Author Archives: Cardinal Editor

How to Fund the AAPPL

Chris Lemon, Spanish Teacher, Northmont High School AAPPL Educator Panelist, Language Testing International Title IV-A. Those were the magic words that I heard from Ryan Wertz of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce a couple of years ago. In … Continue reading

Posted in Spring 2026, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I Love My Job Again!

Proficiency Over Grammar in the World Language Classroom Megan Robinson, Spanish Teacher, Bloom-Carroll High School I’m not sure what to call it. An epiphany seems like an understatement. It also feels too self-absorbed. I arrived at this point because of … Continue reading

Posted in Spring 2026 | Leave a comment

“Disrupting Class”: Summer Reading for Ohio World Language Educators

Steven J. Sacco, Professor Emeritus of French and Italian, San Diego State University I know the last thing we world language educators want to read is a book on class disruptions, but before you move on to the next article … Continue reading

Posted in Spring 2026 | Leave a comment

Building Language Proficiency by Building Software

Kyle Young, Upper School French Teacher, Hathaway Brown School I used to have a discussion prompt for my French students: what would the perfect new app be? Recently, I asked myself: What if instead of just talking about it, they … Continue reading

Posted in Spring 2026 | Leave a comment

OWLA 2026 is Almost Here!

Deborah Varga, OWLA President 2025-2026Spanish Teacher, McKinley Senior High School Warm greetings, fellow OWLA members! I cannot believe that the conference is just around the corner. We are preparing for an exciting time of not only professional development, but also … Continue reading

Posted in Winter 2026 | Leave a comment

Parlez-vous français? AI as a Conversation Partner—and a Tool for Interaction and Feedback

Nicola Work, OWLA President-ElectAssociate Professor of French, University of Dayton  “Turns out the conversation partner my students would actually use was available 24/7 and never got tired of repeating the same question.” AI is everywhere—and it’s here to stay. Students … Continue reading

Posted in Winter 2026 | Leave a comment

Your New Teaching Assistant Doesn’t Need a Desk (or a Paycheck)

Megan Brady, OWLA Immediate Past President and Awards ChairSpanish Teacher, Lake High School What if I told you that the activity packet you spent 90 minutes creating last week could have been done in 15 minutes? And what if that … Continue reading

Posted in Winter 2026 | Leave a comment

Reclaiming Joy in the World Language Classroom

Teri Wiechart, OWLA Parliamentarian & Bylaws ChairRetired, Delphos Jefferson High School In a year when many educators feel stretched thin, it’s easy for the joy of teaching languages to get buried under paperwork, shifting district priorities, and the constant pressure … Continue reading

Posted in Winter 2026 | Leave a comment

Let Your Students Become the Teachers with the One World, Many Languages Program

Lauren Shaffer, OWLA Executive Recorder & Editor of The CardinalSpanish Teacher, Dalton High School High school language teachers: Are you interested in having your students participate in this program? Check the link at the end of the article. Last May, … Continue reading

Posted in Winter 2026 | Leave a comment

“Does This Baby Speak Spanish?”

Perceptions of Linguistic Legitimacy Among Students Megan Frate, OWLA Membership ChairSpanish Teacher, Westerville City Schools Cat. Cow. Water.   These three words are all students hear before weighing in on the question, “Does this baby speak Spanish?” The hypothesis is that … Continue reading

Posted in Winter 2026 | Leave a comment