COLORADO CONFERENCE OF
FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS
Affiliated with the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching and the
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Volume 34 Issue 1
Winter 2015
In This Issue
CCFLT TOY 2014-2015
The Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers would
like to announce the 2014-2015
CCFLT Teacher of the Year. This
prestigious award is being given
to Leslie Davison, Spanish
Teacher at Summit High School
and Dillon Valley Elementary.
The committee recognizes the
high quality of Ms. Davison’s
instruction, commitment to advocacy and outstanding competency. Such merits are not easy
or common to find. We are
proud to have among us such committed teachers as Ms. Davison and we are thrilled to have her represent us at the regional
competition during the Southwest Conference on Language
Teaching, which will be held in Denver, Colorado in February,
2015.
Page 2
Fall Conference
Pictures
Page 3
President’s Letter
Page 4
Mini-Conference
Page 7
Spring Conference
Flyer
Page 8
Spring Conference
Keynote Speaker
Page 9
Spring Conference
Sneak Peek
Page 10
CCFLT Board
Candidates
Page 13
New Teacher
Scholarships
Page 14
Idea Avalanche
Page 15
Technology
Page 16
Advocacy
Page 18
Board of Directors
Page 19
Why Serve?
Register Online for the
SWCOLT / CCFLT 2015
Spring Conference
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 1
Fall 2014 Conference Pictures
Reaching New Heights in Teacher Effectiveness:
Moving beyond the Plateau
Looking for some new ideas or inspiration?
CCFLT will be starting a webinar series for 2015 that will focus on professional development. These
webinars will be available for members and attendees will be able to earn a certificate of attendance for
certification. Webinars will include a variety of topics such as:

technology in the classroom

reading strategies

using current events in the classroom

connecting your classroom to the real world
Our first presenter will be Laura Sexton, who will present on the use of project based learning (PBL) in the
target language. Laura has most recently presented at ACTFL in November and has a fantastic blog at
http://sraspanglish.blogspot.com/ where you can learn more about her and some of the projects she uses in her classroom.
This webinar is sponsored by Sophia.org and will take place on Monday, January 26th at 8pm MST. Register for your spot today here.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
January 2015
Page 2
President’s Letter
Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a restful and restorative
break with friends and family.
Privileged to attend the 2014 ACTFL Conference in November, a highlight for me was
the keynote speech by Annie Griffiths, one of the first women photographers to work
for National Geographic. She has photographed in nearly 150 countries and all 50
states during her illustrious career. In her speech she spoke of language as the key to
cultural understanding and tolerance. With thousands of language educators in attendance, we had no trouble agreeing with that message. “Photographing people is
all about trust, earning their trust… even stumbling through a language and not being afraid, help a photographer earn the trust of the people.” Agreed! As language
educators we know that “not being afraid” while taking risks is essential in the acquisition process. So much of what she said about what is important in order to be successful as a photographer resonated with all in attendance. Her speech was so inspiring that the Tweets quoting her were flowing. Here are just a few…
Just as learning a language can free you, being prevented from learning a language can keep you under control… One of the best things we can
teach our students is to be fearless… Send your students out with a twinkle, make learning about culture fun… Teach them to have fun discovering new cultures, be an explorer, and get out of their comfort zone! ... Photographers and language teachers travel, learn, discover… Fear is the
enemy of exploration… When traveling, get away from your own language… When we travel, when we visit another culture, we should respect
the fact that we are guests in their world… As teachers of language, put a story line into language to ignite passion in students… *My wish for
you and your students is a passion so great that you forget to put your pants on! *To fully understand this last quote, go to Annie Griffith’s TED
talk: Annie Griffiths TED talk.
