WAFLT Distinguished Language Educator Speech

Delivered by Janet Rowe at the 2022 WAFLT Fall Conference

Thank you! Thank you to the WAFLT Board members and the entire WAFLT community of educators. I am truly honored to be included among the many outstanding world language teachers who have previously received this award. When attending my first WAFLT conference, long, long ago, I certainly never envisioned this moment. I recall arriving at the Paper Valley Hotel still bleary eyed with sleep on a Saturday morning wondering what in the world I was doing here. Well, that conference was just the first of twenty-nine years of WAFLT Conferences and the basis of many lasting friendships and wonderful professional connections.

How great is it to have an in-person conference again! This is only possible due to the many, many hours of work by the WAFLT board, the numerous other members of WAFLT who volunteer to work the registration table, marshal the workshops, review the program and more, and of course the presenters who give so generously of their time and expertise.

I learn so much from the educators who share their experience and knowledge at the Fall Conference, FLESFEST, and the Summer Institute. WAFLT has, without a doubt, been instrumental in my career as a world language teacher. WAFLT has also provided travel scholarships to my students, brought professional development opportunities right to the teachers in my district and introduced me to the most wonderful world language teachers in the state.

One Fall Conference in particular stands out. The Appleton Area School District FLES teachers, led by the amazing Donna Clementi, hosted a session which so impressed and inspired me, that I proposed an elementary world language program in my own district. That program began in 2001 and I am happy to report that it continues thriving today, 21 years later.

As this year’s conference was approaching, I was thinking back on some very important people who have impacted my career as a language teacher. The two most important educators in my life would, of course, be my parents. My mother taught second grade and my father, who just celebrated his 98th birthday on Halloween, was a high school business ed and typing teacher, later becoming a university administrator. They had absolutely no skills in another language but they valued learning and always supported my interest in the Spanish language and culture. They were even adventurous enough to visit me in Spain for two weeks when I studied in Barcelona. I have to say that my biggest failing as a Spanish teacher was that during those two weeks I could not manage to teach them how to say “cafe con leche por favor” so that I could sleep in in the morning and not have to help them get breakfast!

My high school Spanish teacher, Lesley Petterson, also played a critical role. She recognized my abilities early on and offered me the opportunity to challenge myself and accelerate my learning through independent study Thanks to “dona Lesley” I made my first trips to both Spain and Mexico. At university I had the great fortune to have Graciela Wilborn as my instructor for a number of Spanish classes

Graciela was a model educator and an exceptional human being. The Foreign Language Association of North Dakota Teacher of the year award is named after her. On the FLAND website Graciela is credited with “singlehandedly changing Spanish teaching and teachers in the state of North Dakota and elsewhere ” Graciela made every student feel welcome, encouraged, and challenged. She supported me in my pursuit to study abroad at a time when those opportunities were difficult to find, wrote several letters of recommendation, and served as my advisor during my student teaching assignment. I incorporated many of Graciela’s methods of teaching and assessing into my own classroom as her techniques were timeless. Graciela’s influence on me as a person and as a teacher is simply immeasurable.

As a professional educator, I have also had the great fortune to work with so many amazing colleagues, in particular, Carolyn Siechter who has been my work spouse and wonderful friend for the past 29 years. Carolyn has always embraced my ideas for big changes. Things like—let’s start an elementary world language program, let’s get rid of the textbook, or how ‘bout completely change how we assess our students, “again.” Working with a great friend and colleague has truly been a blessing.

Finally, I must acknowledge the most important people of my career, my many, many students, several of whom are now WAFLT members and are present here tonight. Yes, our students can be frustrating, annoying, and downright rude at times but, then, they write a lovely note and we remember how much we enjoy teaching a language. I want to share with you now some of the thoughts my students have expressed over the years, not as a reflection on me but to remind you all of the vital role you play as teachers of language and culture. Students get it. They may take a while to get it but, eventually they do and the more students who study a language and culture the more likely we are to see a shift in the mindset of this country regarding the value of language learning and an increased appreciation of other cultures. These students are speaking to each one of you. Just mentally substitute the language you teach for “Spanish” if needed.

Katie, now a nurse—“Even though I wasn’t able to complete a Spanish major, I still use the language daily with patients and I am forever grateful for these skills that have given me the ability to break down language barriers in health care.”

Marlena, a college student—“Spanish was the most worthwhile class I’ve ever taken. No other class has offered me the chance to travel to two foreign countries and no other course has covered such a diverse range of topics: culture, history, art, poetry, architecture, literature, theology, music and, oh yeah, language.

Meredith—I’m really sorry for all the days I probably drove you crazy. You have given me a greater appreciation for the language and opened my eyes to many new aspects of life.

Sam, working as a veterinarian— Spanish class has come in handy more times than I can count and has been of more value than I ever imagined. Thank you for all of your work, time, and for simply tolerating us.

Kate—Thanks for challenging me to really learn. Spanish class will always be an invaluable part of my high school experience though I admit it was frustrating at times. The challenge was well worth it.

Greg, a filmmaker—I always looked forward to coming to class because I knew we would be doing something new and fun.

Keli, now a Spanish teacher and my co-worker—Thanks for pushing us so hard, it has definitely paid off!

Rachel, an aspiring author—Your class has made me good at learning and valuing foreign languages in general and, in addition to keeping up my Spanish, I intend to teach myself French and Russian this summer and that is just the beginning.

Finally a very recent note from Emma an urban organic farmer who wrote to me this past May—Thank you for challenging me to keep thinking wider.

On those tough days in the classroom keep the words of these language students in mind. Our classes change attitudes, open hearts, build friendships, and, as Emma said, teach students to “think wider.”

Again, thank you so very much and enjoy the rest of the conference!