10th CCSU Conference for Language Teachers
Integrating Heritage Speakers and Foreign Language Learners in
the Classroom
March 5th, 2016, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
STUDENT CENTER, Ella Grasso Blvd., NEW BRITAIN, CT 06050
Cambridge University Press
CCSU Department of Modern Languages
Chinese Culture Center - CCC
Center for International Education - CIE
Confucius Institute
CT Council for Language Teachers – CT COLT
European Studies Program
Italian Resource Center – IRC
Janette’s Designs
Santillana USA Publishing
Summer Institutes for Language Teachers – SITS, SITI, SITCh, SIT-LANG
Lourdes Casas
Rocío Fuentes- Chair
María Passaro
Carmela Pesca- Chair of the Department of Modern Languages at CCSU
Samuel Zadi
8:008:30
8:308:45
Welcoming Remarks
(Alumni Hall)
8:459:45
Plenary Workshop
(Alumni Hall)
Registration
Exhibit Opening
Breakfast
(Bellin Gallery/Alumni Hall)
Carmela Pesca, Chair, Modern Languages Department, Central Connecticut State University
Steven Klieger, Confucius Institute, Central Connecticut State University
Pamela Wesely. University of Iowa: “Keeping Everyone in the Picture: Creating an Equitable and Engaging Classroom for Both
Heritage and Non-Heritage Learners”
9:4510:15
Coffee Break
Exhibit Time
(Alumni Hall)
Session 1
10:1511:15
Clock Tower Room
Spanish
11:2512:25
Blue and White Room
General Topics in ESL
and World Languages
Dee Scott-Huckabey
(New Haven Public
Schools)
“Flipping the
language classroom”
Susan Reid (CCSU IELP
Instructor)
”Academic nature of
the communicative
method”
Sidia A. Atencio (John
C. Daniels School)
“Pair-up games for
proficiency”
Erin Burns Thiery
(CCSU)
“A comparison of preteaching and
contextual vocabulary
instruction for young
English language
learners”
1849 Room
Spanish
Libby Abraham
(Ansonia High School)
“The singersongwriter: Brave,
creative writing in
Spanish”
(Workshop)
Philbrick Room
General Topics in World
Languages
Jessica Haxhi (New
Haven Public Schools)
“Introducing a new unit
all in the target
language”
Shizuko Tomoda (CCSU)
“Japanese displays in
public spaces”
Session 2
Camp Room
Italian
Rosy Pitruzzello (CCSU;
Plainville MSP)
“Think-(Com)pairShare-Let’s have
students communicate
about cultures!”
(Workshop)
Sprague-Carlton Room
Spanish
Trudy Anderson (New
Haven Public Schools)
“Stations in Spanish 1”
(Workshop)
Clock Tower Room
Spanish
Dennis Assis (CCSU
Graduate; Travelers
Insurance)
“Incorporating
entrepreneurship:
Leadership in the
classroom and its
practical business
application utilizing
foreign languages”
Beth Pachas (Joel
Barlow High School)
“Conversations that
motivate and
educate: Spanish
conversation club
analysis”
Blue and White Room
General Topics in
World Languages
Jonathan T. Briggs
(Kingswood Oxford
School)
“The only rubric you
will ever need”
Georgina W. Duff (FL
Department chair)
“Easily accessible
global education
initiatives via
Edmodo”
1849 Room
French
Philbrick Room
General Topics in World
SpanishLanguages
Iljoong Kim (TESOL,
CCSU)
“English lyrics in Korean
popular music”
Colette Lemarie
(Region 18)
« Integrating
technology in five
minutes »
Paul Kueffner (AATF)
« Communications
multiples avec les
classes françaises »
12:301:30
Jen Lin (Glastonbury
High School)
“Connected classrooms:
Chinese exchange
programs”
Camp Room
Italian
Sprague-Carlton Room
Spanish
Francesca Romana
Memoli (Director of
the Accademia Italiana
a Salerno)
”Error correction and
evaluation in classes of
Italian”
Gloria Medina (Dual
Language and Arts
Magnet Middle School)
“Canciones y movimiento
en la adquisición del
lenguaje”
(Workshop)
(Workshop)
Lunch
(Bellin Gallery/Alumni Hall)
Rocío Fuentes, Chair, Conference Organizing Committee
Beth Lapman, President, CT COLT
CT COLT Honorary Society of Future Language Teachers
