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🎉 IEFLA Winter Workshop Announcement! 🎉
🎉 IEFLA Winter Workshop Announcement! 🎉
¡Atención, educadores de español! 🌟
IEFLA is thrilled to present our winter workshop:
Pedagogía con sabor: Cultivating the Skills of Our Spanish-Speaking Students
📅 Saturday, January 24, 2026
📍 Cal State San Bernardino
John M. Pfau Library — Room PL 4005 (Faculty Center for Excellence)
🕘 9:00am–1:00pm (Registration opens at 8:30am)
In this workshop, we will share pedagogy and strategies focused on developing the skills of our Spanish-speaking students. Through hands-on activities, reflection, and instructional resources, we will explore how to foster the creativity, critical thinking, and linguistic confidence that students need to succeed in our classrooms and on the AP Spanish Language & Culture Exam 2026.
👩🏽🏫 Presenters:
Morelia Baltazar & Olga Sutton
🥐 Light breakfast & snacks included!
💲 Pricing:
$95 Early Bird — through December 31, 2025
$125 — beginning January 1, 2026
🛑 Registration Closes: Monday, January 19, 2026
🎉 Join us for the Annual Latinas Rising Conference
🎉 Join us for the Annual Latinas Rising Conference
🎉 Join us for the Annual Latinas Rising Conference on Thursday, November 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) Alumni Center!
This empowering event is designed for Latina students, professionals, and allies to build connections, celebrate leadership, and advance toward our goals. Don’t miss inspirational speakers, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and a community of support.
Secure your spot by completing the registration form here:
👉 Registration link:
https://www.csusb.edu/student-affairs/student-life-engagement/latinas-rising
📌 Event Details Recap:
🗓 Date: Thursday, November 7
🕣 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
📍 Location: CSUSB Alumni Center
Whether you’re a student or a professional, this conference is your chance to connect, learn, and grow with a community of rising Latina leaders. We hope to see you there!
SEL in the Spanish Classroom Welcoming Thanksgiving through the song “Gracias a la Vida”
SEL in the Spanish Classroom Welcoming Thanksgiving through the song “Gracias a la Vida”
According to Diego Ojeda, "as the crisp air heralds the arrival of Thanksgiving, the Spanish classroom transforms into a space for more than just linguistic exploration. Amid the conjugations and vocabulary, there lies an opportunity to delve into the realm of social-emotional learning (SEL). Mercedes Sosa’s rendition of “Gracias a la Vida” provides an extraordinary avenue for Spanish learners to connect with their emotions, culture, and each other during this season of gratitude. In this blog post, we will explore the unique role of “Gracias a la Vida” in fostering SEL in the Spanish class". Click below to read more:
CLTA Grants!
CLTA Grants!
World language teachers—CLTA offers grants and scholarships to support your growth! From travel and study abroad (Memorial, LangAbroD, Spanish Embassy) to conference and seminar fees (Sidney Gorman, Sylvia Jones) and special projects (Duarte Silva), there’s an opportunity for you. Apply and expand your teaching experience!
California Language Student of The Year Award
California Language Student of The Year Award
Do you have a world‐language student who stands out—someone who’s passionate, curious, and eager to explore new cultures? Nominate them for the California Language Student of the Year Award! This scholarship gives one student a $5,000 award to study abroad next summer through CIEE, with two more runners‐up receiving $1,000 each. It’s a chance for students in grades 9-11 to share their love of language, grow through international experience, and be recognized statewide. Teachers, you can make a real difference—submit your nominee by December 10 and help open the door to a life-changing opportunity.
CTA Classroom Setup Grant
CTA Classroom Setup Grant
Did you know CTA members can apply for a Classroom Setup Grant to new teachers of $300? This program helps new educators offset the cost of essential classroom supplies and materials, making it easier to create an engaging learning environment for students. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply at www.ctamemberbenefits.org.
National Spanish Exam
National Spanish Exam
The National Spanish Exam—a program of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese (AATSP)—engages students in grades 6‑12 in a national, online, motivational competition to measure both what they know (vocabulary & grammar) and what they can do (reading & listening comprehension) in Spanish. From Levels 01 through 6, students are placed based on proficiency, not class year.
Teachers receive detailed individual reports that break down student performance by standard and skill area, empowering differentiated instruction and tracking yearly growth.
High achievers—those scoring in the 75th percentile or above—earn national medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Honorable Mention) and become eligible for scholarships and travel awards like the Global Citizen or senior scholarship opportunities.
👉 To learn more about exam levels, format, registration dates, and teacher benefits, visit the official National Spanish Exam page: www.nationalspanishexam.org
CLTA/SWCOLT 2025-2026 Webinar Wednesdays
CLTA/SWCOLT 2025-2026 Webinar Wednesdays
Join us for this exciting monthly professional learning series designed for world language educators! Each session free for members of CLTA and/or SWCOLT and it's packed with practical strategies and fresh ideas to elevate your teaching. These webinars (as well as the members from previous years) are recorded and they're available to all members.
📅 Upcoming topics include:
Nov. 12: Help Your Students Change the World: Designing Units for Civic Engagement (Maylén Sullivan - CA)
Dec. 10: Streamlining with Smart & Interactive Tools (Nancy Pérez – CA)
(More dates and topics through April 2026!)
Book of the month: 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom
Book of the month: 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom
7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom (2nd Ed.) by John Seidlitz & Bill Perryman is a recommend book for anyone supporting multilingual learners or creating more meaningful student talk in class.
