Winter 2016 newsletter - Colorado Congress of Foreign Language

COLORADO CONGRESS
OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS
Affiliated with the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching and the American
Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
2015-2016 Teacher of the Year
The CCFLT 2015-2016 Teacher
of the Year is Huiching “Annick”
Chen.
Annick is a Mandarin and French
Teacher at Denver Public
Schools.
Congratulations Annick! You will
be a great representative at
SWCOLT.
Volume 35 Issue 1
Winter 2016
In This Issue
Page 2
President’s Letter
Page 3
Immersion Lunch
Page 4
German Day
Page 6
Spring Conference
Keynote Speaker
Page 7
Thursday Evening
Sessions
Page 8
Spring Conference
Kick-off party
Page 9
Spring Conference
Schedule
Page 11
Get-Away
Weekend
Page 12
Teacher Tip:
Using YouTube
Page 13
Teacher Tip:
Choices
Page 14
Teacher Tip:
Behavior Reset
Page 15
Technology
Page 16
Board Candidates
Page 18
Board of Directors
Page 19
Why Serve?
Register Online for the
2016 Spring Conference
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 1
President’s Letter
H
oliday Greetings Everyone! I hope the year is going fabulously for you all. Attending the ACTFL conference was the
professional recharge I needed. Nothing beats meaningful professional development with great world language teachers from
all over the world. It is an experience I would recommend to everyone. I left with new ideas and new found energy.
It is important for all teachers to be energized this time of year
and there is no better way to do that than investing in yourself at
the CCFLT Spring Conference. Join us in Loveland, February 18th
- 20th. I am so excited to have James Wooldridge, AKA Señor
Wooly, as our Keynote speaker. We are also offering FREE Thursday evening 2 hour sessions. See page 6 for more information on
James Wooldridge’s keynote and sessions.
Following those sessions I am inviting you to the
President’s reception, free to all members. We will
have a live band so put your dancing shoes on
and let’s celebrate world language teachers!
Book your hotel room by Jan 22, 2016 to get the
conference rate: Call Embassy Suites at 1-800 EMBASSY and ask for CCFLT 2016 Spring Conference
block or book online using the discount code: FLT.
I am looking forward to seeing you all there in
February!
Becky Loftus, CCFLT President 2015-2016
[email protected]
Register Online for the 2016 Spring Conference
Online Graduate Certificate in Language Teaching
with Technology
In fall 2015, the University of Colorado Boulder launched a fully online graduate
certificate in language teaching with technology. Elevate is a 16 graduate credit
hour program composed of a variety of 3,2 and 1 credit hour courses offered
year round. It is designed for language educators who wish to improve their technological, pedagogical and linguistic proficiency. The courses address a wide range of topics
such as flipped learning, tele collaboration, the integration of the ACTFL
revised standards, the SAMR model, learning spaces, mobile learning, 21st
century skills and literacies, etc. We are planning on adding new courses
this summer!  The program is designed to be:

flexible:  the only requirements for admission are to hold a BA (or
equivalent) and be a language educator. Teachers can take the courses
in any order as there are no prerequisites.

affordable: $320 per graduate credit hour. 