This year for our Spring Conference, CCFLT is hosting the regional SWCOLT conference, Effective teaching: Soaring
a Mile Higher. A growing body of research points to teacher effectiveness as the most critical factor in student
achievement. Teaching today is extremely challenging. With so many initiatives intended to improve teaching
practice but which often have the effect of creating tremendous roadblocks, teachers need to find inspiration and
passion in order to be effective. It is my belief that effective teaching must always involve strategies which encourage our students to take risks with language, while having fun. Conference sessions will showcase best practice
teaching strategies that maximize student achievement.
Join your CCFLT colleagues, as well as language educators from seven other states affiliated with SWCOLT, in
Broomfield at the Omni Interlocken Resort Hotel, February 26-28. For more information on the conference,
SWCOLT CCFLT/SWCOLT spring conference. Book your hotel room by Feb. 4 to get the conference rate: Make a
room reservation at the OMNI Interlocken
I’m looking forward to seeing you in February!
Diana Noonan
CCFLT President 2014-15
Register Online for the SWCOLT /
CCFLT 2015 Spring Conference
[email protected]
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 3
Grand Junction To Host CCFLT
Mini-Conference
Grand Junction will be hosting a CCFLT mini-conference on Saturday, January 10th, from 8:30am-12pm at Grand Junction High
School. The Mini-Conference is free to all CCFLT members.
The half-day gathering will include three
sessions. Bryce
Hedstrom, CCFLT
board member and
All-Star presenter
will give a session
on embedded reading strategies with
leveled folk tales.
Noah Geisel, also a
CCFLT board member and 2013 ACTFL Teacher of the Year will present on technology
tools for the World Language classroom.
The morning will conclude with breakout sessions modeled after
the EdCamp unconference.
There no need to pre-register. To help us plan appropriately,
please let us know you plan to attend. Please send an email with
CCFLT RSVP in the subject line to: [email protected]
Look for Pueblo to host at CCFLT mini-conference in April.
Are you on Twitter? Follow
@CCFLT for current events
and happenings. This is the
great place to find links for
professional development
and resources
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
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].
Page 4
In memory of...
Lynn A. Sandstedt, first CCFLT President and long-time member, founder of
SWCOLT and previous Executive Director of the AATSP, passed away Thursday,
October 30, 2014 at the age of 82.
Below is a brief biography of Lynn that summarizes some of his major contributions to our organization and to the field of foreign language education.
Lynn A. Sandstedt (October 19, 1932) was a native of Colorado and spent most of
his life and career in that state. He received his PhD in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He taught at the University of
Northern Colorado for 22 years where he also served as the Chairman of the Foreign Language Department and the Department of Hispanic Studies. Dr. Sandstedt
co-authored several textbooks for use at the university level including the popular
intermediate series comprising the textbooks Conversación y repaso, Civilización y
cultura, Literatura y arte.
Always involved professionally, he founded and/or led each of the primary Foreign Language teaching organizations in the state of Colorado and Nationwide: the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers - serving as
its first President from 1963-1965, the Foreign Language Administrators of Colorado, the American Council of
Teachers of Foreign Language, the American Association of the Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, the South
West Conference on Language Teaching, and the Joint National Committee for Languages and National Council
for Languages and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
Lynn received several prestigious awards for his work in foreign language education. Two of the most recent honors have been the Robert G. Mead, Jr. Award for Distinguished Leadership and Scholarly Contributions to the Profession given by the AATSP and The Cross of Alfonso X, given by King Juan Carlos and the Ministry of Education of
Spain for outstanding contributions to the teaching of Spanish.
Lynn had a long and illustrious career within the field of foreign language education and Hispanic studies but always took the time to help others with their own careers. He served as mentor to many pre-service teachers and in
-service faculty members and guided many individuals as they served on organization boards and committees. He
will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues. Upon learning that Lynn had passed, CCFLT and ACTFL
Past-President Toni Theisen wrote,
“For so many of us language teachers in Colorado, we have benefited so much from Lynn's devotion, determination and action
to give world languages a voice in Colorado. From all the professional development opportunities he offered at UNC every summer, to the study abroad programs he supported for Spanish teachers, to his persistence that world languages be a part of the
requirement required for college admission to making sure world languages had a voice in the standards movement, Lynn was
the ultimate leader. So many of us also benefited from his mentorship not only to be good teachers, but also powerful leaders in
our profession. Many do not know that he was one of the founders of CCFLT. But what we will really miss is his gracious kindness, his wonderful wit and his caring heart. We will miss Lynn Sandstedt an awful lot. Peace, Lynn”.
