2025-2026 Events for Utah DLI German Teachers

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 7, 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

March 12, 2026: UFLA @ UVU

April 15, 2026: German Fair at BYU

July 11-14, 2026: AATG Conference in Boston

Utah German DLI Celebrates its 1st Cohort of DSD 1 Diploma Recipients

Summit Academy High School (SAHS) and Tooele High School (THS) reached an exciting milestone this fall—celebrating its first cohort of students to earn the Deutsches Sprachdiplom I (DSD I), an internationally recognized German language diploma awarded by the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK), Germany’s Conference of Ministers of Education. 42 students at SAHS and 16 students at THS earned the distinguished diploma.

The DSD I exam assesses proficiency at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), demonstrating that students can communicate independently and confidently in German in both academic and real-world contexts.

A Celebration of Commitment and Global Achievement

Under the guidance of Summit's and Tooele's dedicated German DLI teachers, these students have worked for years to build their skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking—all entirely in German. Their success represents not only strong language proficiency but also intercultural competence, perseverance, and curiosity about the wider world.

At a celebration ceremony at SAHS, families, classmates, and staff gathered to recognize the students’ hard work and the DLI teachers’ commitment to high-quality language instruction. Shauna Winegar, DLI German Director from the Utah State Board of Education, highlighted the significance of this achievement:

“Earning the DSD I connects our students directly to the global community and shows what is possible when language learning is approached with both rigor and joy.”

Opening Doors Beyond the Classroom

The Deutsches Sprachdiplom is more than just a certificate—it opens pathways to study abroad opportunities, cultural exchanges, and international internships. It also serves as an official proof of language proficiency accepted by institutions across Germany and Europe.

For many Summit and Tooele students, the DSD I has deepened their confidence to pursue higher-level German study, and several have already set their sights on preparing for the DSD II exam this school year.

Looking Ahead

The DSD programs at SAHS and THS mark a growing recognition of the value of multilingualism and cultural literacy in today’s world. As the first cohort of Utah DSD I recipients sets the standard for future classes, their achievement stands as an inspiring example of global citizenship in action.

Congratulations to our DSD I diploma recipients—you’ve made Summit Academy and Tooele history!

Global Connections in Action:

Berlin STEP Teachers Visit Utah Classrooms

This fall, our state had the privilege of hosting three exceptional teachers from Germany through the Educational Enrichment Program (EEP), sponsored by the Checkpoint Charlie Stiftung. The program fosters collaboration between German and American educators to exchange ideas, explore classroom practices, and strengthen cross-cultural understanding. 

Two Weeks of Learning and Collaboration

During their stay in Utah, the visiting teachers observed classes across multiple grade levels and participated in professional-learning sessions at the school and state level. They shared valuable insights into the German education system—particularly around career readiness, student voice, and intercultural learning—and were equally eager to experience the unique features of Utah’s schools, including our Dual Language Immersion programs.

One highlight of their visit was a joint workshop where German and Utah educators exchanged strategies for increasing student engagement and global awareness. Teachers discussed parallels between both systems and reflected on how small shifts in practice—such as student reflection, collaborative learning, and real-world connections—can have a big impact on classroom culture.

Building Bridges Across Borders

For our Utah students and staff alike, the visit was a vivid reminder that education is a global endeavor. In several classrooms, the visiting teachers co-led German language or culture lessons, sparking curiosity and laughter as students compared school life in Germany and Utah. These authentic interactions gave our learners a real-world glimpse into the language and culture they study every day.

Lasting Impact

As the visit concluded, many teachers expressed how refreshing it was to collaborate with international colleagues and to reflect on shared challenges and goals. The visiting educators also noted how impressed they were by Utah’s sense of community, student enthusiasm, and commitment to bilingual education.

This exchange strengthened our partnership with the Checkpoint Charlie Stiftung and reaffirmed our commitment to preparing globally minded students. The connections formed during this visit will continue to inspire new ideas, joint projects, and friendships across the Atlantic.

News from ACTFL

You're invited to explore ACTFL's new Language Advocacy Resource Center where you'll find many helpful resources including a Media Kit for graphics, ready-to-post social media templates, a printable classroom flyer and more.

