MaFLA 2015 Fall Conference: Full Schedule

Massachusetts Foreign Language Association 2015 Fall Conference, October 29-31, Sturbridge, MA.

8:00am EDT

Student-Generated Activities

This session offers a hands-on demonstration of how to guide students to design their own activities. Most teachers spend many hours developing exercises that reinforce the material presented in their textbooks. Student-generated activities are created by students for other students with guidance from the teacher. This concept allows students to be more involved in the lesson, to motivate other students, to use language in a purposeful way, and to recycle a lot of information. In Spanish.

Speakers

Luisa Piemontese

Southern CT State University, New Haven, CT

Friday October 30, 2015 8:00am - 9:15am EDT
Seminar 1

Spanish, Session

10:00am EDT

Flipping the Spanish Language Classroom

Feedback Survey

Flipping the classroom, or Aula invertida, allows for class time to be used to engage in student-centered activities. In this session, participants will learn how to move the lecture outside the Spanish classroom, all facilitated by the use of technology with free and/or low cost websites and specific apps available for educators while learning the vocabulary and gaining confidence to talk in Spanish about this current educational trend. Bring a device. In Spanish.

Speakers

Diana Figarella Zawil

Andover High School, Andover High School

Diana Zawil is a dedicated and creative instructor of Spanish and Visual Arts with over 15 years of experience in education (both art and Spanish). Always a language learner, Diana has studied French and Arabic. She has taught art and Spanish in a variety of settings including private... Read More →

Friday October 30, 2015 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
American Grille Restaurant

Spanish, Session

10:00am EDT

Hispanic Cinema: Creating Thematic Units with Films from the Spanish-Speaking World

Feedback Survey

This session will describe teacher-developed thematic units built around various authentic films from the Spanish-speaking world. Students who have taken this course develop an awareness of such topics as the history and politics of Latin America and Spain, famous Hispanics, immigration, and realismo mágico. Participants will receive fresh ideas on activating students' interest by engaging activities in the target language structured around the films they view. An iPad or laptop is suggested. In Spanish.

Speakers

Matthew Jones

Spanish Teacher, Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School

Friday October 30, 2015 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Danforth

Spanish, Session

10:00am EDT

¡A Compartir! Raising Proficiency in the AP Spanish Class

Feedback Survey

Presenters will share two curricular units based on the novella Macario and the film Mar Adentro in order to increase students' proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking. On Macario, all the big topics of the AP exam will be addressed while focusing on cultural comparisons. On Mar Adentro the focus will be on standing and defending a point of view, a skill necessary to write a persuasive essay. Participants should bring materials to share with colleagues. In Spanish.

Speakers

Viviana Planine

Friday October 30, 2015 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Southbridge

Spanish, Session

1:00pm EDT

Google Classroom: On-the-Go Proficiency

Feedback Survey

This session will provide an integrated view of Google Classroom. Mobile technology and its application to language instruction and learning are the focus. Participants will create a class, invite students, create assignments, and convert from Microsoft Office. Resources and mobile apps will all be addressed. Participants should bring a laptop or tablet. In Spanish.

Speakers

Tom Powers

MAFLA Pres pptx

Friday October 30, 2015 1:00pm - 2:15pm EDT
Heritage Tavern

Spanish, Session

1:00pm EDT

Learning About Culture and Current Events in the Target Language

Feedback Survey

How can we expose our students to cultural aspects and societal issues while maintaining 90% target language use? The presenter will show how she incorporates these topics while infusing lessons with rich vocabulary and opportunities to practice the four language skills. Examples will include film, music, photographs and readings. While the examples relate to Spanish-speaking countries and are geared toward middle school, they can be easily adapted for use with other levels and languages. In Spanish.

Speakers

Ally Van Laethem

Ally Van Laethem is a Spanish teacher at Masconomet Regional Middle School in Boxford, MA where she teachers both 7th and 8th grade. Ally brings authentic films, photos, music, and readings into her classroom in order to teacher culture, grammar, and vocabulary. Her focus is on... Read More →

MaFLA conf full doc for web site docx

MaFLA handout docx

Friday October 30, 2015 1:00pm - 2:15pm EDT
Abbington

Spanish, Session

2:30pm EDT

Common Core Standards in the Spanish Classroom

Feedback Survey

Participants explore the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in the Spanish classroom, its alignment with the National Language Standards, the Common Core en español, the ACTFL/CCSS Crosswalk and how instructional materials must support the CCSS. The presenter will also share information about a new Program and Student Certification and Summer Inservice Abroad Program. Exhibitor's Session.

