2025-2026 Events for Utah DLI German Teachers

September 22, 2025: Elementary German DLI PD @ USBE, 250 E 500 S, Salt Lake City (8:30 AM - 4:00 PM)

September 25, 2025: Secondary German DLI PD @ USBE, 250 E 500 S, Salt Lake City  (8:30 AM - 4:00 PM)

October 10, 2025: German Bridge Fall Workshop @ Beehive Room at Utah State Capitol

October 27-28, 2025: Atlanta German DLI Conference

November 6, 2025 @1:00pm: GIST Webinar: Utah's Core Instructional Strategies

November 19, 2025: DSD 2 Schriftliche Kommunikation

November 21, 2025:  Deutscher Vorlesetag

November 21-23, 2025: ACTFL Convention in New Orleans

December 3-6, 2025: Salt Lake City Christkindlmarkt

January 8, 2026 @1:00pm: GIST Webinar: Teaching Grammar & Spelling

January 23, 2026: German Bridge Fall Workshop at Clearfield High School Library Conference Room

January 29, 2026: Secondary German DLI PD

February 5, 2026: Elementary German DLI PD

February 19-21, 2026: SWCOLT Conference in Broomfield, CO

March 5, 2026 @1:00pm: GIST Webinar: Instructional Walls

July 11-14, 2026: AATG Conference in Boston

Pathways to Germany

Webinar Serie for Students, Parents, and Teachers

At the end of September / beginning of October, the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA), together with the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), DIAG (German Association of German Schools Abroad), and Forum Deutsch, will offer a three-part online information series on studying and training in Germany. The events are aimed at students, parents, and teachers and provide answers to key questions about studying at German universities and career-oriented training programs. To reach the widest possible audience, all events will be held in English. To learn more, please visit www.forumdeutsch.org/forum-aktuell.

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX)

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) is a life-changing opportunity for high school students to experience Germany, spend a year abroad, and live and fall in love with another culture and language. Applications are now open and due by November 3, 2025. Please share with parents and students - this is an amazing opportunity for our students. Application link: https://usagermanyscholarship.org

AATG Launches a New Webinar Series

German Politics Today

To learn more, please visit: https://www.aatg.org/events/acg-aatg-gsa-webinar

Utah DLI Contracts with Avant Assessment

for Proficiency Testing

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) announced the adoption of Avant STAMP (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency) for all Utah Dual Language Immersion (DLI) schools starting in the 2025-26 school year. The decision follows a thorough evaluation of proficiency data and assessment platforms, with Avant STAMP emerging as the ideal solution to meet the needs of students, teachers, and program leaders. This is the third state, after New Mexico and Delaware, to select Avant as the vendor for assessing learners in their DLI programs. More information to follow. The testing window is as announced from October 20 until December 12, 2025.

Changes to AP World Language Exams

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, Collegeboard is changing the format of the AP World Language exams.  More information is to come this school year, but here are the major changes:

• Replace current speaking free-response questions (FRQs) with authentic speaking tasks aligned to college-level courses that students will prepare for in advance and complete on exam day 

• Introduce a course project where students use source materials in the target language to prepare for authentic speaking tasks on exam day

• On exam day, students will present their project and verbally answer questions about it  

• A project manual will be released to help teachers understand the required project components and facilitate students’ preparation for and completion of the course project 

• Move the exam to the Bluebook digital testing application and discontinue the paper exam  

Find out more here: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-world-languages-revisions

Articles Worth Reading

Elementary: The beginning of the school year is all about routines and equipping young learners with the ability to understand and manage their own behavior. In “19 Ways to Help Elementary Students Self-Regulate,” Daniel Leonard draws from classroom-tested insights to present self-regulation as a vital—and teachable—skill, rather than simply a behavioral expectation. Rooted in practical strategies, the article offers a trove of teacher-endorsed techniques, such as empowering kids with a basic understanding of how their brain’s emotional center works, enriching their emotional vocabulary through creative brainstorming, and designing calming spaces like “peace corners” where they can regain composure. These approaches not only nurture lifelong emotional resilience but also contribute significantly to a more harmonious and supportive classroom environment. Click here to read the full article.

Elementary: What if math lessons could move beyond the four walls of the classroom and into the vibrant, open-air spaces just outside? In “Boosting Engagement by Taking Math Outdoors,” Sandy Vorensky explores how elementary math instruction can be revitalized—and made more motivating—by teaching outside. The article centers on thoughtful strategies to transform outdoor areas into dynamic classrooms, encouraging educators to first survey the environment, establish clear learning objectives, and create structured timelines for outdoor math activities. These cues help ensure that lessons remain focused, purposeful, and engaging—even in the great outdoors . Click here to read the full article.

Secondary: Listening isn’t a passive skill—it’s an active, learnable practice that strengthens comprehension, engagement, and classroom connection. In Daniel Vollrath’s insightful Edutopia article, “5 Strategies to Improve Students’ Listening Skills,” he offers five dynamic techniques tailored for middle and high school environments. From prompting students to pause and reflect on key takeaways to integrating simple visual tools and structured group timing, these strategies transform routine instruction into interactive, listening-rich experiences. Whether you're guiding presentations, relaying directions, checking for understanding, prompting clarity, or orchestrating peer collaboration, these approaches empower students to tune in more effectively—and help you cultivate a culture of thoughtful, responsive listening in your classroom. Click here to read the full article.

Lernmaterialien

Lernmaterialien vom PASCH-Netzwerk

Alle PASCH Materialien im Überblick gibt es hier. Man kann es nach Themenbereich oder Sprachniveau filtern. Eine wunderbare Ressource, wenn man auf der Jagd nach authentischem Material ist.

A2 Text:  Fall is the perfect season to bring culture, language, and creativity together in the classroom. The PASCH-net article “So schön ist der bunte Herbst” offers German learners at the A2 level an engaging look at beloved fall traditions in Germany—from collecting mushrooms and chestnut crafts to lantern parades, kite flying, Erntedankfest, and the growing popularity of Halloween. 

A2/B1 Text: Explore with your students the world’s most famous folk festival together with your students! The text “Auf zum Oktoberfest” from PASCH-net takes learners on an exciting journey through Oktoberfest, guided by Florian, who has lived in Bavaria for years but has never been there himself. Click here to access the material.

DAAD Updates

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has a website with lots of information for U.S. students that are interested in studying in Germany. The website is in English and German: https://www.study-in-germany.de. Please share with interested students!

Grants and Scholarships

AATG Grants and Scholarships

AATG has multiple grants and scholarships opportunities. Please click here to see them all.

Would You and Your Students Like to Be Featured in the October Newsletter?

Send pictures and blurbs to Michaela at mclaus-nix@utahdli.org by September  30, 2025.

Please share your hard work and the accomplishments of your students so that we can celebrate you!