota kathyolsonstudler@gmail.com

Wisconsin Website: wi-nell.org

National Website: nnell.org

Additionally, if you are attending the WAFLT Fall Conference 2023 in Appleton, make sure to check out the WI-NELL Networking Session! I hope to see you all there. Also, NNELL runs a number of sessions at Central States, and with it being right next door this March in Minneapolis, I would love to see a great Wisconsin NELL representation.

Recent Opportunities

This past summer we had a marvelous virtual NNELL Summer Summit 2023 with the theme Unlocking the Power of Languages. The two-day virtual

summit was jam-packed with sessions on technology integration, social justice, and DEI in the world language classroom. This summer event is always an amazing time. Consider attending next year at the 2024 NNELL Summer Summit. More information is usually available in late spring at nnell.org

I look forward to serving Wisconsin in this capacity! If you have any questions about NNELL or WI-NELL, do not hesitate to reach out to me at joshlegreve@gmail.com.

Josh LeGreve, WI Rep to NNELL

Wisconsin Association of Teachers of Japanese

President Patricia Breun

Madison Country Day School pbreun@madisoncountryday.org

President-Elect

Yoshiko Yamada Shakal UW-Superior yshakal@uwsuper.edu

President Ex-officio

Magara Maeda

UW-River Falls

715-425-3121

magara.maeda@uwrf.edu

Membership Information: aatj.org/membership

WiATJ website: wisconsinatj.wordpress.com

WiATJ Facebook: facebook.com/wiatj

AATJ website: aatj.org

Welcome back! We hope you all had a great summer.

We would like to thank Kazuko Stone, retired teacher from Denmark High School, for her many years of devotion to her students and teaching of the language and culture of Japan.

Here is a message from Stone sensei:

“It's been 33 years since I started being involved in WiATJ. Back then we just started using ‘email,’ and I was typing newsletters using my word processor and physically mailing them out. It is amazing how much technology and teaching methods developed. I really enjoy the close community of our group. I understand the challenges that you are facing in promoting your programs. I appreciate your hard work and changing the lives of your students in such a positive way. Thank you very much for all the support that you have given to me and Denmark High School. I will miss you and teaching Japanese. But I am ready for a new chapter of my life. Best wishes.”

Secretary/Web Page Editor

Masako Lackey

UW-Milwaukee

414-251-8441 lackey@uwm.edu

Treasurer

Yu Kitamura Wisconsin Virtual School Kitamurayu2017@gmail.com

Activities Director

Yuko Kojima-Wert

UW-Milwaukee

414-229-5650

kojima@uwm.edu

News Across Wisconsin

Japanese National Honor Society

Denmark High School inducted 15 students into the Japanese Honor Society at the end of last academic year.

WiATJ Zoom Gathering

In early August our members met to check in after the summer. Many members enjoyed traveling over the summer now that it is easier to travel to Japan again due to the visa requirement for tourists being lifted.

The American Association of Teachers of Japanese Nengajo (New Year Postcard) Contest

Throughout Wisconsin, a number of students studying Japanese participated in the Nengajo contest. There were four categories: artistic, encouragement, comical, and computer graphic Here are a few favorites:

Stone sensei with some of her students at Denmark High School

Anime Milwaukee

Anime Milwaukee was held at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center and Wisconsin Convention Center earlier this year. It was a celebration of anime, manga, Asian culture, music, and gaming.

J-Quiz (virtual)

Earlier in the year, students from Denmark High School and Madison Country Day School participated in the Japan America Society of Minnesota (JASM) J-Quiz. In the morning students participated in a 30-question Kahoot with questions about Japanese language and culture. In the afternoon

visual media translator Betsy Linehan-Skillings was the guest speaker and there was an opportunity to view culture videos about cooking and kendama. There was also a college fair where students could learn about Japanese programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Japanese Language Speech Contest in Chicago

The Consulate General of Japan in Chicago hosted the 37th Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest on March 25, 2023. Conner Dewey from University of Wisconsin-Madison won the Grand Prize with his speech titled “Scar Tissue” with the theme of perseverance. A write up of the contest can be found here

Wisconsin Association For Language Teachers & Discover Languages Wisconsin

Presents the 2023 Discover Languages

Student Video & Postcard Contests

Contest Theme:

Connecting Through Languages

For All Students Enrolled in World Language Classes in Wisconsin Elementary (PK-5) ~ Middle School (6-8) ~ High School (9-12) ~ Post-Secondary (Undergraduate)

As you learn more about our world, bring the world to Wisconsin. Show us how much languages mean to you and how important they are in your life!

