Nicole Hanlon, OWLA Scholarship Chair
French Teacher, Buckeye Valley Local Schools (Delaware, OH)

As teachers, it’s part of our professional duty to keep learning, improve ourselves, and earn the required CEUs. In this digital age, the online professional development space is booming, and we can learn anything at the click of a button from the comfort of our couch (or from a study room at the library—my favorite hack for online PD!). So why attend in-person events when we can get them online? Here are my personal reasons and experiences why attending an in-person conference like OWLA 2026 is an invaluable resource not only for our teaching but also for our mental health. 

1. In-person connection. My #1 reason for enjoying in-person professional development is the opportunity to connect with other world language teachers. Often, the little breaks and pauses at an in-person event are the times when I make new friends and share ideas and materials based on our conversations. Some of my best takeaways from in-person PD often come from quick exchanges with the people I’ve met—or we stay in touch afterwards and can continue to share resources! Also, by regularly attending events, I’ve made friends from all over the state, so each event feels like a little social reunion on top of a learning opportunity. 

2. Dedicated time and focus. How many of us have spent entire Zoom meetings multitasking or barely paying attention? At the end of the day, my focus is limited, my chore list is long, and it can be hard to focus on a Zoom— especially if you’re like me and have small children running around your house. While online PD definitely has its benefits, I love taking a professional day from school to really focus and dive deep into learning and strategies. 

3. Variety. The shorter sessions and workshops at an in-person conference allow attendees to sample different approaches and troubleshoot a few aspects of their practice, all in one day, without the pressure of selecting a specific online PD. I love that with one PD day, I can learn about new classroom activities, opportunities, and current research all in one place. Then, by the end of the conference, I have a few concrete tools I can implement in the classroom. 

4. Refresh. I find in-person professional development refreshing for myself as a teacher. Taking time away from the classroom for a day or two, or dedicating time to get together with other teachers, always leaves me feeling refreshed and full of new ideas. I have personally found that the teachers who make time to attend PD events tend to be positive and have a deep love of teaching, which makes it inspiring to discuss and share with each other. This time of year is always tough for me, with the grind of teaching and the cold weather, so having a chance to network and reflect with other passionate teachers always helps me find my motivation and energy to finish out the year strong.

Hopefully, if you’re on the fence, these insights will help you consider attending—or help you convince a first-time attendee to check out a local conference, or even one of the larger national conferences in the future. I promise you won’t regret it! Hope to see you at OWLA 2026!