Lucas Hoffman, OFLA President 2016-2017

French & Spanish Teacher, Sylvania Southview High School

Come join us at the 2017 OFLA Conference in Columbus, Ohio! It will take place March 30-April 1 at the Hilton Polaris.

Many of you will remember this venue where OFLA hosted the 2014 conference. It is conveniently located on the north side of Columbus just off of the I-71 Interstate. You will find lots of options for food, fun and shopping at the Polaris Fashion Place.

The conference registration is now open! Take advantage of the early-bird registration rate of $50.00 for OFLA members. If you would like to stay on-site, you can reserve a hotel for a discounted “OFLA” rate here. Early-bird registration and the conference-rate hotel rooms are available through February 27 (or sooner if the hotel rooms sell out).

Your conference registration includes all Friday and Saturday sessions, the keynote speech, exhibitor breaks, and the President’s Reception. Workshops do carry an additional fee of $25 or $35.

There will be approximately ninety sessions and thirteen workshops available. Thank you to all the presenters for taking your time and energy to give back to the profession and offering some of the professional development available in Ohio. Thank you, too, to the OFLA board and executive board for their guidance and work in preparation of a successful 2017 conference.

I am excited to announce three nationally-recognized speakers that will help us “Strengthen our Core”. Our keynote speaker Bill VanPatten will help us set the foundation with his principles of language teaching. Bill VanPatten will also host a live broadcast of the Tea With BVP at the OFLA conference on Saturday, April 1. For the Tea with BVP fans and those new to the show, I encourage you to stay and participate in this interactive entertaining and educational opportunity. The 2013 ACTFL President and 2009 ACTFL Teacher of the Year Toni Theisen will help us design thematic units that more rigorous and more meaningful to learners via her five-hour workshop on Thursday. You might also check out her session on Friday about the core practices. You will certainly enjoy 2016 ACTFL Teacher of the Year Finalist Grant Boulanger’s Thursday or Saturday workshop on comprehensible input or Friday session on engaging novice learners.

You are welcome to join us Friday evening for the annual OFLA Awards Banquet. This will be a nice moment to recognize OFLA award winners, enjoy colleagues’s company and a little bit of comedy from Bill VanPatten. Pre-registration for dinner is required.

I am looking forwarding to see many of you at this year’s conference. I hope it is a moment to challenge ourselves, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and “strengthen our core”.