ACTFL Assessments are recognized as the gold standard. ACTFL proficiency tests are used worldwide by academic institutions, government agencies, and private corporations.
As a valued member of the language education community, we hope you will join us for a series of virtual Town Hall discussions.
The Town Halls Series will be moderated ACTFL President L.J. Randolph Jr. The theme of the series is "Language as Liberation" and in each session attendees will engage in collaborative discussion with panelists.
These events are free and open to ACTFL members and non-members.
All town halls will be moderated by ACTFL President L.J. Randoph Jr., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.
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Upcoming Discussions
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Past Discussion Recordings
Language as Liberation - Liberation through Access: Innovative Program Models Recorded: October 24, 2024
Session Description: In order to enact ACTFL’s vision of “an interconnected world where everyone benefits from and values a multilingual and multicultural education,” innovative and effective language program models are essential. Join this town hall to learn about successful program models that support multilingualism for diverse learners across a broad range of instructional contexts. Esteemed language program directors and advocates will share and discuss effective strategies and provide useful frameworks. Participants will also have opportunities to share questions, success stories, and strategies for overcoming challenges. Successful long-term language programming requires collaboration across languages, institutional contexts, and levels. So, we hope you will join us for this important town hall that will inform current and future conversations regarding advocacy, programming, and outreach.
Speakers: Jill Landes-Lee (University of Utah), Kimberly Winslow (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in North Carolina), Mark Linsky (Georgia Department of Education)
Language as Liberation - Anticolonial/Antiracist Approaches to 'Cultures' and 'Communities' Recorded: September 26, 2024
Session Description: It is no secret that the history of language education and policy in the US is rooted in institutionally embedded imperialism, colonialism, and racism. Our classes can be spaces that perpetuate this status quo (be it intentional or inadvertent), or our classes can be spaces that confront and challenge the legacies of oppressive ideologies. This call to action is especially important in the current educational and political climate. As reflected in the World-Readiness Standards, our profession already embraces the role of language learning to promote inclusivity and interculturality. This town hall will offer a space for us to consider how we can take more critical approaches to the Cultures and Communities standards and move beyond broad interpretations of such concepts as identity, diversity, and representation to better inform our teaching practice, professional development, programming, and research priorities. In addition, participants will learn about exciting initiatives that ACTFL is undertaking to support this work.
Speakers: Uju Anya (Carnegie Mellon University), Dorie Conlon (Glastonbury Public Schools, Connecticut), Priscilla Layne (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
Language as Liberation - Linguistic Justice: Black, Indigenous, and Queer Languaging Recorded: August 29, 2024
Session Description: The rich, imaginative, bold, and affirming languaging of historically (and presently) marginalized and minoritized communities can inform our teaching practice and lead us toward abolitionist pedagogies that promote liberation and joy for all learners. In this town hall, we will explore some of the language ideologies and practices of Black, Indigenous, and Queer speech communities (recognizing that these communities and identities are intersectional), turning specific attention to how the languaging of these communities can support our endeavors toward linguistic justice in our language teaching and programming.
Speakers: Tasha Austin (University of Buffalo), James Coda (University of Tennessee, Knoxville), Maria Datel (Boston University)
Equitable, Imaginative, and Justice-Centered AI in WLE Recorded: May 30, 2024
Session Description: As generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to become more sophisticated and accessible, there has been growing interest and debate about the role of AI in world language education (WLE). These conversations have addressed topics such as academic integrity, language programming, and the implications of computer-assisted and distance learning, among others. As educators, students, and researchers are still figuring out how, if, when, and to what extent to embrace AI, this town hall will demystify some elements of AI in WLE. Specifically, we will examine instructional strategies, workflows, and philosophical considerations for the successful implementation of AI in WLE to promote equitable and justice-centered outcomes for diverse learners.
The Future of WLE Research: Transdisciplinary Connections Recorded: April 25, 2024
Session Description: Research in world language education (WLE) stands to gain valuable insights by fostering transdisciplinary connections among related fields, such as applied linguistics, ESL, language arts, and others. These connections span diverse educational contexts (preK-12, post-secondary, etc.) as well as a variety of instructional modes (face-to-face, virtual, study abroad, etc.). Together, we will explore how transdisciplinary connections can shape a WLE research landscape that centers themes of justice and liberation.
Speakers: Aris Clemons (University of Tennessee Knoxville), Ryuko Kubota (University of British Columbia)
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