high-quality: It is a demanding learning experience that requires 12 to
15 hours of work every week from its students. Course assignments include online discussions, readings,  lesson planning and classroom projects. All the courses are
taught by experts in the field of language technology. 
Eight language educators distributed over six times zones took the first course in the fall and the
spring course is filling up quickly!  For more information, visit our website (http://altec.colorado.edu/
php/elevate) or contact [email protected].
Immersion Luncheon Included with Registration!
Plan to attend the Immersion Luncheon on Saturday, February 20th from 12:20 – 1:30PM.
The only agenda for this luncheon is to relax and
socialize with other language teachers using your
target language!
Register Online for the CCFLT 2016 Spring Conference: Keeping it Real!
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 3
Calling All German Teachers!
Come to Colorado German Day!
Colorado German Day was started in 2014 by high
school German teachers Jonathan Gigler & Amy Flynn,
who were inspired by great experiences competing
with students at the Texas State German Contest &
Alabama German Day.
The goal of the event is to inspire middle school &
high school students of German with the opportunity
to learn more about German life & culture through a wide variety of creative events. Students are also
exposed to the larger German community of Colorado including many other students, teachers, professors, and native speakers from across the state and they get to know their own country, classmates, and
themselves a little better too.
I am excited to announce that the third annual Colorado German Day will be held on Friday, February 12,
2016 at Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado (a southwest suburb of Denver). This year’s theme
of ‘Sport’ will be reflected in the events Dual “Show and Tell”, T-Shirt Design, Children’s Book, Photography and Photo Essay.
We have added two new written events (grammar and culture) , updated some of our favorites, and added some fun cultural activities for students to check out between their events. Please visit our website
(www.cogermanday.com) to see what is new and to register for a day that promises to have viel Spaß.
Participation in Colorado German Day benefits teachers, students and German programs, so please come
and join us for this fabulous event. If you have any questions, please
contact me at [email protected]. Wir sehen uns bald!
Amy Flynn, Co-Founder of CGD
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 4
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Do you work with undergraduate or graduate students in
the foreign languages?
Please encourage them to volunteer at the CCFLT Spring
Conference
Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20, 2015
Duties for student volunteers include everything from setting up booths and materials to greeting conference
guests. In exchange for their assistance, the volunteers attend the conference and 2+ conference sessions on
that day at no charge.
Contact the CCFLT Volunteer Committee ([email protected]) for more information!
Student volunteers do not have to be members of the CCFLT, but we do encourage them to take advantage
of the discounted annual student membership price of $20/year http://www.ccflt.org/newmember.htm
CCFLT TEACHER GARAGE SALE!
CCFLT Teacher Garage Sale!!! This is your
chance to clean your shelves, closets, all those
nooks and crannies...and make some money!
Bring your books, games, posters, classroom
decorations, or anything else that you have and
don’t use that another world language teacher
might want to the Spring Conference.
Fill out a price ticket each item you want to sell
and drop it off in the Exhibit Hall at the CCFLT
Spring Conference. For every item you sell, $1
will be given to CCFLT and you’ll keep the rest!
If you have any questions, contact CCFLT Board
Member Kristy Swartwood
[email protected]
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 5
Keynote Speaker Jim Wooldridge
Jim Wooldridge, a Spanish teacher in Evanston, IL (near Chicago)
for nine years, used to struggle to find high-quality educational
materials for his middle school students. Most existing materials
treated students as though they were in kindergarten, or took
the opposite approach and treated them like humorless adults.
While Wooldridge’s students were beginners, they weren’t babies, and didn’t want simplistic, babyish stuff. They were drawn
in, like tweens and teens are, to funny, creative, and absurd stories with unexpected twists. So, Wooldridge decided to make
those kinds of stories himself.
In 2005, Wooldridge began writing his own music for his students. Although he had not even considered seeking a wider audience, it wasn’t long before other teachers found his first website, JamesWooldridge.com. He renamed the site Señor Wooly in 2009, when he released the music videos Billy la Bufanda and ¿Puedo ir al baño? Both were hits. Since then, he has created numerous wellknown musical stories, such as Guapo, Las Excusas, and Sé Chévere, among many others.
