The Cardinal

Kaleigh Baker, OFLA Immediate Past President

As I mentioned in my fall article, I asked you all to be thinking about those among us who are making positive contributions to the teaching and support of world languages. As Past President and the Awards Chair, I am excited about the nominations received so far for our various OFLA Awards.

I would also like to highlight again our OFLA Teacher of the Year, Maria Herman. I have gotten to know Maria both personally and professionally over the last few years and she is truly an amazing person, teacher, and advocate for world languages.

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

Greetings, fellow world language educators. I hope the second semester starts smoothly! Are you already counting down the days until the end of the school year? Are you struggling to work through those difficult days and needing time to renew your outlook? You are not alone, and acknowledging that is okay! 

The popular phrase “embrace the chaos” is easier said than done, but is doable in small steps.  As someone who loves stories about the success of others, it is also essential to be mindful that it is vital to take care of myself during this time of year, even if there are days when I do not feel successful.  Many of us wish that we could implement a cool idea with fast results for our lessons, but realize that it may take longer to achieve those results. Sometimes we get down on ourselves because we may be judged by others who say we should be doing something differently than what we know is right.  

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

Language and Identity: A Deep Connection

Language is not just a tool for communication; it’s a profound reflection of our identity. The connection between language and identity is a multifaceted and intriguing topic worth exploring.

Language plays a crucial role in shaping our sense of self. It influences how we perceive the world and how we are perceived by others. Bilingual and multilingual individuals often report having different “selves” when speaking different languages. This phenomenon reveals how language can mold our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Language is deeply intertwined with culture. It carries the traditions, values, and histories of a community. When people learn a new language, they also gain insight into the culture and worldview of the speakers of that language. For instance, understanding idiomatic expressions and cultural references can provide a richer and more nuanced appreciation of the culture.

Ideas to help bring energy to your classroom

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

SAD? The seasonal affective disorder is very real and can zap the energy from your classroom, you and your students alike!  At this time of year, motivating students can be very hard.  Try a few of these activities with your students to wake up your students, increase engagement, and add a bit of fun to your lessons!

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

I have used a few television shows in my classes over the years and would like to share the benefits I have observed. First, let me give you the names of shows I have used and where they can be found. (Please note that there are many more shows out there!)

MANY years ago, I used La Catrina, which was part of the old Paso a Paso textbook series and is set in Mexico. I used it again a couple years ago in Spanish 2 and they LOVED it. Though it was filmed in the 1990s, is cheesy and quirky, it still has value, and is available on YouTube. Last year in Spanish 2, I tried ¿Eres tú, María? in place of La Catrina, which is also on YouTube. It is from the early 2000s and set in Spain. This was not received as well as La Catrina. A few years ago, I showed Celia, a series based on the life of Cuban singer Celia Cruz, when it was available on Netflix. Though some scenes needed to be edited for language and content, students were really into it. Unfortunately, it is no longer streaming on Netflix. Currently, I am showing Tierra Incógnita in Spanish 3/4. This Disney+ series, set in Argentina, has two seasons and requires no editing for content or language. There are many resources out there for season one to get you started –- just head to Google! 

Nicola Work, OFLA Editor for Electronic Media
University of Dayton, Associate Professor of French

Do you want your students to start thinking in the target language when they come to your room? Do you want to start your class in the target language? Do you have a few minutes to spare at the beginning of class? Would you like to get everyone on the same page at the beginning of class? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, I might have an activity for you. 

For starters, I like to use an agenda / welcome slide I have projected before class starts. You might ask: “What is an agenda / welcome slide?” It is a slide with varied target language content to set up the upcoming class. It can contain the date, an outline of or agenda for the class, the current weather, a quote, fun facts and “did you know?”, a cultural blurb, an image, a joke or meme, a music video (song of the week), a news blurb, a social media post, a checklist of what to do before class starts or what to have ready, and a small activity like “Would you rather?”, “Question of the day”, or “This or that?”. 

Alexis Blum, OFLA Professional Development Chair
Spanish Teacher, Wapakoneta High School

How many times have you heard these phrases this week? 

“Is this for a grade?” 

“Are you collecting this?” 

“Are we turning this in?” 

And my personal favorite…”Do we all have to do this?” 

For me, these are things that I used to hear all the time in my classroom. I was so frustrated with my students for constantly wanting a grade for everything! From my perspective, these questions made me feel like students only wanted to do something if they were getting credit. I kept asking myself, “Why do they only put effort into an assignment if they are getting graded for it?” I didn’t think I emphasized grades much in my classroom. We talked constantly about the value of improving proficiency and progress, but never about getting As, extra credit, etc. Why were my students still asking me these questions about points and grades? 

Lesley Chapman, OFLA Public Relations and Advocacy Chair
French Teacher, Sycamore High School

It is so exciting to introduce our membership to Maria Herman, OFLA’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Maria is a great advocate of world language education, and we wish her luck as she prepares for her interview for the Central States Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at the Central States Conference in March.

To get to know her a bit better, we asked her to answer some questions about herself, her school, and her teaching philosophies. Please take a moment to congratulate Maria at Central States in March and the OFLA conference in April!