2026 NYSAFLT Annual Conference

This session will walk participants through our district's multi-year transition to proficiency-based exams, focusing on the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL). We will share details on how we have managed the technical logistics of district-wide testing and prepared for implementation across several schools. Discussion will include successes and challenges, along with some considerations for schools and districts across the state.

Have you ever thought about hosting a student teacher but were afraid of the time commitment? Join us as we chat about the value of supporting future language educators and to explore the opportunities available at local universities to work with student teachers. Participants will walk away with a newfound understanding of how collaborating with a student teacher can be both empowering and possibly the best world language PD ever.

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.

In this workshop, I will demonstrate how podcasts in the target language can be used not only for interpretive communication and cultural exploration, but also to engage students in the interpersonal and presentational modes. Participants will explore how to select appropriate podcasts for learners at all proficiency levels and will receive a step-by-step guide to implementing a tertulia-style activity. This includes creating key vocabulary lists, summary slides, and scaffolded discussion questions aligned to different Depths of Knowledge (DOK) levels.

Join us for an engaging conversation about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). This is part of a new series of sessions supported by NECTFL, ACTFL, and NYSAFLT and other State Organizations to create spaces for dialogue and to share stories. This is a space for listening, reflection, and mutual support to give voice to our experiences. Feel free to bring a friend. All are welcome.

Are you wondering how your World Language Department can best meet the needs for both Heritage Learners and ELLs? If you are, then this workshop is for you! In this workshop we will share the steps taken to initiate programs and courses that are designed to best address the needs of Heritage Learners and ELLs in the World Language Classroom. In this workshop curricula, activities, and strategies designed and implemented in our Spanish Language Arts Program and Heritage Spanish Program will be shared as well as what we did to get courses and programs approved to support the academic success of a growing subgroup of our student population. We will also share details and the adjustments we have made while implementing the SLA program.