IWL Foreign Language Housing Training Workshop
From Conversation to Proficiency
Dr. Chantal Thompson
The purpose of this workshop is to learn how to turn the casual conversations
that typically take place in a foreign language program into a ladder to increased proficiency. In order for this to happen, LA’s and AC’s need to:
- be familiar with the ACTFL Guidelines and look at language development through the lens of function, text type, content/context and accuracy;
- practice elicitation techniques that establish functional ability;
- design a bank of topics and questions aimed at moving residents from one level of proficiency to the next;
- conduct individualized assessment sessions, based on Can-Do statements, as part of the program.
Workshop Agenda
9:00—9:15 Defining the challenges (brainstorming)
9:15—10:15 Focus on Proficiency
• The ACTFL Scale and what it really means
• Identifying functions, content, accuracy and text type
10:30—10:45 Break
10:45—12:00 Focus on elicitation techniques
• From questions to functions
• Spiraling questions from the one level to another.
12:00—1:00 Lunch
1:00—2:15 Designing the program
• Defining the objectives
• Creating a bank of topics and questions relevant to your program
2:15—2:30 Break
2:30—3:45
• Strategies to empower students to stay in the language and say more than the bare minimum;
• Planning individualized assessment sessions.
3:45--4:00 Conclusion