Speakers

Santillana

Educational Sales Consultant, Santillana USA Publishing

Santillana offers the largest selection of culturally authentic K-12 Spanish resources: instructional programs, children's and young adult books, reference materials, and professional development. We collaborate with Santillana offices worldwide to bring teachers and students the... Read More →

Friday October 30, 2015 2:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Heritage Tavern

Spanish, Session

2:30pm EDT

Contextualizing U.S. Latino Literature for AP Spanish Literature and Culture

Feedback Survey

This interactive session will model interdisciplinary instructional strategies for AP Spanish Literature and Culture that engage and challenge students to contextualize U.S. Latino Literature (specifically Tomás Rivera's ...y no se lo tragó la tierra). The session will include formative and summative assessments that directly connect to the themes and learning objectives to effectively prepare students for success on the exam. Handouts provided. In Spanish.

Speakers

Cameron

Department Chair, Cy-Fair High School

Friday October 30, 2015 2:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Southbridge

Spanish, Session

4:30pm EDT

¿De qué hablamos cuando hablamos de realismo mágico?

Feedback Survey

You think you know what it is, but can you define it? More importantly, can you teach it? Magical realism is a truly trans-cultural yet slippery concept with a history far longer and more international than most realize. This session will move beyond the noise to trace the story from 1920s Germany, to Latin America, and to the rest of the world. In Spanish.

Speakers

Kenneth Reeds

University offering a Master of Arts in teaching Spanish.

Friday October 30, 2015 4:30pm - 5:45pm EDT
Brimfield

Spanish, Session

8:30am EDT

Using Songs to Develop Cultural Awareness and Oral Proficiency

Feedback Survey

Music and rhythm are an important part of language learning. They encourage memorization, imitation and more advanced language production, depending on the songs' topics and linguistic objectives. This interactive session introduces creative ways of using Italian and Spanish songs in the classroom. Participants will discuss techniques to engage students in activities that promote speaking and listening skills through developing cultural awareness and creative writing. Participants will receive materials with suggested songs and activities.

Speakers

Angelica Avcikurt

Saturday October 31, 2015 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Charlton

Italian, Session | Spanish, Session

8:30am EDT

Preparing for the AP Cultural Comparison Task in Spanish III, IV and AP

Feedback Survey

This presentation will show how to support the AP curriculum by preparing for the cultural comparison task beginning in Spanish III and IV. The presenters have designed practical routines for the third and fourth year curricula so that students arrive at the AP course already experienced with this component of the AP exam. Participants will receive practical materials, experience specific activities and have the chance to share new ideas.

Speakers

Adrienne Talamas

Belmont High School

Saturday October 31, 2015 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Seminar 1

Spanish, Session

10:00am EDT

Winning AP Tools and Techniques for Both French and Spanish

Feedback Survey

In this session, participants will gather a trove of easy-to-implement tips and tricks that will help their AP French or Spanish students tackle AP tasks with confidence. The presenter will share French and Spanish rubrics, resources, and other materials digitally with all participants through Dropbox. This session is intended for both current and future AP teachers.

Speakers

Jon Shee

World Language Department Chair, St. Luke's School, New Canaan, CT

Jon Shee is the Chair of the Upper School World Languages Department and a French teacher at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, CT, where he is in his 23rd year of service. Prior to that, Jon worked for four years in a boarding school environment at Wilbraham and Monson Academy... Read More →

Saturday October 31, 2015 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Brimfield

French, Session | Spanish, Session

10:00am EDT

Puerto Rico: Building Cultural Competence Through Different Genres

Feedback Survey

In this hands-on session, participants will develop lessons with authentic input from a variety of genres, including informational texts, literature, songs, and audio-visual materials. Emphasis will be placed on how to integrate the development of linguistic proficiency with intercultural communication. The presenter will select a textual corpus centering on topics related to past and present Puerto Rican realities, such as ecology, diaspora, and identity. In Spanish.

Speakers

Hugo Viera

Saturday October 31, 2015 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Danforth

Spanish, Session

10:00am EDT

Teaching Culture

Feedback Survey

Sometimes it is difficult to know how to integrate meaningful cultural lessons into curricula using the target language, particularly when teaching beginners. Participants will learn different strategies to incorporate culture into all levels of instruction using 90% target language. Examples will use a variety of cultures in the Spanish-speaking world but can be applied to many languages.

Speakers

Laura Connor

Saturday October 31, 2015 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Southbridge

Spanish, Session