Although he is not currently teaching, Wooldridge keeps close ties with the local Spanish educational
community, frequently casting Spanish students and teachers to perform in his productions. Jim
Wooldridge lives in Skokie, IL with his wife and two children.
Spring Conference 2016 - Keeping it Real
Thursday, February 18, 2016 - Saturday, February 20, 2016
Rejuvenate and motivate yourself at the largest and most important event of the year for world language
teachers in Colorado. This year's Spring Conference includes many events—more than 60 sessions on
Friday and Saturday
Please be advised that online registration will be available until Friday, February 5th. Register early to take
advantage of discounted registration fees:
 October 12 - November 20 = $95/member
 November 21 - February 5 = $105/member
 On-site registration will be available at the increased price of $120.
CCFLT is offering a New Member registration deal of $157.50 per pair! In order to take advantage of this
deal, both need to register together as a group and select the NEW member deal option to begin
the conference registration. NO on-site registration pricing for this deal will be available.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 6
Thursday At-A-Glance
Two-hour sessions from 5:00pm – 7:00pm
T1: Movie Making with Señor Wooly
Presenter: James Wooldridge
Room: Big Thompson
Creating videos is an increasingly accessible tool for storytelling, yet many teachers find it intimidating.
Join Sr. Wooly as he demystifies low-budget filmmaking. Jim Wooldridge starting making short films
on his own time, using a cheap videocamera, and no training or budget. Although he later graduated
to more complex projects, the simple tricks he used to make videos like
¿Puedo ir al baño? and Guapo can be achieved by any teacher. In this session, Wooldridge will teach
practical tips for filmmaking that will drastically increase the quality of your videos. No, this is not film
school, but it’s the closest you can get in a 2 hour session. No experience is necessary. However, you
should come with a device for recording some practice shots. A smartphone is ideal.
NOTE 1: This session is not about teaching you to make class-wide video projects with your students. Rather, you will learn how to make short, low-budget videos for your students.
NOTE 2: Although Wooldridge will give recommendations on editing, this session will not teach you
how to edit.
T2 – Embedding Grammar, Vocabulary and Complex Thought Through Gestures
Presenter: Rachel Gilbert
Room: Carter Lake
Teachers will learn about John Hattie's research as it relates to Gesturing. They will first get to experience the effectiveness through a language learning demonstration. They will then learn how to apply
the research in a systematic way to ensure language acquisition. They will then have time to practice
and workshop their new skills.
T3: Content based learning for HL/LZ Mixed Classes: 10 Tips 10 Activities
Presenters: Alergria Ribadeneria
Room: Lake Loveland
Come see why teaching language through content is an effective approach for developing proficiency
for heritage and second language learners. The presenter will share 10 strategies and 10 activities that
you can use to create a content course or unit about any subject. Currently many of our courses still
rely heavily on grammar teaching, and when they turn to content the main subject is literature, which
has a narrow appeal. This presentation will give you the tools to step out of your comfort zone and
transform your teaching by daring to teach language through any interesting subject you and your
students enjoy. You will see that if your goal is primarily linguistic, you don’t need to be an expert in
the subject because the content is merely a pretext for language development. The presenter will
share syllabi, assessments, projects, activities and scaffolding techniques for use with authentic materials. All have been used in non-literature content courses, and can be adapted to any subject.
Spring Conference Kick-Off: Thursday, February 18th, 2016
Join us for an evening packed-full of learning, engagement, live music, and socializing!
5:00 – 7:00 Choose from three intriguing FREE workshops!
7:00 – 9:00 Presidential Party - Come
meet the CCFLT Past – Presidents! Let’s
celebrate and dance with WL teachers
from throughout Colorado.
Live Music by the Rendition Band
Sponsored by EF Tours
Rendition Band
Show your students the world
Register Online for the CCFLT 2016 Spring Conference: Keeping it Real!
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 8
2016 Spring Conference Schedule
Thursday Evening
5:00 – 7:00
7:00 – 9:00
Two-hour sessions
President’s Party - Everyone is WELCOME!
Friday
8:30 – 9:30
9:30 – 9:45
9:45 – 10:45
10:45 – 11:15
11:15 – 12:15
12:15 – 1:45
1:45 – 2:00
2:00 – 3:00
3:00 – 3:30