Submission Deadlines:

Video Contest: May 31, 2023 | Postcard Contest: October 6, 2023

Visit waflt.org for contest details to begin!

Help Wisconsin Discover Languages and Discover the World!

Patty Breun

American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese

President

Jessica Santiago

New Berlin West High School jessica.santiago@nbexcellence.org

Past President

Kathy Varda

JEDI Virtual School k.m.stenlund@gmail.com

President Elect

Bridget Geboy-Helfenstein School District of West Allis-West Milwaukee gebob@wawmsd.org

¡Hola / Olá!

Secretary Alix Madden Pittsville School District maddeale@pittsville.k12.wi us

Treasurer

Catalina Cabello

Pacelli Catholic High School, Stevens Point ccabello@spacs.k12.wi.us

Webmaster

Josh LeGreve Green Lake School District joshlegreve@gmail.com

Sociedad Honoraria

Hispánica

Jessida Swemke Lincoln High School, Manitowoc swemkej@mpsd.school

Concurso Oral Coordinator

Jeanne Kasza

Port Washington High School

Jeanne.Kasza@pwssd.k12.w i.us

¡Un gran saludo de AATSP-WI! / Saudações a todos do AATSP-WI!

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! There are many exciting things happening with AATSP-WI. Read on for all the details

Open Executive Board Positions

President Elect: Two-year term, followed by roles of President and Past President. Duties include: leading the AATSP-WI Poster Contest, participating in quarterly board meetings and annual business meeting (at WAFLT Fall Conference), and exercising duties of the President in the absence of that officer. Term begins January 1, 2024. Contact President Jessica Santiago at jessica.santiago@nbexcellence.org with any questions or interest.

Concurso Oral Coordinator: To be filled ASAP. Duties include: organize an annual online Spanish pronunciation event for students at the

elementary through 12th grade levels. Responsibilities include choosing competition pieces, organizing virtual submissions, and purchasing medals and ribbons. The current coordinator will serve as a mentor for your transition into this position. Please email Jeanne Kazka at Jeanne.Kasza@pwssd.k12.wi.us with any questions or interest.

Updates and Achievements

Our AATSP-WI member, Nicole Thompson, is the 2023 recipient of the Mario Fierros Award for Excellence (Chapter Sponsor of the Year).

The Mario Fierros Award for Excellence is awarded to an SHH chapter sponsor who has given exemplary service to the SHH during the year. The awardee receives a plaque and a trip to the AATSP annual conference. This year the conference was in June in Salamanca, Spain.

Nicole is a WAFLT Member, AATSP-Wisconsin Member, and former SHH Coordinator of AATSP-WI. She teaches Spanish at New Berlin West Middle/High School in New Berlin, WI and has been a dedicated and innovative SHH sponsor/adviser for a decade.

We have increased membership to 183 registered members as of December 31, 2022.

Join or renew your AATSP-WI membership here!

Nominations for Awards in 2023

Distinguished Educator Award: Each year AATSP-WI celebrates a Spanish/Portuguese teacher that has demonstrated excellence in the classroom, their community, and/or within our organization.

Friend of AATSP-WI Award: This award will be given to an individual or organization that has made notable

contributions to the Spanish or Portuguese language community in Wisconsin.

Fill out this Google Form with your nomination(s) for Distinguished Educator and/or Friend of AATSP-WI awards. The deadline for nominations submissions is October 1, 2023.

AATSP-WI Book Club

Reading and discussion is in Spanish. The goal of the book club is to provide a community where AATSP members can read and discuss literature together, en español. It is in no way a formal club, so feel free to join whenever you are able.

Fall book club information on this flier and on our website. Drop in anytime, for any of the sessions! ¡Ven a practicar tu español y conocer a amigos nuevos!

Concurso Oral 2023

We had 277 students participate from 12 Wisconsin schools. The contest was virtual with a two-week window to submit a recorded Flipgrid. Learn more on the AATSP-WI website 10 senior student winners received $100 scholarships

Seeking your selection ideas! We are hoping that Spanish teachers might have ideas for selections for next year's Concurso Oral. Please send your selection ideas to Jeanne at Jeanne.Kasza@pwssd.k12.wi.us

There is an open position to be the Concurso Oral Coordinator for 2024. Please email Jeanne if you are interested; you will have guidance and this is a great opportunity for leadership

Poster Contest 2023

We had national winners from Wisconsin:

National Third Place: Hand-drawn, Josephine S., grade 12. View poster here

State-level winning posters results are here and can be viewed on our AATSP-WI website

There were a total of 38 state entries from K-12.

