The Cardinal

Don’t let your club fizzle, make it the envy of the school!

Kaleigh Baker, OWLA Immediate Past President

As the school year winds down, so too might your clubs. I am here to offer some fun ideas to keep your kids involved and (hopefully) spark some interest in getting more to join the fun next year.

The tough part about springtime is that there is so much testing happening and it feels like every other day you are missing most of your classes. This is the perfect time to end your year on a strong note as far as your clubs are concerned. At this point in the year, you have done your fundraising and you know how much money you have in your account. With a proper budget and a little community outreach, you can get the most out of your funds and provide your students with a few unforgettable experiences.

Debbie Varga, OWLA President-Elect 
Spanish Teacher, McKinley Senior High School

Almost-summer greetings fellow OWLA members!  It is exciting that the end of the school year is in sight, and now is the perfect time for reflection.  The topic of resilience is vital for not only us as world language educators, but also for our students.  “Embracing the struggle” in a safe space allows us to focus on the needs of the students first, and then the curriculum.  You can “control your 20 feet” by building relationships with your students even though it is definitely challenging at times, and creating a classroom environment that allows students to have opportunities for small-group instruction can contribute immensely to bring about positive change when building these relationships. 

Teri Wiechart, OWLA Parliamentarian and Bylaws Chair
Retired, Delphos Jefferson High School

The Shift in Language Learning

Language education is undergoing a profound transformation. Gone are the days when world language classes relied solely on rote memorization, dry grammar drills, and repetitive textbook exercises. Today, educators recognize that communication—not perfection—should be the goal, and that methods like comprehensible input, immersive learning, and storytelling can help students acquire language naturally and confidently.

mportant profession

Maria Herman, OWLA Membership Chair
German Teacher, Maumee City Schools

Were you able to attend our annual conference at the beginning of April in Columbus this year? If so, you’ll agree it was a fantastic opportunity to network, recharge, share great ideas and unwind with people who understand your day-to-day responsibilities and challenges. And, you might remember meeting me, since I may have checked you in at the registration table. You probably also saw many other OWLA board members there, too!

Beth Hanlon, OWLA Executive Recorder and Editor of The Cardinal
Spanish Teacher, Oberlin High School

Being a member of the OWLA board seems a little daunting, doesn’t it? I thought that too! But then I served on an OWLA committee. And then I was asked to step onto the board. Was there a bit of a learning curve? Most definitely! I can say confidently that the last 13 years I have served on the OWLA board have been extremely rewarding in a number of ways both personally and professionally.

For many of my years on the OWLA board, I was a singleton in my district. I found community among my fellow board members from around the state. I suddenly had people to email and text with about classroom ideas and questions. I was now at board meetings with our world language consultants from the Department of Education and Workforce and privy to things happening in the state firsthand. Being on the board allowed me to begin attending the Central States and ACTFL conferences.