2026 NYSAFLT Annual Conference

TICKETED PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION:This session explores how Canva connects language and culture by empowering language educators to design visually engaging, culturally authentic, and interactive teaching materials. Participants will learn to create activities and assessments using Canva’s tools, grounded in research-informed practices, to enhance language retention, student engagement, and classroom innovation. There will be time for participants to explore and create/ collaborate with peers. Please bring a device to access the website!

Managing the Seal of Biliteracy (SoB) often involves complex logistics that overshadow student achievement. This session offers a roadmap to transform the SoB process into an automated workflow using **Google Classroom, AI, and Google Apps Scripting**. Participants will identify key bottlenecks and learn to implement "no-code" solutions—such as automated notifications and AI-assisted data categorization—to ensure accuracy and scalability. By the end of this hour, coordinators and educators will leave with actionable strategies to reclaim their time, minimize errors, and focus on expanding equitable access to biliteracy recognition for all students.

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.

Podcasts are transforming how we engage with language learning and cultural appreciation, creating meaningful bridges between classrooms and communities. In alignment with this year’s theme, this presentation explores how the Gotitas del Saber Podcast strengthens Spanish acquisition while celebrating Hispanic culture. With over 100 episodes, this weekly podcast immerses students and the school community in Latinx traditions, highlighting influential figures and cultural origins of foods like corn and potatoes. Though created in Spanish, it can be adapted to any language and across all grade levels. Attendees will explore content creation, classroom integration, and its impact on engagement, community, and cultural connection.