Inductees:






1:302:20
Brianne Casey
Josie Cusano
Viviana Guzmán
Kristiana Naka
Taylor Pacekonis
Susana Simoes
Exhibit Time
(Alumni Hall)
Information Sessions:
CCSU Summer Institutes for Language Teachers; CCSU Programs; CT Council of Language Teachers; Organizations
2:203:20
Session 3
Clock Tower Room
Spanish
Liliana Ortega
(Common Ground
High School)
“Differentiated
instruction in the
World Language
classroom: Including
all learners”
Aileen Dever
(Quinnipiac
University)
“Writing in the
advanced-level
classroom”
Blue and White Room
General Topics in
World Languages
Kristi Shanahan (New
Haven Public Schools)
“Using and
appreciating art
history in the world
language classroom”
1849 Room
General Topics in
World Languages
Soledad Depastino
(CCSU Alumna)
“Dropbox: A superb
classroom free and
easy to use tool”
(Workshop)
Sue Fenton (Madam
Fifi Publications)
“Virtual Residence
Language™”
Philbrick Room
Chinese
Camp Room
Italian
Sprague-Carlton Room
Spanish
Shiffon Theodorou
(Simsbury High School)
“Sample assessments for
beginning Chinese
language learners”
Gina Gallo Reinhard
and Lorena Bizzotto
Snell (CITA)
“CIAK SI GIRA! Action!
How to use film,
puppetry and
excitement to inspire
communication in the
WL classroom from
level one to heritage
speakers”
Rebecca Aubrey (Ashford
School)
“Making it STEAMy:
Project-based,
interdisciplinary learning
in the World Language
classroom”
Jingjing Wu (Shaker
Heights High School)
“Methods that work!
Teach and learn Chinese
characters”
(Workshop)
(Workshop)
3:304:30
Session 4
Clock Tower Room
Spanish
Blue and White
Room
General topics in
World Languages
1849 Room
General Topics in
World Languages
Philbrick Room
Spanish
Camp Room
French
Sprague-Carlton Room
Spanish
Jaime González-Ocaña
and Mimi Melkonian
(Brunswick School)
“Difficulties and
opportunities
implementing
interdisciplinary
courses involving
language teaching”
Abir Zenait
(Engineering Science
University Magnet
School)
“Communicative
language for today’s
classroom”
Maureen Lamb
(Westminster School)
“Technology tools for
the twenty-first
century language
classroom”
Virginia Kulig (CCSU
alumna; certified
interpreter)
“The interpreting
profession and student
needs by native
language”
(Workshop)
Bruno Koffi (William
Hall High School)
“Tech tools for teachers
and learners”
Pilar Munday (Sacred
Heart University)
“Student-created minivideos to foster
communicative
competence”
(Workshop)
(Workshop)
(Workshop)
(Workshop)
Veronica Foster
(Storybridges for Early
Language Learners)
“How complete are
the Storybridges
programs?”
4:304:45
4:455:30
Conference Evaluation
(Alumni Hall)
Coffee and Dessert
(Bellin Gallery)
--------------------------------------------------------------------Language
Time and
Venue
Description
Chinese
Chinese
Chinese
2:20-3:20
Shiffon Theodorou (Simsbury High School)
Philbrick
Room
“Sample assessments for beginning Chinese language learners”
2:20-3:20
Philbrick
Room
Assessments are essential for measuring students' learning. At the same assessments can be powerful tools to evaluate and
support classroom instruction. In this presentation, the speaker examines sample assessments used for the beginning
Chinese learners, and provides strategies to engage students to reflect upon and self-assess their own learning. Class
activities, rubrics as well as sample works will be shared.
Jingjing Wu (Shaker Heights High School)
“Methods that work! ---Teach and learn Chinese characters”
Finding the most effective ways to teach students Chinese characters is a big challenge. How can we help students
overcome the difficulty and make learning fun? Participants will gain a treasure trove of resources and strategies that
can be applied into their own classroom from this presentation.