CCFLT would like to express condolences to his family including his beloved wife Phyllis, his two sons, his daughters-in-law and grandchildren. We have made a donation to the Lynn Sandstedt Scholarship Fund. Our Program
Leadership Award has been re-named the Lynn Sandstedt Program Leadership Award. For more information about
this award see CCFLT Grants and Awards.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 5
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
In case you have not heard, the SWCOLT/CCFLT joint spring conference is coming to the Omni Interlocken in Broomfield, February 26-28, 2015!
CCFLT is seeking "Student Marshalls" (volunteers) for the
conference. These Student Marshalls should preferably be college students
studying languages or WL education and interested in helping out at the conference in exchange for getting to see sessions for free. The job consists of
greeting people as they enter a session, handing out 10 evaluation forms randomly, collecting the evaluations at the end of the session, and taking them to a
small office where another Student Marshall will be sorting and compiling the results of the evaluation.
We will need about 5 Student Marshalls each day. When they are not handing out or collecting surveys, they are welcome to sit in on sessions with available space, or they can volunteer to help out in other areas as needed.
This is a great opportunity for WL students to attend an excellent conference for free! Meet other students, connect
with teachers and scholars, learn some classroom tips or hear scholarly lectures.
About 25 years ago I attended a SWCOLT conference in Denver, connected with the language coordinator for the Denver Public Schools, interviewed with her at the conference, and 6 months later, moved to Denver to teach Spanish.
Don’t miss a chance to make a connection of your own!
Please share this information, and contact Nina Barber if you are interested: [email protected]
CCFLT Teacher Garage Sale!
Do you have teaching materials that you don’t use anymore? Resources that other teachers might be able to use? Are you retiring and are wondering what to do with all your teaching stuff?
Bring it all to the CCFLT Teacher Garage Sale at the SWCOLT/
CCFLT joint conference! Sell your books, games, posters, classroom decorations, or anything else you no longer use that another world language teacher may be able to use!
Fill out a price ticket for each item you want to sell and tape it to
the item. Bring your items for sale to the Garage Sale table in the
Exhibit Hall at the spring conference. For every item you sell, $1
will be given to CCFLT and the rest is yours! All money and items
not sold, must be picked by the end of the conference on Saturday or will be considered donations to CCFLT.
If you have any questions, contact CCFLT board member, Kristy Swartwood at [email protected].
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 6
Come with your friends and enjoy all the Omni Interlocken in Broomfield has to offer or come by yourself
and make new friends! Reserve a room today at the SWCOLT/CCFLT special pricing of only $139 per
night. Experience Denver hotel accommodations with the utmost in comfort and refinement, at Omni Interlocken Hotel.
Relax among exquisite appointments in one of our 390 deluxe
guest rooms, complete with custom bedding, refined furnishings
and tile baths.
Want to take a break
while at the conference? Enjoy complimentary bikes are available so you can experience the beautiful
Colorado Mountain air while enjoying one of many surrounding trails. The Tap Room offers complimentary billiards and
foosball from 4:00 p.m. – Midnight or relax poolside at one of
the two outdoor heated pools open year-round.
Click here to reserve a room at the SWCOLT/CCFLT special price! This special conference pricing is valid
until February 4th, so book your room today!