The theme this year was “New Horizons for Communication and Culture / Nuevos horizontes para la comunicación y la cultura” / “Novos horizontes para a comunicação e a cultura”

NSE - National Spanish Exam (now coordinated

at the national level)

There were 1,230 students who competed nationally from Wisconsin this year. Of those, 656 placed nationally, which is MORE THAN HALF OF THE COMPETITORS!

58 Gold | 120 Silver | 138 Bronze | 340 Honorable Mention

NSE gave out up to 20 $1000 scholarships to students nation-wide.

AATSP-WI is proud to announce that we are sponsoring two additional $500 college scholarships to eligible seniors

Sociedad Honoria Hispánica

Want to begin a chapter, or do you need support with your chapter? Learn more about our new SHH Coordinator, Jessica Swemke, and a file of ideas on our website. Email our Jessica with any questions or ideas: swemkej@mpsd.school

We are looking forward to seeing you at WAFLT Fall Conference 2023!

Check out our exhibit booth for trivia games, door prize tickets, and membership information.

Our Share Session will be different this year: A cultural immersion experience with an activity for your senses

Attend our Annual Business meeting to be updated & informed, and meet the Executive Board.

Door prizes of wine, non-alcoholic beverages, newest book club book, calavera succulent, two donated NNELL memberships and mugs, one donated NSE $25 gift certificate toward student exam fee, NSE swag items, and more.

Join our AATSP-WI Facebook Group to share cultural community events around the state and connect with other educators.

Interested in supporting AATSP? Join AATSP-WI today!

Become a new member or renew your membership and enjoy the benefits for your students’ achievement and your professional learning, collaboration, and support here

Membership benefits include: Free educational webinars sponsored by the AATSP and its partners, and connections to many Professional Learning and Development opportunities

Free access (online) to Hispania: long and short articles on applied linguistics, cultural studies, culture, film, language, linguistics, literary criticism, literature, and language pedagogy

Free access (online) to Spanish & Portuguese Review (SPR): our graduate student journal.

Free access (online) to Albricias; our high school Spanish Honor Society's publication.

Free job search in our Career Center: new and improved language education job search engine with résumé upload and feedback, and tips for finding the perfect job in language education.

Wealth of student awards, scholarships, travel opportunities.

Student participation in Concurso Oral speaking contest, Poster Contest, National Spanish/Portuguese Exam. Support with Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (10-12) or la Sociedad Hispánica de Amistad (1-8).

Study-Abroad Scholarships for students and teachers.

Members' discount on AATSP Annual Conference registration: Over 300 sessions, workshops, poster exhibits and meetings aimed to improve cultural and literary knowledge, develop your professional skills, and promote the latest language teaching techniques.

The “P” of AATSP-WI

Are you a Portuguese Teacher? Do you know someone who is? We are seeking greater PORTUGUESE REPRESENTATION in AATSP-WI.

Please consider joining, share information about AATSP-WI with your fellow Portuguese Teacher colleagues/ contacts, or email Jessica Santiago, jessica.santiago@nbexcellence.org, with any contact information so she can reach out to them. Muita obrigada!

Join us on our Facebook group: AATSP-WI Teachers

Look for updates and local information online @ wiaatsp.org

¡Todos a una! Todos por um!

Jessica Santiago

Wisconsin Association of Chinese Language Teachers

President Yongyan Liu

Milwaukee Chinese School yongyan.liu85@gmail.com

Secretary Yuzhou Wu

Middleton Cross Plains Area School District

ywu@mcpasd.k12.wi.us

Treasurer Remya Sarma-Traynor UW-Stevens Point rsarmtr@uwsp.edu

Professional Development Coordinator

Weihua Zhu Department of Asian Languages & Cultures University of Wisconsin wzhu34@wisc.edu

American Association of French Teachers-Wisconsin Chapter

President Cathy Stresing Fond du Lac School District presidentAATFWI@gmail.com

President-Elect

Andrew Irving presidentelectAATFWI@gmail.com

AATF-WI website: aatfwi.org

Join us on Facebook: AATF-Wisconsin

AATF website: frenchteachers.org

Secretary-Treasurer

Reuben Vyn treasurerAATFWI@gmail.com

Past President Kara Torkelson Wausau West High School pastpresidentAATFLWI@gmail.com

