Technology and Student Teaching

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Cardinal Editor

Haylee Holbrook

Pre-Service Teacher at Bluffton High School

Bowling Green State University

This is my first submission to the Cardinal and I am so excited to be apart of this organization! This school year, I am completing my student teaching in Bluffton, Ohio under the mentorship of Mr. Kevin King. After being in the classroom the past three years, I am ready and excited to get into the classroom to try out all of the ideas and activities that I have learned about and planned for. Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, Uncategorized, Winter 2018 | Leave a comment

2018 OFLA Conference

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Cardinal Editor

Posted in Uncategorized, Winter 2018 | Leave a comment

CSCTFL 2018

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Cardinal Editor

http://www.csctfl.org/conferences/2018conference.html

Posted in Uncategorized, Winter 2018 | Leave a comment

Message from the President

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Cardinal Editor

Beth Hanlon, 2017-2018 OFLA President
Spanish Teacher, Oberlin High School

Happy 2017-2018 school year!

As a teacher, I always feel as though a new school year is THE new year. It is a time for fresh starts as well as new ideas and goals.

Let me ask you: What is your context? Dictionary.com defines context as “the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc.” My context is a small city high school in between many small rural districts. My students are diverse and many deal with poverty. My context is not shared by many of my world language friends as they have their own unique context. Continue reading →

Posted in Executive News, Fall 2017, General, Letter from the President, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Insights from the President-Elect

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Cardinal Editor

Milton Alan Turner, President-Elect
French and Spanish Teacher, Saint Ignatius High School

LILL Conference-We Are All Leaders!
40 world languages teachers participated in the Leadership Initiative for Language Learning (LILL) Summer Initiative for Emerging Leaders June 27-29 in Skokie, IL. Over the three days we shared ideas about leadership and worked collaboratively to develop goals for ourselves and our organizations. There are two major takeaways I would like to share.

1. We are all leaders! Leadership is not confined to a title. Identify your spheres of influence (classroom, department, colleagues, school district, state, professional organizations, etc.) and work to effect positive change within those spheres. You have more power than you may think. Continue reading →

Posted in Executive News, Fall 2017, General, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2018 OFLA Awards

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Cardinal Editor

Lucas Hoffman, OFLA Awards Chair
Sylvania Southview High School

Please consider nominating a deserving friend or colleague for an OFLA teaching award. As teachers, we serve others without asking for recognition. Recognizing others for their hard work, dedication and professionalism can make for a meaningful and unique reward.

Each year OFLA seeks nominations in thirteen categories: ten for OFLA members and three for non-OFLA members. The categories are listed below.

Please see this page for more information, including complete descriptions of award categories, and a nomination form. Any questions should be directed to: pastpres-2017@ofla-online.org. A nomination letter, CV or résumé, letters of support, and additional support documentation are due December 1, 2017. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Around the State

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Cardinal Editor

Preparing for the Implementation of Ohio’s New Seal of Biliteracy Program

Ryan Wertz, Kathy Shelton, and Paula Sondej, World Language Consultants, Ohio Department of Education

As the school year gets underway, the excitement building around Ohio’s newest language-based program is palpable! Many are beginning to ask some great questions about our new Seal of Biliteracy. Here are some initial answers to the burning questions we are being asked that will help your school or district prepare for implementing the program and ensure that your future graduates can be in the running for an award that will carry some significant weight with college admissions officers, military recruiters and perspective employers.

1. What is the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy?
The Ohio Seal of Biliteracy is an award conferred on graduating high school seniors who can demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English and at least one world language, which includes modern languages, classical languages, American Sign Language, and native American languages. Continue reading →

Posted in Around the State, Fall 2017, General, Professional Development, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

OFLA Scholarships: Online and Ready

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Cardinal Editor

Denise Broda, OFLA Scholarship Chair
Spanish Teacher, Wooster High School

Did you know that the Ohio Foreign Language Association offers scholarships to attend the annual conference and scholarships to help teachers study abroad? Do you want to attend the conference in Cleveland this spring, but you could use some help funding it? Every year, OFLA makes it possible for deserving university students and teachers in their first three years of teaching to earn a stipend to help pay for the costs of the conference registration, lodging, and meals. Following are reactions from some of last year’s recipients:

“The 2017 OFLA conference inspired me to continue growing in my practice as I completed my third year of teaching. I gained relevant and practical advice from the Continue reading →

Posted in Committee News, Fall 2017, General, Scholarships, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Finding Local Opportunities for Students to Broaden their Worldview and Create Empathy

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Cardinal Editor

Why it is Important to Leave the Classroom and Learn Through Interactions

Meredith Blackmore, Sycamore High School

To quote a student of mine:

“It is one thing to learn about immigration in textbooks and read about statistics and numbers that accompany the ever prevalent issue. However, to understand that a personal story goes with each and every individual who tries to come to the United States completely changes one’s perspective. I am more interested in learning about the people and their lives than numbers and facts that go right over my head. When you talk to someone about what they have experienced, it makes everything you have learned so much more real.”

This reflection demonstrates how a unit idea to promote communicative and cultural competency evolved into an extraordinary lesson in empathy. Continue reading →

Posted in Fall 2017, General, Scholarships, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

AATF Ohio Updates

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Cardinal Editor

Nicole Hanlon, AATF Representative

Bonne rentrée à tout le monde! Fall is in the air and that means the time is quickly approaching for our annual French Immersion Weekend at Mohican State Park! This year’s weekend will take place October 27-29 at Mohican. Join us for French cuisine, hiking, relaxation, and networking. Attending the event will also get you a few CEU hours for licensure. For more information, check out the page at the AATF-Ohio website: https://aatfohio.wordpress.com/mohican-2017-27-29-octobre-2017/.

Also, Ohio French teachers should take a look at the new collaborative spaces sponsored by AATF National! Visit the AATF wiki at http://frenchteachingresources.wikispaces.com/ or the IEProfs USA site https://us.ifprofs.org/ for access to French resources and ideas!

Posted in Affiliates, Fall 2017, General, Uncategorized | Leave a comment