Register online for the SWCOLT/CCFLT Spring 2015 Conference
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 7
SWCOLT and CCFLT Welcome Keynote Speaker Thomas Sauer
Thomas Sauer, is a visionary thinker, designer and change facilitator, and
Director of Design and Communication for Advance Learning, a newly
found non-profit organization focused on identifying teacher effectiveness
in non- core subject areas and empowering educators to become more effective. Previously, he served as World Language Specialist for school systems in major urban areas such as Louisville, Kentucky where Thomas was
instrumental in guiding teachers to design units of study learning resources and implement articulated proficiency-based programs and assessments. Other professional experiences include teaching German at the
University of Kentucky, Georgetown College, the Kentucky Institute for Inter- national Studies, and through a nationally distributed distance learning series at Kentucky Educational Television.
Passionate about helping others make the shift from teaching to learning and always looking for new
ways to learn with and from teachers, Thomas is a sought-after workshop facilitator and keynote
speaker. He works throughout the country with school districts, universities, professional organizations
and other educational entities on curriculum and assessment development, 21st Century skills and literacies, effective use of technology to facilitate learning, and bringing transparency to educational institutions and organizations.
Thomas has directed a variety of state and federal grants, most recently as program consultant and
program director for several successful STARTALK student and teacher programs and a multi-year Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant. He has served as President of the Kentucky World
Language Association as well as on the Board of the National Association of District Supervisors of
Foreign Languages and the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Currently he is serving a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the American Council on the
Teaching of Foreign Languages. Most recently, Thomas was one of the authors of two national framework publications impacting today’s world language classrooms: the P21 World Languages Skills Map
(published by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills) and the Teacher Effectiveness for Language
Learning Project.
Named a “Global Visionary” by the World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana in 2010 and
the Pearson Supervisor of the Year by the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages in 2011, Thomas has turned his attention to using a global professional learning network (PLN)
in order to help teachers around the world take charge of their own professional learning.
Register Online for the SWCOLT / CCFLT Spring Conference 2015
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 8
SWCOLT / CCFLT Spring Conference Session Sneak Peak
C
heck out below a sampling of the sessions from
across the southwest region as well as your Colorado favorites including Mira Canion, Linda Egnatz,
Janine Erickson, Bryce Hedstrom, Toni Theisen, and
many more. ACTFL presenters Paul Sandrock, Laura
Terrill, and 2014 ACTFL Teacher of the Year will also
be there!
Best of Arizona: Student Attitudes Toward the
Use of Mobile Devices in the Language Classroom: Lauren Lewis, Northern Arizona University
Best of California: I am Totally #FreakedIn - Project-based Learning for World Languages: Don
Doehla, Vintage High School
Best of Colorado: Poop...And Other Ways to Get Kids Running to Class: Shannon Ruiz, CY Middle School
Best of Hawaii: Show and Tell me What you Learned: Cindy Wong, Moanalua High School
World Language Learning Center
Best of Oklahoma: iPad Applications for the Classroom: Calli McNickle, Cimarron Middle
School
Best of New Mexico: Engaging All Students By Using Old School Techniques and Awesome
New Technology: Lonnie Dai Zovi, El Dorado High School
Schokolade + Olympische Spiele: Two Thematic Units for Upper Level German Classes: Helena
Shirai, Boulder High School
Keys to Planning for Learning: Effective Lesson Design: Laura Terrill, Independent Consultant
Lead With Languages to Develop Global Competence: Paul Sandrock, ACTFL
Learning Stations Powered by Authentic Resources: Kara Parker, Creative Language Class and
Megan Smith, Creative Language Class / JCPS
Register Online for the SWCOLT / CCFLT Spring Conference 2015
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 9
2015-2016 Board Candidates
Candidates for President:
Amy Flynn / Jefferson County School District / Subject Taught:
German
It is with great enthusiasm that I respectfully submit my application to serve on the
CCFLT board as President Elect. My name is Amy Flynn, and I have been a teacher
of German for 14 years and a member of CCFLT for the past 7 years. After serving
CCFLT for two years as a secondary representative, and this year as the board's executive secretary, I believe I have more to give this wonderful organization that has
already given me so much. My interest in serving as President Elect stems from my desire to be an advocate for our content, our teachers and our students. If elected I promise to bring my organizational skills
and passion for world language education to serve the board and our members.