French
French
French
11:25-12:25
Colette Lemarie (Region 18)
1849 Room
« Integrating technology in five minutes »
11:25-12:25
How to create miniwebsite/active flyer in 5 minutes?
Paul Kueffner (AATF)
1849 Room
« Communications multiples avec les classes françaises »
Using French to communicate with real French-speaking people is a great motivator for FLE students. Many teachers
despair at finding partner teachers or classes to communicate with. I have found Skype, email, and even Flat Stanley
partners for my students for the past 15 years or so. We will investigate where and how to look as well as what topics and
formats may work best.
French
3:30-4:30
Bruno Koffi (William Hall High School)
Camp Room
“Tech tools for teachers and learners”
Innovative trends in language learning-Incorporating new technologies into language teaching
Use interactive games to facilitate learning and engage students. Games have a number of recognized benefits. For most
students, games are highly engaging and motivating. Games provide real-time feedback and built-in goals that can motivate
students to improve their performance and academic achievement.
In addition, students must make quick decisions as they play games, and they can see the results of those decisions right away
and use that information to inform their next decisions. (Workshop)
General Topics is ESL and World Languages
General Topics
in ESL and
World
Languages
10:15-11:15
Blue and
White Room
General Topics
in ESL and
World
Languages
10:15-11:15
Blue and
White Room
Susan Reid (CCSU IELP instructor)
“Academic nature of the communicative method”
An interactive presentation reviewing the uses and effectiveness of the communicative method and conveying its
importance (academic nature) to school and University administrators.
Erin Burns Thiery (CCSU)
“A comparison of pre-teaching and contextual vocabulary instruction for young English language learners”
It is widely accepted that explicit vocabulary instruction for young English language learners is a
crucial element of second language acquisition (Chlapana 2014, Lugo-Neris 2010), especially for
young learners who do not have the lexical backgrounds in their 1st or 2nd languages to be able to make
meaning from contextual clues. There is, however, some debate around which method or methods are the most
effective for teaching vocabulary. This study examines two methods of vocabulary instruction, pre-teaching and
contextual instruction and compares student short term retention of lexical items to determine if
they lead to differences in assessment scores.
General Topics
in World
Languages
General Topics
in World
Languages
11:25-12:25
Philbrick
Room
11:25-12:25
Philbrick
Room
Iljoong Kim (TESOL, CCSU)
“English lyrics in Korean popular music”
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether increased English language use in Korean pop music lyrics was
correlated with an increase in international success for Korean musicians’ songs.
Jen Lin (Glastonbury High School)
“Connected classrooms: Chinese exchange program”
This presentation will share the idea of planning and organizing a Chinese exchange program to maximize student
language learning and foster 21st century skills as world citizens and learners through engaging and authentic realworld learning experiences.
General Topics in World Languages
10:15-11:15
General Topics
in World
Languages
Philbrick
Room
General Topics
in World
Languages
10:15-11:15
General Topics
in World
Languages
Philbrick
Room
11:25-12:25
Blue and
White Room
Jessica Haxhi (New Haven Public Schools)
“Introducing a new unit all in the target language”
How do you hook students and engage them in a new unit from the very first lesson? Come hear suggestions - and some
demonstrations in Japanese. Applicable to all languages.
Shizuko Tomoda (CCSU)
“Japanese displays in public spaces”
This presentation explores displays of Japanese in a variety of public spaces such as announcements of constructions, rules
and manners in public transportations, and other public signs. Particular interests of these languages uses in the public
spaces are the functional reasons in the social context and the culturally symbolic meanings, and the application to
teaching Japanese.
Dr. Jonathan T. Briggs (Kingswood Oxford School)
“The only rubric you will ever need”
Demonstration of how a modified rubric serves to assess language proficiency through vertical integration.
General Topics
in World
Languages
General Topics
in World
Languages
General Topics
in World
Languages
General Topics
in World
Languages
General Topics
in World
Languages
General Topics
in World
11:25-12:25
Georgina W. Duff (FL Department Chair)
Blue and
White Room
“Easily accessible global education initiatives via Edmodo”
2:20-3:20
Blue and
White Room
2:20-3:20
Blue and
White Room
2:20-3:20
Learn how to enable your students and yourself to become globally aware, connected, and engaged through
Edmodo. Learn how to gain PLN global access for collaboration with other people and cultures. Participants will learn
how to create teacher and student accounts, subscribe to collaboration areas, and organize creative telecollaborative
projects with global education learning outcomes.