3:30 – 4:30
4:30 – 6:00
Sessions
Break
Sessions
Exhibit Hall Break
Sessions
Awards Luncheon (must pre-purchase a ticket)
Exhibit Hall Break
Sessions
Exhibit Hall Break
Sessions
Exhibitor’s Open House with wine and light hors d’oeuvres
Saturday
8:00 – 9:00
9:00 – 9:30
9:30 – 10:30
10:30 – 11:00
11:00 – 12:00
12:00 – 12:20
12:20 – 1:30
1:30 – 1:45
1:45 – 2:45
2:45 – 3:00
3:00 – 4:00
Sessions
Exhibit Hall Break
Keynote Speaker: James Wooldridge
Exhibit Hall Break
Sessions
Exhibit Hall Break
Immersion Lunches (included with registration)
Break
Sessions
Break
Sessions
A Sneak Peak at CCFLT’s Spring Conference Exhibitors Cont’d….
L & L Enterprises specializes in providing teaching materials specifically for Latin,
French and Spanish classrooms. They also offer jewelry with a mythological or
classical theme.
Common Ground International is a Spanish/English language solutions company
based in Colorado that specializes in language for specific purposes. We view
language as a practical skill for working and emerging professionals.
Pandora Languages, LLC is a Colorado-based company that offers vocabulary
cards and posters as well as stories and games for classroom use. Additionally,
you can find information about Spanish classes and camps.
Santillana USA’s mission is to make learning and teaching English and Spanish
an experience that is motivating, enriching, and effective for both teachers and
students. In a collaborative effort with authors, editors, teachers, and students,
we create instructional materials that meet needs of modern-day students
throughout the United States.
Continental Book Company offers reading materials in French, Spanish, German,
Italian, Latin, Chinese and Arabic. Additionally, they offer readings targeted at
Heritage Spanish speakers.
ISE has a passion for language and learning. Speaking the language with native
speakers and immersing oneself in the culture through a family stay are essential components of any ISE experience. Not all travel programs place this kind of
emphasis on learning but we think it adds immeasurably to the value of the experience.
EF Tours’ mission is to give students the opportunity to become more connected to and experience the world around them. The hope is that a travel experience will shape, not only their current perspective but also, their future.
Pearson strives to create learning and assessment materials for students PreK20. The company offers materials in a variety of formats in an effort to evolve
how the world learns.
The commitment that International Studies Abroad has holds the student above
all else. ISA is available to assist students, parents, and university faculty and advisors throughout the study abroad process, from choosing the appropriate program to completing the application process and participating successfully in the
study abroad experience.
Swarovski's rich heritage of craftsmanship, creativity and innovation ensures that
the quality, cut and finish of every crystal in their jewelry is second to none.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 10
Make it a Weekend Get-Away!
The Spring Conference is being held at the beautiful Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa & Conference Center in
Loveland, Colorado.
Come with your friends and enjoy all the Spring Conference and Embassy Suites have to offer! Come by
yourself and make new friends! Reserve a room today at the CCFLT special pricing of only $129 per suite.
All the rooms at the Embassy Suites are spacious suites featuring a private bedroom and a separate living
room with a wet bar. There is also fitness center, indoor pool, and hot tub!
Please know that the Hotel will offer the group rates until midnight on Friday, January 22, 2016 or until the
block is sold out, whichever happens first. Additionally, the above rates include a full hot breakfast and
evening reception, both served daily! Group Discount Code: FLT
It is with great pleasure that the Colorado Congress
of Foreign Language Teachers (CCFLT) appoints Anna
Crocker to replace Judith Cale as the Colorado representative to SWCOLT beginning in March 2016.
Anna Crocker has had much experience on the CCFLT
Board of Directors including the position of CCFLT
President. She will represent Colorado extremely
well and will be a definite asset to the SWCOLT Board
of Directors.
Congratulations and thank you Anna!
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 11
What to do with
More and more often we turn to You Tube in order to incorporate listening
into a lesson plan. While these target language videos are authentic, engaging and easy to incorporate into a high interest lesson plan, they are often
incomprehensible to our students. Additionally, it can be time consuming
for a teacher with 3 to 4 preps to continually make level appropriate comprehension guides. Here are several adaptable activities that can quickly be
used with any You Tube video in order to make them accessible and comprehensible to our students. Enjoy!