Bryce Hedstrom / Roosevelt High School / Subject Taught:
Spanish
I teach in a Johnstown, in a small district north of Denver and I bring unique
perspective that can relate to teachers in all parts of the state. I also am involved in our profession at many levels, having served on state curriculum
and standards committees, and regularly presenting in university methods
courses, ACTFL and many other state, regional and national conferences.
The biggest help to me as a classroom teacher has been CCFLT, which has given me ideas, materials,
contacts and friends. I now want to give back and encourage others to get involved. Many past presidents of CCFLT have helped me both professionally and personally and I want to carry on that caring
and involved legacy.
As president of CCFLT my focus will be on supporting all teachers and providing resources, training and
encouragement to help us all be more effective and have more fun in our classrooms.
Candidate for At Large:
Nina Barber / Thomas Jefferson High School (DPS) / Subject Taught: Spanish
Hi, I am Nina Barber and I am running for re-election for the at-large position of the
CCFLT Board. I am a Spanish teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, and
have taught in DPS most of my adult life. When I am not at TJ, I teach and practice
TaeKwonDo. I am the proud mom of a CU Buff and of 2 rescue dogs, Pancho and Luna.
I would like to continue serving on the CCFLT Board because I enjoy meeting and
working with teachers from around Colorado, and want to keep learning more about
World Language Education in the state of Colorado. I would like to think that serving
on the CCFLT Board can have some impact on how languages are taught and evaluated in the state, and
how our teachers are regarded.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 10
Candidates for Elementary / Secondary Representative:
Kara Parker / Manual High School / Subjects Taught: Spanish and ELL
Hello fellow language educators! I am Kara Parker, best known as a cofounder of the Creative Language Class website. Also I am a National
Board certified teacher and I have taught high school Spanish and ELL
for 13 years using as much technology as possible. I would be honored
to be on the CCFLT board, so I can be part of an innovative state and
involved in planning conferences, which is my favorite type of professional development. I hope that my experiences in a variety of schools
and states will add a new perspective.
Throughout the years, I have participated in many aspects of education by
presenting at ACTFL and other conferences, planning and conducting PD sessions, designing a district curriculum with a cohort, sharing on CLC and mentoring new teachers. I am enthusiastic about the future of language learning, especially here in Colorado.
Wendy Brownell/ KIPP Denver Collegiate High School / Subject
Taught: Spanish
For the past three years, I have been teaching pre-AP and AP Spanish to native
and heritage Spanish speakers at KIPP Denver Collegiate High School. Previously, I taught Spanish I-IV and International Baccalaureate for 18 years in Missouri.
During that time, I was active in the Foreign Language Association of Missouri,
and am looking forward to the opportunity to serve world language teachers
here in Colorado through the CCFLT. Thank you.
Sabine Moosbrugger / Pueblo Centennial High School
Subjects Taught: German, Spanish and French
I am from Germany, and I'm in my 9th year of teaching German at Centennial
High School in Pueblo, where I also serve as Department Chair for World Languages, sponsor the German Club and the biannual GAPP-Exchange.
I have taught heritage speaker classes for German children as well as basic
high school Spanish and French. I also studied 9 years of Latin. I have taught
3rd grade and also Early Childhood Education classes at the college level. I hold a B.A. in English/
Spanish, a M.A. in Education (Linguistically Diverse), and a certificate in German as a Foreign Language.
Teaching is my passion. Since I have learned and taught several different languages and subjects and
worked with many different age groups, I feel that as a CCFLT board member, I will be able to represent
all languages and age groups to advance the study of languages and support all members.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 11
Candidates for Elementary / Secondary Representatives Cont’d...