Concours Oral concoursoralAATFWI@gmail.com

AATF Regional Representative Tom Sapp tsapp@loy.org

American Association of Teachers of German – Wisconsin

President

Melanie Lasee

Ashwaubenon High School mlasee@ashwaubenonk12.org

Vice President

Derek Schaefer Slinger High School derek.schaefer@slingerschools.org

Past President

Jeffery Dyer Oregon High School jmd3@oregonsd.net

Secretary Sarah Seidler-Halwas Ripon High School seidlers@ripon.k12.wi.us

Treasurer David Coury UW-Green Bay couryd@uwgb.edu

Wisconsin Latin Teachers Association

President Nate Kolpin Wauwatosa School District kolpinna@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us

Secretary Michelle Bayouth Madison West HS mbayouthicloud@gmail.com

Treasurer Daniel Tess Brookfield Central High School tessdanielp@gmail.com

Reconnect, Reflect, Renew

November 2-4, 2023

Hilton Appleton Paper Valley, Appleton, WI Complete details

Webmaster Mark Krause krausemg1@gmail.com

WAFLT Awards, Scholarships, and Grants: Details & Forms available @ waflt.org

WAFLT Distinguished Language Educator Award: WAFLT's highest recognition, may be conferred annually on an individual of the language teaching profession who has demonstrated long-term achievement and service to WAFLT and to the profession locally, statewide, regionally, and/or nationally. Nomination Deadline: March 15

Anthony J. Gradisnik Award: May be conferred on an individual or group especially from outside the world language teaching profession who shares Mr. Gradisnik's enthusiasm and advocacy for language education in such areas as international education, early language learning, and creative initiatives in language education. Nomination Deadline: March 15

Frank M. Grittner New Teacher Award: May be conferred annually on an individual new to the language teaching profession with one to three years experience who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and leadership in the promotion of language learning and international understanding; has given service to school, community, and state organizations; and has shown commitment to regional and national organizations. Nomination Deadline: March 15

WAFLT Excellence in Language Study Award: May be conferred on students who have demonstrated great achievement and progress in language study and who exhibit great potential for further achievement in the language. Students currently enrolled in a world language course offered at their school. Elementary, middle school, high school, and post-secondary students are eligible. Nomination Deadline: March 15

WAFLT Honors in Language Study Award: May be conferred on students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in and commitment to their school’s language programs. Students currently enrolled in the most advanced world language course offered at their school; high school and post-secondary students are eligible. Deadline: March 15

WAFLT Future Language Teacher Award: May be conferred annually on students in teacher-training programs who have shown exceptional promise and potential to become outstanding world language educators. Students currently enrolled in a teacher-training program are eligible. Nomination Deadline: April 1

Donna Clementi Award for Excellence in World Language Programs: Recognizes one school and/or district that promotes language learning through quality programs.

WAFLT Professional Service Award: May be presented annually to recent retirees who have served both the profession and their students in providing quality world language education. Recent retirees with a minimum of ten years’ experience as world language educators and who have been members of WAFLT a minimum of five years within the past ten years are eligible. Nomination Deadline: May 15

WAFLT Recognition of Merit: May be presented annually to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in teaching or who have made significant contributions to the language teaching profession. Nomination Deadline: February 15

WAFLT Student Travel Scholarship: Designed to help Wisconsin pre-collegiate world language students to participate in language and cultural immersion programs, this scholarship was established in 1999 to honor O. Lynn Bolton, a Spanish teacher in the West Allis-West Milwaukee school district. Nomination Deadline: December 1

WAFLT Scholarship for Professional Development: Designed to help world language educators in Wisconsin improve their classroom teaching skills, this scholarship was established in 1995 to honor Professor Roma Hoff as she retired from the Department of Foreign Languages at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The fund was expanded to honor Professor Constance Knop who retired from the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996, and again in 2005 to honor the memory of Professor Irène Kraemer who served in many capacities at Carthage College. Nomination Deadline: April 15

WAFLT Scholarship for Tomorrow’s Teachers: Designed to offer financial assistance to attend the WAFLT Fall Conference for up to 20 college-level students preparing to become language teachers. Deadline: September 25

WAFLT Special Projects Grants: Designed to support research efforts, exchange initiatives, special programs, and projects that clearly demonstrate an ability to benefit a broad constituency of world language educators and students in Wisconsin. Deadlines: April 15 and November 15

WAFLT Central States Extension Workshop Grant: Designed to offer financial support for two WAFLT members to attend the Central States Extension Workshop each spring. Recipients of the grant are expected to work together to present a WAFLT Extension Workshop at the Fall Conference in Appleton. Deadline: December 15

The VOICE of WAFLT

Katy Dueppen, Editor

WAFLT Membership Service

PO Box 1493

Appleton, WI 54912

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