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See, Hear, Hear and See: Students watch a video with the sound off
and record what they see. Then have students listen. Have them write
down what they hear. Lastly, play the video with sound and have students discuss what they hear and see.
Silent Movie: Have students watch the clip. Then have them write a
script for the script. Play with sound and have the students compare
what they wrote to what they heard.
Summary: There are many different options for summarizing. Students may create a title for a video. They can summarize with one word,
3 words, 3 phrases or even a paragraph. Another favorite is students can
create a comic strip summary of the video.
3.2.1: Students listen for 3 words, 2 phrases and 1 sentence they think
are important or students can write down 3 opinions, 2 questions and 1
idea they will not forget.
Can you hear it?: Create a list of words or phrases from the video. As
students hear them, they highlight or circle the word.
Predictions: Give the student a list of word from the video. Ask
them to predict what the video will be about. Watch the video and see if
they were correct.
The Teacher: Have students create a quiz based off of the listening.
It doesn’t matter even if their answers are correct. This is a great opportunity to practice forming questions. Likewise students could also create
a comprehension guide for you!
Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?: Students must come up with
the who, what, when, where and why or even better they must create a
series of questions about the video that begin with the magic question
words.
Sentence Starters: Choose level appropriate sentence starters. Show
them the video at least once and have them complete the sentences either orally or in writing. Some possible starters are: I see / I hear / There
is /The man / The woman / I like / I don’t like / I agree with / I disagree
with / This is similar to / This is different from / This is reminds me of / A
question I have is / I felt _____ when / At first / Finally
CCFLT is now posting jobs for world
language teachers
on our webpage!
To check for job
openings, go to
www.ccflt.org and
hover over the Resources tab.
When the Resources menu
opens, there is a
link to the job
postings.
If your school has
an opening you
would like listed,
please send the
information to:
[email protected]
Register Online for the CCFLT 2016 Spring Conference: Keeping it Real!
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 12
The Power of Choices
This journey started with my new Twitter account. There it was, a whole world of resources
ready to use and explore for my classroom in one click away. It was overwhelming, I must admit,
but after several weeks of exploring and sifting through I was able to follow a good number of sites and people
with incredible interesting ideas. What happened is as follows: I’ve been teaching for more than a decade, mostly
middle and high school Spanish; my number one priority (and somehow struggle) has been to find authentic, and
engaging ways for my students to encounter and experience the language and culture of the Spanish speaking
world.
For the last several years, I have assigned all my students a monthly calendar where they are supposed to record
any exposure, at least five minutes a day, they have with the language/culture. I provided a list of examples like:
watch some Spanish speaking television programs, talk to your family in Spanish, listen to the radio on the way to/
from school, etc. My students, in general, were compliant and did the assignments month after month; turning in a
calendar with some details of their work and a parent signature to confirm the assignment was done as intended.
However, I as was not very excited about the outcome and how vague the assignment seemed to my students and
families; even though I wanted to give my students complete freedom and flexibility to successfully complete the
work.
Then I signed up for Twitter after attending a language conference, and I completely reformed my homework assignment. I became inspired by #Musicuentos (homework choices-by several authors) and created my own version
for my homework calendar. My new version includes a point system, the more challenging the tasks are the more
points students can earn. Students are required to complete 3 activities (minimum) per month, and accumulate a
maximum of 45 points. There is a 3-tiered system with activities in the 5, 10 and 15 point categories respectively.
The activities are varied, engaging and differentiated. For example, the 5 point category includes: changing their
phone’s language setting to Spanish for an entire day, the 10 point category includes reading half a chapter of their
favorite book in Spanish, and the 15 point category includes completing a song in www.lyricstraining.com . However the most interesting part of this new format is that students need to submit proof of the completed activities,
which takes this assignment to a different level of engagement.
Since implementing this system I have received videos of parents having conversations in Spanish with their children, screen shoots of phones with settings in Spanish, videos of students singing the songs we learn in class, journal entries about the political situation in Venezuela from www.unvision.com, videos of skits performed by my students for their families during the holidays etc. This new system of has brought enthusiasm, engagement and a
new way of learning to my classroom and my professional career. Students and their parents are excited to complete these monthly little projects, they are constantly asking me if I had added new activities for the coming