Eliza Pfeifer / St. Mary’s Academy / Subject Taught: Spanish
Hello, my name is Eliza Pfeifer. I teach Spanish One, Two, Four and Culture and
Conversation at St. Mary’s Academy in Denver. I have also taught English in Argentina and Spanish at a Massachusetts vocational high school. I hold a BA in
Spanish and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in
Spanish from Middlebury. My pedagogical interests are student evaluations, proficiency measurement, teaching heritage speakers, and the teaching methods promoted by Organic World Languages (OWL). My immersion classroom is student
centered, energetic, talkative, proficiency based and caring. As I transitioned into
an OWL teacher, I looked to CCFLT for support on issues such as the ACTFL proficiency levels or on teaching literacy. As a board member I will repay the community that supports my teaching endeavors. I am a passionate educator, who looks
forward to bringing enthusiasm for language learning and professional collaboration to Colorado teachers.
Kristy Swartwood / Englewood Middle School / Subject Taught: Spanish
My name is Kristy Swartwood, and I am running for the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers’ Board. Please consider me for an Elementary/Secondary
position. For seven years, I have been a Spanish language educator for both Englewood Schools and Douglas County School District. In both of these positions, I
have been fortunate to hold district language leadership and department head positions. I enjoy collaborating with those in my district to ensure that students are receiving the very best world language instruction.
For the last two years I have served on the CCFLT’ Board as an Elementary/
Secondary representative. I have had involvement in locating exhibits vendors,
working on teacher outreach, and critiquing fantastic student work and teacher
recognition awards. I have truly found it a pleasure to serve the language teachers
of Colorado, and I would like to continue this work for the 2015-2016 term.
Heather Witten / Elizabeth High School / Subject Taught: Spanish
My name is Heather Witten and I am completing my first term on the CCFLT Board. I have enjoyed working on the Board the last two years and hope to continue to contribute to the Board for another term. I
am passionate about increasing the use of technology to support CCFLT members and am excited to be a part of our first ever professional development webinar in January. I have been teaching Spanish at
Elizabeth High School for the last eight years. I love teaching, contributing my
time to learning more about World Language education and having the opportunity to meet so many fellow educators in Colorado and around the world. I love
to present at conferences, especially about the flipped class and also have a blog
at www.spanishflippedclass.blogspot.com and am a co-author of Flipping 2.0. I
look forward to the opportunity to continue my service to the Board.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 12
CCFLT 2014 New Teacher Scholarships Recipients
The Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers has the great opportunity and responsibility to provide quality professional development learning experiences for world language teachers in Colorado. We
could not do this without the support and participation of our veteran teachers. CCFLT also acknowledges
that, as an organization, we must strive to get new teachers involved in conferences and professional learning communities.
With this in mind, the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers would like to recognize the recipients of
the 2014 New Teacher Scholarship, which allows teachers in
their first three years to attend our Fall Conference. CCFLT
is proud to celebrate Wendi Horvat and Alison Kemp.
Congratulations!
New Teacher Scholarship to SWCOLT
In an effort to support those newest to our profession, SWCOLT is offering a $75 conference scholarship
to ten new teachers, currently in their first, second or third year of full-time teaching.
If you have registered for the conference and qualify for this scholarship, please send your name, school
name and location, and years you've been teaching to [email protected].
The scholarship will be awarded on a first-come first served system. We would love to give these scholarships to Colorado teachers!
Register Online for the SWCOLT / CCFLT
Spring Conference 2015
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 13
Friday 10-Minute Idea Avalanche Sessions
The Idea Avalanche is back from last year’s SWCOLT conference. This will be a round table session
where five different presenters will present classroom tested, ready-to-use tips and techniques. The
audience will rotate to each of the five presenters and will leave the session with five fabulous lesson
ideas.
Who’s Working Harder?
Low-Prep, High-Impact Activities
for World Language Classrooms
Great Ideas - Now How Do We Pay for It All?
