Judy McCombs, Columbus Spanish Immersion Academy, Early Language Learning Chair
The 2013-2014 school year has come to its end. We made it through a tough year of SLOs, TBTs, BLTs and OTES! So much was new this year….so many of us are glad it’s over. Time to regroup, relax, and gear up for the next school year. Continue reading
Two Plenary Speakers Featured
Lillian Acker, TESOL Liaison, Ashland University
Mark your calendars! The TESOL Academy 2014 is being held at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio June 20-21, 2014. The Ohio TESOL Conference in Conjunction with the Lau Center at The Ohio Department of Education will hold its annual conference November 14 and 15, 2014 at The Columbus Convention Center. The Keynote Speakers are: Bol Aweng, a South Sudan artist who is one of the “Lost Boys of the Sudan.” On Saturday, the Keynote Speaker will be Randi Reppin who will discuss Grammar Pedagogy.
Ryan Wertz, Kathy Shelton and Paula Sondej, World Language Consultants, Ohio Department of Education
By the time this issue of The Cardinal goes to press, the State Board of Education (hopefully) will have approved our new model curriculum. The first thing that you should know is that this invaluable new resource, which is officially titled Ohio’s Model Curriculum for K-12 World Languages, is NOT actually a curriculum. The name is a misnomer, since Ohio law prohibits the Ohio Department of Education from developing specific curricula for implementation at the local level. Continue reading
Susan Colville-Hall, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, The University of Akron
I am most humbled by the recognition given to me by such a prestigious group of individuals, teachers and educators, my colleagues and friends, my peers. Thank you OFLA Board and thank you OFLA members. Continue reading
Konyndky’s Foreign Languages for Everyone
Donna Villareal, Ashland University
Last winter, Leah Darkes, a member of the OFLA listserv associated with Cleveland State University wrote to the group:
“I’ve spoken to a few people about the value of foreign language learning for ALL students, including those with learning/emotional disabilities, the topic has really peaked my interest. I met a teacher from a private school in Wisconsin who is upset that the school will no longer require students with learning/emotional disabilities to study a foreign language. The decision was based on the belief that if students have difficulty mastering content area subjects, learning a foreign language is taking away valuable time they could be spending getting extra help. Since I am a student teacher I have not had much experience teaching students with disabilities. For those of you that have, I would love to hear your experiences, thoughts, and reactions. Continue reading
Call for Papers for the Annual Meeting of the OCC
Robert T. White, Shaker Heights High School, OCC President
The OCC is pleased to issue a call for papers dealing with any and all aspects of the Classical World, especially presentations that deal with the pedagogical issues that arise in today’s Latin classrooms from elementary school to graduate school level. Continue reading
Reprinted with permission of the Ohio Board of Regents from the Spring/April 2014 issue of News from the Ohio Articulation and Transfer Network
Submitted by Debbie Robinson
Four new Transfer Assurance Guides (TAGs) in foreign language containing 24 Ohio Articulation Numbers (OANs) were announced in mid-April. The sets of learning outcomes in each TAG represent Beginning I and II and Intermediate I and II courses in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The Foreign Language TAG Definitions and Course Alignment Guides can be found in the Documents section on the initiative website. Also, check out the Resources page for additional information. Continue reading
The 2nd Annual Ohio K-12 Chinese Essay and Speech Competition
Shasha Gibbs, Chinese Teacher, Medina High School
On Sunday, April 27, two students from Medina Senior High School placed in the Second Annual Ohio K-12 Chinese Essay and Speech Competition. Senior Victoria Kilbane, third year Chinese student, won second place in the nine-twelve grade intermediate division. The intermediate division encompasses students who have studied Chinese for less than 4 years. Sophomore Jayson Blankenship, second year Chinese student, won third place in the nine-twelve grade beginners division. The beginners division encompasses students who have studied Chinese less than two years. Continue reading
María Postigo
María Postigo is a native speaker from Spain. She teaches Spanish III/Hnrs & IV and is the Spanish Club Advisor at Canal Winchester HS. She is on the OFLA Secondary Language Learning Committee. She is also working on her PhD Dissertation on Translation and Interpreting Studies.
Although authentic resources have always been of undeniable value in the World Language classroom, they have recently become one of the buzzwords in this era of changes and new approaches to the teaching of world languages in Ohio. Continue reading
Learning Language through Culture and Becoming International-Minded
Abhijeet Singh, St. Edward High School Class of 2015
During the 2013-2014 school year, I entered IB Spanish SL as a high school junior with two years of prior Spanish classes under my belt. I felt that I had a proficient understanding of the vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation of the language and that, despite officially entering the International Baccalaureate Programme, this year of Spanish would continue to build upon that in a linear and predictable way. As I am now approaching the sunset of my junior year, I am glad to report that I was wrong. Continue reading
The Cardinal 