Articles Worth Reading

Elementary: In the article “Fostering Time Management Skills With Young Students” on Edutopia, author Katherine Efremkin argues that helping elementary-aged children develop their sense of time is not just a useful classroom tool — it’s foundational for lifelong success.  She likens time-management ability to an “internal body clock” muscle: when students learn to estimate how long tasks take, plan accordingly, and reflect on their performance, they strengthen this muscle and boost their academic and life-skills potential.  Through a simple three-round activity (guessing one minute, repeating with distractions, then with a fun task), Efremkin demonstrates how students gain awareness of time’s subjective nature and begin to estimate more accurately.  For educators teaching young learners — whether it’s your German-immersion second graders or a B1 level 5th grade class — this article offers actionable strategies:

• Build time-estimation awareness through playful, short experiments

• Use daily routines to estimate tasks, record actual times, reflect, and adjust

• Normalize mis-estimation (“I thought this would take 5 minutes but it took 8”) so students see growth rather than failure

If you're looking to integrate gradual time-management skill-building into your lesson routines, this piece provides a clear, research-grounded roadmap to help students develop a concrete sense of time, control procrastination, build self-confidence, and reduce stress.

Elementary: In the video “Adding Movement to Phonics Instruction” on Edutopia, kindergarten teacher Keri Laughlin at Gilles‑Sweet Elementary transforms phonics into a dynamic, bodily experience. Students engage in tapping, arm gestures, and motion-based cues to connect letters and sounds—moving beyond the page so they can feel the decoding process. Laughlin emphasizes choice: different motions work for different students. The goal? To let each learner find a movement-sound link that helps them decode confidently.  For teachers of young learners (or language immersion settings), this approach offers a fresh, multisensory route into phonics—one that invites motion, engagement, and joyful experimentation.

Secondary: In this insightful video from Edutopia, watch how teacher Evie Beall‑Cottrell transforms her eighth-grade history class into an inclusive, high-participation environment—by simply giving each student a mini whiteboard. Every learner is prompted to write down an answer, support it with a reason, and then show it to the class—ensuring every voice is heard, no one is left out, and accountability becomes part of the process. Beyond just writing answers, students are invited to explain their thinking when called on—fueling vibrant discussion and deeper understanding. As learning-science leader Jim Heal notes: by making thoughts visible and public, this strategy raises the bar on student engagement and responsibility. Whether you’re teaching German immersion, working with younger learners, or planning differentiated instruction, this method offers a low-stakes, high-yield way to check thinking in real time, elevate participation, and foster classroom ownership.

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 und Video: Dieses Material richtet sich an Lernende auf dem Sprachniveau A2 und greift die 17 Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung der Vereinten Nationen auf. Es zeigt, warum der Schutz unserer Erde – von Klima, Meer und Umwelt bis zu gerechtem Stadt- und Konsumverhalten – unerlässlich ist. Gleichzeitig werden konkrete „To-dos“ vorgestellt, die Schülerinnen und Schüler selbst umsetzen können: vom Fahrradfahren über Ökostrom und Spenden bis zum bewussten Konsum. Im didaktischen Teil stehen Arbeitsblätter zur Verfügung, mit denen Lernende reflektieren, welche Ziele ihnen wichtig sind und was sie persönlich aktiv beitragen möchten.

A2/B1 Text: Dieses Lernmaterial richtet sich an Lernende auf dem Niveau A2/B1 und thematisiert den Umgang mit Plastik im Alltag. Es liefert acht einfach umsetzbare Tipps – z. B. plastikfrei einkaufen, eine wiederverwendbare Trinkflasche nutzen, plastikfreie Kosmetik herstellen oder Mehrweg-Lunchboxen verwenden – die zeigen, wie man Plastikmüll reduzieren kann. Gleichzeitig kombiniert das Material Sprachförderung mit Umweltbildung: Wörter wie „wiederverwendbar“, „Plastiktube“ oder „Spülschwamm“ werden eingebettet und ermöglichen gezielte Lexikarbeit. Schülerinnen und Schüler sollen durch sinnvolle Alltagsoptionen dazu angeregt werden, ihre eigene Rolle beim Umweltschutz zu reflektieren und konkrete Handlungsschritte zu entwickeln.

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.

ACTFL Classroom Microgrants

This grant opportunity is available to K-12 language educators in any teaching setting. Up to 100 microgrants of US $300 each will be awarded during the 2025-26 academic year (September 2025 to May 2026). Funds may support projects such as: cultural events or activities, partnerships with community organizations, and initiatives that develop cultural competence or diverse perspectives in language instruction. 

There are three funding cycles:

• August 4 – November 12 (awards announced November 17)

• November 13 – February 4 (awards announced February 9)

• February 5 – April 29 (awards announced May 4)

Applicants must include a clear description of need, purpose, and a detailed budget (the maximum award is $300). Basic classroom supplies (e.g., markers, pencils) are excluded.  Award recipients are required to submit a short promotional video (30-45 seconds) within one week of notification.

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

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

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