months, and in many cases they have provided me with many new ideas which I have incorporated into the assignment.
You can find an example of my assignment for 6th graders in beginning Spanish with
the following link: http://tinyurl.com/spanishcontacto. This journey started as an exploration for new resources, and it has allowed me to discover in the process that it’s all
about being open to new ideas and collaboration. Giving choices when assigning this
type of homework, has boarded my students’ cultural horizons, and allowed me to
adapt to their diverse learning styles.
Yolanda Meiler
Register Online for the CCFLT 2016 Spring Conference: Keeping it Real!
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 13
Behavior Reset: Time to Re-establish Rituals and Routines in Class
By Connie Navarro
You started with a focus on rituals and routines, but that things got busy, fell by the wayside, you got lax, and now things
are crazy OR you jumped right in with instruction, and just assumed your students would follow you. Without teaching
routines, students developed routines of their own and behavior is out of control. The new semester is a new opportunity to do a Behavior Reset. But how do you reset? Here are 6 ideas to get you going:
1. Announce the Reset: Tell your students that today (or starting tomorrow...) we are going to focus on behavior and routines. Tell them things have gotten out of hand, and that you take ownership for that. Tell that you are
going to be more clear and more consistent.
2. Rearrange the Seating: Changing the seating chart might be enough,
but in most cases it is not. Take a good look at how your seats are arranged: Are all students easily accessible to you? No one should be in a
place that you can’t suddenly appear and be seen standing by them. Can the
screen / board be seen from all seats? No one should be with their back to
the main focus of your lesson or so far to the side that they cannot see the
warm up / announcements, etc. Start filling your chart with students who
need to sit up front / near you because of vision / hearing / behavior needs.
3. Clean up the Clutter: A tidy, welcoming physical environment tells everyone this is place to learn. A room
with trash on the floor, ripped posters, desks with writing on them, and dusty books whispers “ Its OK. Be lazy; mediocre is all that is expected here.”
4. Teach the vocabulary need to run class in the Target Language: It is frustrating to have to go into English or
to have kids ask you what something means when you have been saying it for the last 18 weeks. Identify 5-8 key
terms (listen, look, write, get a paper/ pencil, clear your desk, give, say, raise your hand, show me, etc.) that you need
to teach, make some word wall support posters, and teach your students what these words mean. Practice the terms
every day.
5. Model and practice procedures: Successful teachers have a procedure for everything from coming in and going out of the room, to using the bathroom pass, borrowing a pencil, handing in papers, getting students’ attention,
and more. Take the time to teach the procedure: Class, when I need to get your attention, I will stop, raise my hand
and say “please listen” in the target language. Then I will wait until everyone is silently looking at me. Let’s practice. I
will walk around handing out the next activity and you all chat with your neighbors. When I say... wait, what am I going to say to signal to you that I need your attention? (call on a student to tell you). Yes, when I raise my hand and
say “please listen” you will all stop and silently look at me. Anna will time us to see how long it takes. Second period
was silent in 5 seconds. I wonder if you can beat that.
6. Recommit Yourself: If students are careless about behavior, you have gotten careless about management.
Every time your class gets careless about behavior, slow way down, talk less, focus on what students are doing. Tell
you students you have let them down and that you will be better about holding everyone accountable. If we want
our kids to be well trained, we have to be better trainers. Whenever you feel like you are losing control of your students, it is because of something you are doing – or not doing. Effective classroom management is a daily, hourly,
minute by minute task.
Suggested reading: The First Days of School, by Harry Wong, Teaching with Love and Logic, by Jim Fay and David Funk
and How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk, by Elaine Mazlish and Adele Faber.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 14
Online resources for World Language Teachers
Nina Barber, Denver Public Schools
Let me start by saying that none of these resources pay me, nor give me anything free. Maybe when they
read this article, they will feel bad, or honored, and will kick a little something my way, maybe extend my
membership or send me a Starbucks card. But a kickback is not why I am sharing this info. I just found these
resources and enjoy playing with them and think they have value in the classroom.
Kahoot!! (https://getkahoot.com/) Free quiz and game program. Students need cell
phones, tablets with internet access to play. I learned about Kahoot! at a CCFLT conference in Loveland, about 2 or 3 years ago. (Whoever presented this session, thank you!).
You can design your own quiz / game questions or find an existing one in the files.
Great for review, especially on those low-attended, low-energy snow days or the days
before a long weekend. Teachers can upload videos or pictures to add another dimension to the game questions.