Kristi Shanahan (New Haven Public Schools)
“Using and appreciating art history in the world language classroom”
All modern language teachers use art in various ways to introduce their students to the specific cultures related to the
languages they teach. Depending upon culture-specific “months” or certain “weeks” we have all tried to broaden our
students’ knowledge and appreciation of art as it is derived from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and North
America.
Sue Fenton (Madam Fifi Publications)
“Virtual residence language™ “
Teach a language course with the students "living" in their own apartments in a world city. Speaking all over the city in
authentic culture contexts is a priority. Language has purpose and meaning; students learn valuable city skills and culture,
too. Included: the rationale, set-up, keeping the simulation going all year, and how to teach the text material "in the city."
Soledad Depastino (CCSU Alumna)
Blue and
White Room
“Dropbox: A superb classroom free and easy to use tool”
3:30-4:30
Abir Zenait (Engineering Science University Magnet School)
Blue and
White Room
3:30-4:30
1849 Room
Dropbox is a powerful tool for all educators, it can be used to store and sync documents and files across computers,
tablets, and smart phones. Teachers can save their work on any device and everything is automatically synced.
Dropbox is your server and just you can access to it, even if you change schools you bring all your work with you.You
can share folders with your colleagues or students. (Worshop)
“Communicative language for today’s classroom”
(Workshop)
Maureen Lamb (Westminster School)
“Technology tools for the twenty-first century language classroom”
Languages
This workshop will introduce specific examples of how to use free technology tools to enhance language instruction
and learning. These technology tools can be used and applied by teachers of any language. Some of the technology
tools explored will be Google documents, Google forms, Google Hangout, Kahoot, and more! (Workshop)
Italian
Italian
Italian
10:15-11:15
Rosy Pitruzzello (CCSU; Plainville MSP)
Camp Room
“Think-(Com)pair-Share-Let’s have students communicating about cultures!”
11:25-12:25
After a brief presentation of the topic and work realized, participants will discuss and analyze what other strategies will
keep students actively engaged and involved in discussion in SL or TL from the beginning to the end of class. How do certain
topics stimulate students? How do we all benefit from cultural exchanges?
(Worshop)
Francesca Romana Memoli (Director of the Accademia Italiana a Salerno)
Camp Room
”Error correction and evaluation in classes of Italian”
Explore the main theories and techniques of the assessment process in classes of Italian as a forgien language, with
particular reference to American students (Worshop)
Italian
2:20-3:20
Camp Room
Gina Gallo Reinhard and Lorena Bizzotto Snell (CITA)
“CIAK SI GIRA! Action! How to use film, puppetry and excitement to inspire communication in the WL classroom from level
one to heritage speakers”
This workshop will focus on innovative approaches to improve oral productivity in the WL classroom. The presenters will
use multimedia resources and a hands on approach to inspire students to Parla! Habla! Parle! (Workshop)
Spanish
Spanish
Spanish
10:15-11:15
Dee Scott-Huckabey (New Haven Public Schools)
Clock Tower
Room
“Flipping the language classroom”
10:15-11:15
Clock Tower
Room
Flipping the classroom is not a new approach, but a best practice that you have been doing for years! As we move to
student centered classrooms students sharing in the process maximizes our time with them in meaningful ways outside of
the traditional box.
Sidia A. Atencio (John C. Daniels School)
“Pair-up games for proficiency”
Come learn about and participate in paired games that require students to speak and apply vocabulary in the target
Spanish
Spanish
10:15-11:15
language. Participants will receive handouts for each game to use in their classes.