Fundraising 101
Johnny Dasher, Joel Zarr S’ Cool Services Fundraising
Keri Dunphy, Peak To Peak Charter
School
Teacher Mentoring to Enhance
Effective Teaching
Classroom Management Tells: Read
the Signs and Head Off Trouble With
Your Students
Kara Mac Donald, Unsoon Won
Defense Language Institute
Bryce Hedstrom, Roosevelt High
School
When Mindfulness is in Place, a Transformation is Underway -
Introducing the University of
Wyoming World Language Center
Ying Shiroma, Defense Language Institute
Dilnoza Khasilova, University of Wyoming
How Mindfulness Practice Benefits Both Teachers and Students
Online Tools and Resources for Effective Foreign Language
Teaching
Tsengtseng Chang, Xiaomei Schnittgrund Ying Shiroma
Using Mobile Apps to Communicate with Students in
Online Classes: Email is no
Longer Enough
DLI Foreign Language Center
Victoria Abramenka, Fort Hays
State University
Yoshie Kadowaki, Sayumi Suzuki
Memrise: a Fun and Effective Tool for Students to Acquire
Vocabulary Skills
A Class in the Cloud
Speak Via Skype Beyond Class Time!
Sebastian Gluzman, Greenhill School
Imelda Gasmen, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 14
Heather Witten
Come "Hang Out" with CCFLT - Monthly Support for Early Career Teachers
CCFLT is excited to announce monthly online "Hangouts" with language leaders in our state
for early career teachers. Beginning on January 12, we will be hosting a Google Hangout on
the second Monday of each month at 7:30pm. "It's so important for language teachers to
have access to professional supports year-round," says CCFLT President Diana
Noonan. "These monthly events will provide free access to experienced teachers who can answer questions and share helpful resources with early career teachers."
Google Hangouts are live web videos. Attendees will be able to interact with the host, both
by video and by chat. For those who are unable to attend live, Hangouts are archived on
YouTube and will be made available to CCFLT members on our website. For registration and
more information, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/ccflt/.
Hangout #1 January 12, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Our first Hangout will be led by CCFLT Board member Bryce Hedstrom. The main thing to
know about Bryce Hedstrom is that he wants to be a better teacher and wants to help others
that feel that way too. In this 60 minute Hangout you can ask Bryce questions, discuss classroom issues, or just ask him for advice. Whether you're in the first years of your teaching career or a master teacher striving to continually improve, Bryce is here to offer you support!
Register for the Hangout here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/
c70c8ftdg1l868s3hiivdqp6hoo Check out his website at http://www.brycehedstrom.com.
Hangout #2 February 9, 2015 at 7:30 pm
This Hangout will be led by CCFLT board member and 2013 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year Noah Geisel. Noah will be answering questions about classroom management
and staying in the target language. We will post the link for registration in January on our
website and Facebook group page.
Hangout #3 March 9, 2015 at 7:30 pm
The facilitator for this hangout will be CCFLT Board member Elaine Tendetnik (USAF). Look for
the link for registration in February on our website and Facebook page.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 15
Advocacy Update by Janine Erickson
In November at the ACTFL Delegate Assembly in San Antonio, Texas, World Language teachers
from throughout the U.S. met to discuss Advocacy and Effectiveness: Focus for Collaboration.
Teachers were directed to meet with their state and regional representatives to discuss strategies
and check progress of the top ten advocacy areas.
Colorado delegates Rebecca Loftus, Judy Cale, Toni Theisen and Janine Erickson met to identify
two areas for Colorado’s ongoing advocacy efforts in 2015. The group discussed the progress Toni
and her committee has made working closely with CDE on the new Colorado Licensure Rules for
World Languages. Teachers need to respond with CDE’s requests in a timely manner and get all
the information about the new teacher rules to all our state’s educators.