✅ Practical strategies
✅ Clear scaffolds for academic language
✅ Student talk + engagement at the center
✅ Works beautifully in world language + heritage speaker classes
Teach students what to say when they don’t know what to say.
https://seidlitzeducation.com/books/7-steps-to-a-language-rich--interactive-classroom--2nd-edition-
ACTFL National Conference 2025: New Orleans
ACTFL National Conference 2025: New Orleans
The ACTFL 2025 Annual Convention & World Languages Expo will take place November 21–23, 2025, in New Orleans, LA, bringing together thousands of world language educators for three days of professional learning, networking, and inspiration. With 600+ sessions on teaching methods, technology, assessment, and culture, the event also features dynamic keynote speakers, including Broadway’s Miguel Cervantes and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Steve Boyes. Attendees can explore the World Languages Expo with 250+ exhibitors, engage in hands-on workshops, and connect with colleagues from across the globe. Early-bird registration is open through August 15, 2025.
SWCOLT Regional Conference 2026: Denver
SWCOLT Regional Conference 2026: Denver
Registration will open soon for SWCOLT 2026: Denver Omni Interlocken on February 19-21 2026, Broomfield, CO! Secure your spot early and take advantage of the Early Bird Rate of $255 through November 30, which includes access to 70+ sessions, the Member Reception, and your SWCOLT 2026 Membership.
Regular and late registration rates apply after November 30. Students can register for just $125, but space is limited. Don’t forget to add on Thursday’s pre-conference workshops for hands-on learning opportunities. Visit SWCOLT’s website to explore all options and register today!
Are you interested in presenting in Denver? Submit your proposal today!
CLTA State Conference 2026: Sacramento
CLTA State Conference 2026: Sacramento
Join us in Sacramento for the 2026 CLTA Conference!
CLTA and FLAGS are teaming up to bring world language educators an unforgettable professional learning experience in the heart of California’s capital. Don’t miss this chance to collaborate, grow, and celebrate language education!
Are you interested in presenting in Sacramento? Submit your proposal today, review the tentative registration costs, and use the sample Dear Administrator letter to help secure funding.
Coordinators Needed - Travel Abroad!
Coordinators Needed - Travel Abroad!
CIEE is looking for a few teachers that can help coordinate for them across the world! Being a coordinator can be a great side hustle for teachers to earn some extra cash, travel the world, and help to connect their local community with cultures from across the world.
Coordinators typically:
Are curious about other cultures
Enjoy spending time encouraging and working with teenagers
Want to share their community with other cultures
Love to travel!
Coordinators are paid for their help and go on some pretty amazing trips! In the next 12 months CIEE will be going on trips to Costa Rica, Mexico, Iceland, and Italy!
It isn’t much a time commitment, is really rewarding, and I bet you’d love the trips we go on! If you have any interest, please let me know. I’d love to hop on a call and tell you about it and answer questions!
For additional information click on the link below or come to hear Danny Velasquez tell about the program at the CLTA Jamboree, Chino Hills High School on September 30..
Flangoo
Flangoo
Flangoo is a subscription-based service for digital World Language readers available in Spanish, French, and German!! A sister company of Teacher’s Discovery®, Flangoo creates an affordable solution for World Language teachers who want to offer students a wide range of readers. One Flangoo account gives you and up to 150 students access to an entire virtual Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) library. Try it out!
Engaging Activities in the Classroom!
Engaging Activities in the Classroom!
How about some quick, fun activities to do with your students in the target language! Let’s start with...
Who's telling the truth?
Have them fill out a survey telling something strange they did as a child. Choose several of those answers and display them on your board or presentation.
This can be played online. Call on 4 people in the class, including the person who wrote the sentence, to read the sentence as if they wrote it.
You ask each person two questions, and they answer, acting as if they wrote it. Then the students type in the chat who they think is telling the truth, but the students wait to send until you say, "Send".
After they send, you ask each actor if they wrote the sentence to reveal the truth-teller. The actor with the most votes gets extra credit. The students who got it right get extra credit.
This is a great game to play with your upper levels, especially now with the fun Among Us game, students have to try to figure out who the imposter is! Here’s an example:
Example: When I was little, I used to hide in the kitchen cupboards.
Questions: Why did you hide in the cupboards? (asked to all actors)
or How old were you when you hid in the cupboards? (asked to all actors)
Who knows you best?
Choose a volunteer and have them select a question to answer (#1-12).
The teacher asks the question, then all of the other students guess what the interviewee's answer is.
They type it in the chat but don't send it. When the teacher says "send", they send it.
The teacher then asks the interviewee to send their answer. Everyone who gets it right gets a point.
Here are some sample questions. You can adapt them to any level, any unit:
What are you afraid of?
Where do you like to go on vacation?
What is it that makes you angry?
What are you laughing at?
Do you prefer to cycle, ride a horse, or drive?
What do you prefer: doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, cleaning the bathroom, or vacuuming?
At night, do you prefer to play a game, visit a relative, watch a movie, or read?
Who would you like to be lost with on a desert island?
Approximately how many pairs of shoes do you have?
Which public transport do you prefer (plane, boat, train, bus, metro, etc.)?
What is your favorite zoo animal?
What is your favorite holiday: Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Easter, July 4th
Scavenger Hunt:
If you're online, ask students to find something that makes people happy/sad/frustrated etc and show it to the camera. Ask students to find something hard/soft/wet/round/square etc and show it to the camera. Great for all levels and another great way to start some fun, personalized discussions!
Express Link to EdJoin JOB Listings
Express Link to EdJoin JOB Listings
Are you looking for a job? Know someone who is looking for employment? There are currently 9 positions open in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties for Spanish teachers. Click the express link below to go directly to all of the current listings by area in EdJoin!
Thanks for being part of IEFLA! Have an idea or resource for our next issue? Email us at vicepresident@iefla.org.
The Polyglot is published 10 times a year from August to May. It is a publication of the Inland Empire Foreign Language Association. Editor of the Polyglot is Abraham Garcia, M.A., of Citrus Valley High School, Redlands, CA.
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