Professor celebrates French's presence in US, Canada | Researchers study how polyglots process languages | Microcredential offered for multilingual instruction
March 12, 2024
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Spotlight on Languages
The French language should be regarded as a global language instead of a foreign one, especially because of the Francosphere's strong presence in North America, says Claire-Marie Brisson, a Harvard University professor and Franco-American researcher. In this interview, Brisson discusses why she teaches that "French is right on our doorstep" and encourages embracing the language and culture's influence on various communities.
Full Story: France-Amerique (3/6) 
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Researchers studying language processing in polyglots -- people who speak multiple languages -- noted in a recent study that participants' brain responses were lower when they listened to recordings in their native language, while cognitive activity increased when listening to recordings in other languages in which they are proficient. In the Cerebral Cortex journal, researchers explained using functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain activity in the participants, who speak between five and 54 languages.
Full Story: Reuters (3/11) 
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Technology & Trends
A microcredentialing program at the University of California at Los Angeles offers 12 competency-based modules in multilingual instruction to train teachers to better serve students. The ExcEL Leadership Academy's program, designed to address the growing need for multilingual educators, allows teachers to gain and demonstrate these skills through flexible asynchronous online learning, with the Rhode Island Department of Education being the first to approve it for state certification to teach in English to Speakers of Other Languages classrooms.
Full Story: K-12 Dive (3/7) 
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Relationship-building activities to try in class
(Pixabay)
Year-round efforts at building relationships with students in later grades can include activities like concentric circles for personal and academic discussions, a spider web exercise fostering connections and an interactive game, writes Amy Nichols, an educator at a Christian school. In this article, Nichols writes that this approach aims to create a supportive classroom environment and demonstrates that investing time in building relationships can help improve outcomes for students.
Full Story: Edutopia (3/8) 
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Policy Watch
Biden's 2025 budget aims to boost education funding
(Bloomberg/Getty Images)
President Joe Biden's proposed 2025 budget seeks $82 billion for the US Department of Education, emphasizing increased funding for high-need schools, students with disabilities and universal free preschool for 4-year-olds. The budget outlines priorities such as teacher pay raises, expanded pre-K access and investments in academic programs and special education.
Full Story: Education Week (3/11) 
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Global Competence
Shakopee High School in Minnesota is building an outdoor smudging space -- to host a cultural practice involving burning herbs -- for its Native American students. Led by students from the Engineering and Manufacturing Academy, the project is aimed at providing a visible and dedicated area for cultural practices like smudging, fostering a sense of pride and joy among the Native community within the school.
Full Story: WCCO-TV (Minneapolis) (3/8) 
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ACTFL News
Nurture curiosity in the FLES classroom
In this 1-hour webinar, we'll explore how to make language learning engaging and exciting using authentic materials from cultures around the world. We'll share examples of resources and activities to foster curiosity, engagement and meaningful language for your students and show you how to inspire curiosity by creating activities around authentic resources. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn and share ideas with fellow FLES educators tonight at 7 p.m. ET.
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Never attended the ACTFL Convention? Apply for a stipend
All language educators who have never attended an ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo are invited to apply for the First-Time Attendee Stipend. The program provides financial assistance to help offset the costs of attending. Apply before the July 17 deadline.
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Be ready for your chance, even if you can't see your way today.
Eleanor Collins,
singer, television host, "Canada's first lady of jazz"
1919-2024
March is Women's History Month
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