Libby Abraham (Ansonia High School)
1849 Room
‘The singer-songwriter: brave, creative writing in Spanish”
10:15-11:15
Participants will learn how to use modern and traditional music to get their students singing and writing. Beyond the cloze
technique: take home songs for immediate use for all levels, to teach a variety of grammar concepts. Through music,
students will take more risks in their writing, and write more, more frequently. (Workshop)
Trudy Anderson (New Haven Public Schools)
SpragueCarlton Room
Spanish
“Stations in Spanish 1”
Participants will learn the logistics of setting up stations, finding materials, creating assignments and accountability for
work done in stations. Participants will receive ready to use materials for stations in their classroom. (Workshop)
11:25-12:25
Dennis Assis (CCSU MA Graduate; Travelers Insurance)
Clock Tower
Room
“Incorporating entrepreneurship: leadership in the classroom and its practical business application utilizing foreign
languages”
In today’s economy, participants need not only to possess excellent academic background but also ingenuity,
entrepreneurship and leadership. This presentation focuses on preparing students to enter the workforce with such skills
and the importance of acquiring knowledge of the Spanish language and its business application, as Latinos prepare to
enter the CT job market, especially in the insurance.
Spanish
Spanish
11:25-12:25
Beth Pachas (Joel Barlow High School)
Clock Tower
Room
“Conversations that motivate and educate: Spanish conversation club analysis”
11:25-12:25
Sprague
Carlton Room
As the founder of a local Spanish Conversation Club for native and non-native speakers, the presenter discusses
learner motivation and communicative strategies based on a study of more than fifty members. Audio samples and
questionnaires provide insight into the language learning process in the social and classroom settings
Gloria Medina (Dual Language and Arts Magnet Middle School)
“Canciones y movimiento en la adquisición del lenguaje”
La música y el lenguaje están entrañablemente ligados, ambos son medios de comunicación, de expresión, de
entendimiento y de existencia. Lo musical es una vía para conocer; el canto y el movimiento nos permiten conectarnos con
el mundo, evocar sus emociones y expresarnos. En este taller tengo el propósito de compartir con la audiencia canciones y
movimientos. (Workshop)
Spanish
2:20-3:20
Clock Tower
Room
Liliana Ortega (Common Ground High School)
“Differentiated instruction in the World Language classroom: Including all learners”
Audience will learn how to address different types of learners by reviewing class contents in stations.
Spanish
Spanish
2:30-3:20
Clock Tower
Room
Aileen Dever (Quinnipiac University)
2:20-3:20
Rebecca Aubrey (Ashford School)
Sprague
Carlton Room
“Writing in the Advanced-Level Classroom”
This presentation will address how to create compositions in a classroom with both heritage and non-heritage language
speakers. A practical solution will be discussed and demonstrated.
“Making it STEAMy: Project-based, interdisciplinary learning in the World Language classroom”
A STEAM approach to World Languages incorporates the Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math to connect to
core content areas. Project-based learning inherently allows for differentiation according to students' interests and
abilities. (Workshop)
Spanish
Spanish
3:30-4:30
Virginia Kulig (CCSU alumna; certified interpreter)
Philbrick
Room
“The interpreting profession and student needs by native language”
3:30-4:30
SpragueCarlton Room
A certified, professional interpreter will give an overview of the interpreting profession, including skills and abilities needed.
The presentation will include practical activities and examples. Ideas on how to best prepare students for interpreting
programs will be discussed. The workshop will benefit aspiring interpreters, language instructors and institutions
considering offering T&I programs. (Workshop)
Pilar Munday (Sacred Heart University)
“Student-created mini-videos to foster communicative competence”
With free, easy to use apps, our students' smart phones can be used to foster their communicative competence. In this
workshop, participants will learn how these apps allow students to create their own stories, practice conversation skills,
including pronunciation, and share their projects with a larger audience. Participants will be able to create their own videos
using two apps, YakkitKids and C. (Workshop)
Spanish
3:30-4:30
Clock Tower
Room
Jaime González-Ocaña and Mimi Melkonian (Brunswick School)
“Difficulties and opportunities implementing interdisciplinary courses involving language teaching”
Presentation of theoretical and practical aspects related to interdisciplinary language projects according to our
teacher/administration experience at Brunswick school.
Spanish
3:30-4:30
Clock Tower
Room
Veronica Foster (Storybridges for Early Language Learners)
“How complete are the Storybridges program?”
Scope of STORYBRIDGES Spanish for Children as seen in the Table of Contents.