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Welcome to the 109th NYSAFLT Annual Conference!
Type: Exhibitor Session clear filter
Friday, October 16
 

1:00pm EDT

Building Confident Communicators through Proficiency-Oriented Teaching
Friday October 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
High Street 26
Feedback Survey
A proficiency-oriented approach empowers students to confidently use the language to communicate, rather than just knowing about it. By emphasizing real-world communication, this method reduces learner anxiety and increases student engagement as they feel successful using the language. This approach aligns with the NYS world language standards and it allows students to see their progress, boosting motivation and confidence. They also feel more confident to use their growing skills outside of educational settings. Join this session to learn practical strategies for implementing a proficiency-oriented approach in your classroom and developing your students’ communicative competence.
Presenters
avatar for Ivan Ferrero

Ivan Ferrero

World Language Sales Consultant, Klett World Languages
Klett World Languages advances multilingual education in the U.S. with high-quality Spanish, French, German, and Italian materials. Grounded in proven standards and pedagogy, our resources build authentic communicative skills and inspire students to become global citizens. We’re... Read More →
Friday October 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
High Street 26
  Exhibitor Session

1:00pm EDT

Encouraging Belonging and Empowering Storytelling in the WL Classroom
Friday October 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
High Street 28
Feedback Survey
Transform your WL classroom into a space where identity drives acquisition. Using Gholdy Muhammad’s 5 Pursuits (Identity, Skills, Intellect, Criticality, Joy), we’ll explore how ASL and French students share their stories to foster belonging. Learn to build a supportive environment that empowers students to connect their backgrounds, cultures, and joy through language.
Presenters
AN

Alexis Nicholas, EdD

ASL Educator & World Language Curriculum Leader, Ossining UFSD
OS
Friday October 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
High Street 28
  Exhibitor Session

1:00pm EDT

Scrolling to Speaking: Turning Today’s Media into Tomorrow’s Proficiency
Friday October 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Shaker Room
Feedback Survey
Today’s Gen Alpha and Gen Z learners connect themselves through short videos, cultural updates and authentic media that reflect their daily lives. How can we harness these formats to maximize engagement and language growth in our classrooms? In this session, participants will explore strategies for transforming authentic clips, news segments and cultural spotlights into interpretive, interpersonal and presentational tasks. Join us as we take everyday media and adapt it for student-centered lessons that capture attention while deepening linguistic proficiency!
Presenters
avatar for Justin Seifts

Justin Seifts

Spanish Teacher, Vista

Friday October 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Shaker Room
  Exhibitor Session

2:30pm EDT

Leveraging Assessments for College and Career Readiness
Friday October 16, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Shaker Room
Feedback Survey
There’s a growing focus on College and Career Readiness (CCR) and career-connected learning, but where do world language programs fit in? This session explores how educators can leverage language credentialing with industry recognized assessments to align language programs with CCR initiatives. We’ll examine how language proficiency credentials support college and workforce readiness, offering students a competitive edge. Attendees will gain insights into employer recognition of language skills, real-world applications, and strategies to advocate for language programs within CCR frameworks, ensuring their long-term value and sustainability.
Presenters
avatar for Jennifer Carson

Jennifer Carson

Proficiency & Learning Specialist, Language Testing International
Language Testing International (LTI) has provided language proficiency testing since 1992 in over 120 languages across 60+ countries. As the exclusive licensee of ACTFL, LTI delivers accredited assessments in speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Using certified ACTFL testers... Read More →
Friday October 16, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Shaker Room
  Exhibitor Session

4:00pm EDT

Elementary International Exchange: Penpals between the US and Cuba
Friday October 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Fort Orange 7
Feedback Survey
During the 2024-2025 academic year, Abroadia and West Street Elementary School (Geneva, NY) facilitated an exchange between students in Geneva and their counterparts in Havana, Cuba. Throughout the course of several months, Kaci Sciarabba guided her students in activities that helped them extend their friendship to Cuban students, while a teacher in Havana did the same. The lesson we hope everyone will take from this presentation is that it is never too early to introduce international pen pal programs to students.
Presenters
TM

Tom Millington

Abroadia
Abroadia is a study abroad provider based in Geneva, NY. In addition to semester programs abroad, we design short-term programs overseas for college students and high school teachers. We work with high school teachers to create programs for students and we offer training opportunities... Read More →
KS
Friday October 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Fort Orange 7
  Exhibitor Session

4:00pm EDT

When Families Don’t Speak the Language Supporting Language Learning at Home
Friday October 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
High Street 24
How can students succeed in learning a new language when no one at home speaks it? This session addresses a common challenge for world language teachers: limited language exposure outside the classroom and families who want to help but do not know the target language. Participants will explore practical strategies for extending learning beyond the classroom without requiring parents to speak the language. Strategies include simple home-learning routines, accessible family communication, independent practice, technology-supported activities, and ways to engage parents as learning partners rather than language instructors. Arabic examples will be shared, with strategies applicable to all world languages.
Presenters
DA