Textivate (http://www.textivate.com/) Great for reading review.
Textivate will take a reading (that you type in or paste in), and scramble it in a variety of ways. The scrambled reading can be printed, or
projected so students can unscramble in teams. Smartboard compatible. Designed expressly for language instruction. About $45/
year.
This is Language (https://www.thisislanguage.com/) Short, clear, native
speaker videos divided by difficulty and topic. Videos in Spanish, French, and
German. Transcripts for each video available, plus online quizzes and games.
I foolishly started my free 2-week trial the week before winter break, so I didn’t
get to use any of this with my students. But I played with the Spanish, and
enjoyed it. The language is clear but natural. The topics are interesting. Bad
news: NOT free. I am lucky. My district has purchased this for all World Language classrooms. The price becomes much more reasonable if you purchase for a
larger department or district. Singleton teachers, this may be pretty pricey for you.
Lyrics Training (http://lyricstraining.com/) If you like to teach music, this one is for you!
Available in multiple languages, students can listen to popular music in the TL, and fill in
the blanks in the lyrics at the same time! Be warned: it takes good typing skills! Teachers can upload a song and work like crazy to type in the lyrics...or use one of the songs
already uploaded by another hard-working teacher. Different levels, too. FREE!!!
Señor Wooly (https://www.senorwooly.com/) Spanish teachers? This is the best resource
for your classroom, hands down. Music. Reading. Activities. Games. Basic access is only
$35/year, and if you like to laugh with your students, you will find it the best $35 you will
spend this year!! Señor Wooly is a great teacher with a wickedly great sense of humor,
one that your students will truly appreciate (and you will enjoy as well, even after viewing
multiple times per school day). And if you haven’t heard already, Señor Wooly (Jim
Wooldridge) will be the Keynote Speaker at our upcoming conference in Loveland. You
were planning to come, right? See for yourself how good he is.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 15
Candidates for the CCFLT Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is the heart and soul of CCFLT. Without these dedicated members, CCFLT would not exist. They put in a lot
of time and hard work to provide the world language teachers of Colorado and surrounding areas the best professional development and support possible. The ballot box is in the Exhibits Hall. Stop by to cast your vote. Full biographies are available by the
ballot box.
Candidates for President-Elect (Vote for one)
Connie Navarro, Denver Public Schools
As a veteran teacher with more than 20 years of experience
teaching French, I will bring insight and perspective to the role
of CCFLT President. In my current work as Peer Observer for
World Languages for Denver Public Schools, I have the pleasure
to observe, evaluate and coach ~100 teachers of Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Spanish for Heritage
Speakers.
I am enthusiastic to lead our professional organization, and to
represent the great state of Colorado regionally and nationally.
Candidates for At-Large Representative (Vote for one)
Noah Geisel
It has been an honor to serve on the CCFLT Board and represent World Languages colleagues throughout the state. On the
PR & Outreach Committee, I have led our monthly Early Career
Language Teacher Hangouts on YouTube and shared articles in
the newsletters and social media. I am passionate about supporting teachers statewide and have led CCFLT miniconferences to Grand Junction and Pueblo. CCFLT and its members have been the lifeblood of my professional learning and
growth throughout my career and I appreciate the opportunity
to continue serving you and promoting the study of language
and culture.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 16
Candidates for Elementary/Secondary Representative
(Vote for four)
Lauren Tauchman Charter School Institute/Formerly
Adams 12
Being a member of the CCFLT Board would allow me to share my values of connection, dedication and service. I value connecting with my students and colleagues. I do so by empowering my students and collaborating with other teachers in person and social media outlets. As
a member of the board, I would connect to teachers across the state to share our passions
and expertise. I dedicate myself to the practice by integrating new strategies and by collaborating with great teachers. I am continually improving in active engagement, differentiation,
and assessment, among other areas. I also serve my fellow teachers as a mentor, a Teacher
Induction Supervisor, and soon-to-be certified Instructional Coach. I have also volunteered
teaching ELL night classes in Boulder for three years. I have taught K-6 and junior high Spanish. In my spare time, I enjoy biking, learning the mandolin and guitar, and laughing with my
friends.
Karen Carmean Spanish/English Teacher, Denver Public
Schools
I am from Denver, Colorado and am very excited to be running for my second term on the
CCFLT board! I try to bring new ideas to the board while advocating for early language
learning, comprehensible input, professional development opportunities, and nationwide
collaboration for language teachers. I speak Spanish and French and am currently teaching
K-5 Spanish and 1-5 Heritage Spanish at an IB elementary in an urban area of Denver. I am
deeply committed to equitable access to language for all students and absolutely LOVE what
