2026 NYSAFLT Annual Conference

Teaching Level 1 Spanish is often associated with novice middle school learners who are being introduced to a
new language for the first time. At the high school level, however, many students enrolled in a Level 1 course
tend to be learners who have previously struggled in a traditional world language setting and may not have
achieved baseline proficiency. These students often enter the classroom with significant learning gaps, low
confidence, and a belief that success in a second language is out of reach.
This engaging and practical workshop will explore the unique instructional, emotional, and motivational needs
of struggling and non-traditional language learners. Participants will leave with ready-to-use resources,
differentiated instructional strategies, and interactive classroom activities designed to increase engagement,
build student confidence, and promote meaningful language acquisition. Presenters will share successful
approaches for creating a supportive classroom environment where all students can experience growth and
success in the world language classroom.