World Language educators can help to educate candidates currently in office
and those running for office regarding the importance of language education
In order to develop and sustain collaboration, CCFLT World Language educators can help to educate candidates currently in office and those running for office regarding the importance of language education. While we cannot lobby for candidates, it is permissible to find out where they
might stand on certain issues.
Step-by-step instructions to send messages to Colorado’s legislators are located on the ACTFL
website under Advocacy/Resources. Current CCFLT President Diana Noonan receives notices from
the Joint National Committee on Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL/NCLIS) about current issues that affect language education. She passes those
on through CCFLT social media where you can access the Capwiz action alerts and send them to
your congressmen directly in a matter of minutes. The more we respond to the alerts, the more we
are informing our legislative leaders of the importance of language learning.
Register Online for the SWCOLT / CCFLT 2015 Spring Conference
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 16
CLEAR Announcement
Starting in the 2014-2015 school year, CCFLT is excited to roll out the Colorado Language Excellence & Achievement
Recognition (CLEAR) Awards program. The CLEAR Awards are meant to identify and recognize exemplary Colorado high
school world language programs, and to encourage Colorado school officials, board members, and parents to use
CLEAR programs as examples of programs that enable students to demonstrate proficiency of world language standards.
These awards provide outside validation of the good work you are doing for your administration, school board, parents
and students. They also provide a standards-based tool to help improve language programs, boost student enrollment,
and provide departmental focus and unity. This is not a competition. Any school that meets the criteria will receive an
award.
There are four levels of awards a school can receive, depending on how highly they score. Schools will be evaluated on
the following 11 indicators:
1. Maintain high percentage of total world language enrollment
2. Offer an extended sequence of instruction in at least one commonly taught language
3. Retention of students in higher level courses
4. Provide choice of languages in a 4 year high school sequence
5. Have Advance Placement, International Baccalaureate, level 5 classes, and/or College in the High School programs
6. Schedule classes that are one level per period
7. Implement key instructional practices—teachers:

use the target language 90% of most class periods (or more) in a way that is comprehensible to students

engage students in pair and small group communicative activities in the target language daily

encourage/require students to express their own meanings in the target language each day

integrate culture into daily language instruction
8. Administer a school-wide, standards-based, performance assessment that cuts across languages
9. Engage in yearly staff development on world language topics
10. Maintain membership in professional organizations
11. Provide special program features beyond the classroom environment
Applications for the 2014-2015 school year must be received no later than March 2, 2015. Awardees will be named by
April 30, 2015.
For more information and the complete CLEAR Awards application packet, please see www.ccflt.org, Grants & Awards
CLEAR Awards.
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
Page 17
Colorado Conference of
Foreign Language Teachers
Published September, January
and April
www.ccflt.org
Julie Doyle, Editor
[email protected]
CCFLT Board of Directors
POSITION
EDUCATIONAL ROLE
Diana Noonan
President (French)
World Languages Coordinator, Denver
Public Schools
Cristin Bleess
Past-President (Spanish)
Becky Loftus
President-Elect (Spanish)
Oberon MS, Jefferson County Public
Schools
Nina Barber
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
Thomas Jefferson High School, DPS
Jenny Beltman
Elementary/Secondary Representative (French/Spanish)
Aspen Elementary School
Karen Carmean
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
Sabin World Elementary, DPS
Noah Geisel
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
East High School
Kelly Rogers
Elementary/Secondary Representative (French)
St. Mary's Academy
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”)
Joanne Russum
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
Grandview High School, Cherry Creek
School District
Kristy Swartwood
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
Englewood Middle
School, Englewood School District
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]
Matthew Webster
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
Mountain Ridge Middle School, Colorado Springs
Heather Witten
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
Elizabeth High School, Elizabeth School
District
Bryce Hedstrom
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
Roosevelt High School
Connie Navarro
Elementary/Secondary Representative (Spanish)
Denver Public Schools Peer Observer
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
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:
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
Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers
Winter 2015
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 2015
Page 19