I do. On a more personal note, I love spending time with my family, friends, and pets. I run
the Soccer for Success program at my school which is amazing. I love to travel, cook, watch
the latest movies, learn new languages, and spend time encouraging and enriching the lives
of youth
Lyanne Terada Spanish Teacher, Adams 12
Eric Liddell in the movie Chariots of Fire said, “God made me fast. And when
I run, I feel His pleasure.” We may all come from diverse backgrounds and
belief systems, but many of us are teachers because of the great joy we feel
in the classroom, as if it were what we were meant to be and do. I have
been an educator for the past twenty years: first a Peace Corps volunteer in
Belize, then an elementary school teacher, and finally a public high school
Spanish teacher. Coming from the state of Hawaii, CCFLT has helped me
transition to the mainland by the quality of its conferences and the networking of professionals. I hope to serve on the Board as a means of giving
back to our profession. Although my Peruvian friends said I have soft hands,
i.e. educated hands, I am not afraid of hard work.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 17
Colorado Conference of
Foreign Language Teachers
Published September, January
and April
www.ccflt.org
Julie Doyle, Editor
[email protected]
Have a question about dues?
Please email Kristen Boehm
CCFLT Executive Treasurer:
[email protected]
Advertising rates and policies:
You are invited to advertise in
the CCFLT Newsletter. Commercial ads, which support the
mission of CCFLT and are of
interest to the profession, including tour and book ads, are
accepted for the following
rates:
Size of ad Charge Size of Copy
Full Page $250 (7¼” X 9”)
Half Page $125 (7¼” X4½”)
Half page $125 (3½” X 9”¼)
Quarter Page $75 (3½” X 4½”)
Prices indicate a one-time submission in the newsletter.
If you have questions regarding appropriate software or
design files for ads, contact
Heather Witten at [email protected]
Advance payment is appreciated. Make checks payable to
CCFLT and send to: Amy
Flynn, CCFLT Executive Secretary P.O. Box 270065 Louisville,
CO 80027-9998
If you would like to pay for
your advertising using a credit
card, use the following link and
passcode http://www.regonline.com/
newsletteradvertfees
CCFLT Board of Directors
POSITION
EDUCATIONAL ROLE
Becky Loftus
President (Spanish)
Oberon MS, Jefferson County
Public Schools
Diana Noonan
Past-President (French)
World Languages Coordinator,
Denver Public Schools
Bryce Hedstrom
President-Elect (Spanish)
Roosevelt HS / Weld RE5J
Nina Barber
Elementary/Secondary Representative Thomas Jefferson High School,
(Spanish)
DPS
Sabine Moosbrugger
Elementary/Secondary Representative Pueblo Centennial HS, Pueblo City
(German)
Schools D60
Karen Carmean
Elementary/Secondary Representative Sabin World Elementary, DPS
(Spanish)
Noah Geisel
Elementary/Secondary Representative East High School
(Spanish)
Eliza Pfeifer
Elementary/Secondary Representative St. Mary's Academy
(French)
Allan Spriggs
Elementary/Secondary Representative Thornton HS, Adams 12 SD
(German)
Kristy Swartwood
Elementary/Secondary Representative Englewood Middle
(Spanish)
School, Englewood School District
Matthew Webster
Elementary/Secondary Representative Mountain Ridge Middle School,
(Spanish)
Colorado Springs
Heather Witten
Elementary/Secondary Representative Elizabeth High School, Elizabeth
(Spanish)
School District
Connie Navarro
Elementary/Secondary Representative Denver Public Schools Peer Ob(Spanish)
server
Richard Dodge
Post-secondary Representative
(French)
United States Air Force Academy,
Colorado Springs
Elaine Tendetnik
Post-secondary Representative
(French)
United States Air Force Academy,
Colorado Springs
Kristen Boehm
Executive Treasurer (Spanish)
Virtual Academy, Jefferson County
Public Schools
Amy Flynn
Executive Secretary (German)
Jefferson County Public Schools,
WL Coordinator
Julie Doyle
Newsletter Editor
Evergreen Senior High
Edwige Simon
Webmaster
University of Colorado, Boulder
Janine Erickson
Advocacy Liaison
Denver Language School
Toni Theisen
CDE Liaison
Thompson Valley High School
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2016
Page 18
Why Serve on the CCFLT Board?
The Board of Directors positions, which last for two academic years,
give members the opportunity to:

Practice Communication skills in at least two languages

Promote Connections at state, regional, and nation’s levels

Make Friendships all over the state

Gain Leadership and professional growth opportunities

Share Teaching tips, experiences and concerns
Do you know a colleague who might be?
The responsibilities:

Serve for two academic years (beginning the May after you are
elected)

Attend monthly meetings from August to May

Attend fall retreat in August

Work at the Spring Conference

Serve on a minimum of two committees; one Standing and one
Spring Conference committee

Chair a committee in your second year
Reimbursements and benefits include:

Up to twelve hours CDE recertification credit

Mileage at 25 cents per mile

Spring Conference registration and two luncheon meals

Fall Conference registration

Certificates for volunteer hours

Building statewide networking
connections
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Are you interested
in serving on the
CCFLT Board of Directors?
Serving on the Board
provides great opportunities for networking, collegiality, giving back to your profession, and most of
all, FUN.
To express your interest in running in the
next election, to nominate a colleague, or
to get more information, please contact:
Noah Geisel [email protected]
I look forward to
hearing from you.
Winter 2016
Page 19