Doaa Alasadi

Bis inc
BIS School Inc. is a U.S.-based educational organization specializing in Arabic language education, curriculum development, educational books, online learning, teacher training, and customized programs for schools and institutions. Since 2017, BIS has supported learners and educators... Read More →
Friday October 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
High Street 24
  Exhibitor Session
 
Saturday, October 17
 

8:30am EDT

"I'm not a bot!" Can AI Foster Peer-to-Peer Conversation?
Saturday October 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
High Street 26
Ensuring adequate target language conversation practice is difficult, particularly for novice learners who need significant support. AI can help, with always-ready and judgement-free conversation partners. Yet, amid a growing epidemic of loneliness, is filling student time with chatbots where we want to go? Pangea Chat creates a playful, social experience that makes curriculum-aligned, task-based conversation practice fun and impactful for any curriculum. The web and mobile platform leverages AI for personalized scaffolding but keeps peer-to-peer interaction as the focus. Supported by the National Science Foundation.
Presenters
avatar for Will Jordan-Cooley

Will Jordan-Cooley

CEO & Founder, Pangea Chat
Pangea Chat is an NSF-backed language learning environment that makes peer-to-peer, curriculum-aligned conversation simple and fun. Playful, task-based activities scaffold learners from texting, to voice messages, to live voice and video calls in their target language. Teachers see... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
High Street 26
  Exhibitor Session

8:30am EDT

Connecting Language Acquisition and the Science of Reading
Saturday October 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Town Hall Amphitheater
Feedback Survey
How do students acquire language, and how do they learn to read? Language acquisition and Literacy development are distinct but complementary processes. This session explores what research reveals about natural language acquisition and learning to read. Teachers will gain a clearer picture of how literacy development and language acquisition connect, along with strategies to support learners’ oral language, reading skills, and overall proficiency in world language, dual language, heritage, or English development classrooms.
Presenters
avatar for Martina Bex

Martina Bex

The Comprehensible Classroom
Driven by the core belief that all students are capable of acquiring language, The Comprehensible Classroom has been at the forefront of the movement toward teaching for acquisition since 2010. The company publishes instructional tools grounded in an understanding of language acquisition... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Town Hall Amphitheater
  Exhibitor Session

1:30pm EDT

The Wi-Fi Is Down: Quick Pivots for Real Communication
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
High Street 28
Feedback Survey
When technology fails, instruction doesn’t have to. This interactive session equips world language educators with quick, no-tech strategies to sustain proficiency-based, communicative learning. Aligned to ACTFL standards, participants experience adaptable routines, explore real-time decision-making, and leave with ready-to-use activities and a
personalized pivot plan to maintain meaningful communication anytime.
Presenters
avatar for Kate Sanders

Kate Sanders

Wayside Publishing
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
High Street 28
  Exhibitor Session

2:45pm EDT

Human-Realistic AI Partners: The Future of Interpersonal Speaking Practice
Saturday October 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
High Street 26
Scaling 1-on-1 interpersonal speaking practice in world language classrooms can be challenging. Many students do not receive enough conversation time, struggle to find the right words, and feel less confident as a result. This session explores how teacher-driven AI conversation partners can expand individualized speaking practice and personalized feedback while teachers control the content, pedagogy, and “brain” behind the AI.

What will we discuss?

* Challenges of individualized speaking feedback
* How AI supports frequent, natural conversation practice
* How to program an AI avatar for effective conversations
* Methods for delivering personalized feedback to every student
Presenters
avatar for Ben Altschuler

Ben Altschuler

Founder and CEO, Speakology AI
Speakology AI is an AI-powered language learning platform designed to help students build speaking confidence and proficiency through personalized conversational practice. Students engage in realistic, interactive conversations and receive immediate, individualized feedback, while... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
High Street 26
  Exhibitor Session

2:45pm EDT

Navigating the New AP exam with APunta al futuro
Saturday October 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
Meeting Suite 120
This session is designed to help AP Spanish Language and Culture teachers navigate the updated AP exam and discover how APunta al futuro supports their students’ success. Participants will explore the revised exam framework, take a guided tour of the textbook’s structure and resources, and walk away with practical classroom strategies and a personalized course roadmap. Whether you are new to the updated exam or looking to strengthen your current approach, this series offers the tools, insights, and collaborative planning time to move forward with confidence.
Presenters
avatar for Kate Sanders

Kate Sanders

Wayside Publishing
Saturday October 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
Meeting Suite 120
  Exhibitor Session
 

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