Several weeks ago, the headmaster of my school charged teachers with choosing subject-specific quotes that would be inscribed above the classroom doors of our new middle school building. What a great idea, I thought, until the moment arrived when I had to locate those inspirational words that would embody the essence of what it means to learn and know other … [Read more...] about Thirteen Noteworthy World Language Quotes
twenty-first century foreign language education
Origin of Puerto Ricans
Here is a neat graphic organizer that I received in one of my graduate classes sometime during the 1990s. It illustrates the ancestry of the three major blood lines which form the Puerto Rican race : Taino Indian, Spanish and Black. Origin of Puerto Ricans When Christopher Columbus reached Puerto Rico in 1493, he encountered and enslaved the Taino … [Read more...] about Origin of Puerto Ricans
Article Follow Up: Tips To Prepare Students For National Foreign Language Exams
Since writing Tips To Prepare Students For National Foreign Language Exams a little over a month ago, I received this year’s results to the National Spanish Exam, which I administered to my level 01 and level 1 students in March. As I mentioned in my article, I wanted to help students achieve higher scores, so I generated a plan of action that I implemented … [Read more...] about Article Follow Up: Tips To Prepare Students For National Foreign Language Exams
Webinar Review: Michael Erard Talks About Hyperpolyglots on LiveMocha
Roughly two weeks ago, after a particularly exhausting day of teaching, I returned to my cubicle and collapsed into my desk chair. Too tired to do anything active, I decided to plug my Earbuds into my MacBook and passively earn some professional development time for the remaining hour of the work day. I tuned into the replay of a webinar that I had missed … [Read more...] about Webinar Review: Michael Erard Talks About Hyperpolyglots on LiveMocha
Ten Great Ideas To Celebrate National Foreign Language Week In The Twenty-First Century
In the nineties, when I began my teaching career, I worked in a public high school whose World Language department celebrated National Foreign Language Week each year. As the newbie in the department, I didn't really know what to expect during my first year celebration. I imagined that the kids would spruce up our painfully drab building with bright, … [Read more...] about Ten Great Ideas To Celebrate National Foreign Language Week In The Twenty-First Century
Into the 21st Century: The Evolution of World Language Textbooks: Part I
A few weeks ago, I was purging books from my overgrown personal library when I encountered an Italian-English textbook that my mother gifted to me nearly two decades ago. Bound in red linen, embossed with black ink and copyrighted 1921, this treasured relic once belonged to my great grandfather, a burly yet gentle Italian who emigrated to the US around the … [Read more...] about Into the 21st Century: The Evolution of World Language Textbooks: Part I