By Lucas Gravitt
lucas.gravitt@scott.kyschools.us
The Kentucky World Language Association’s (KWLA) annual Fall Conference is set for Sept. 15-17 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Louisville Airport. With more than 400 attendees expected from across Kentucky and other states, we are thoroughly looking forward to “Crossing the Bridge to Proficiency” with you.
For the past several years, the focus of world language instruction has shifted from grammar, rote memorization and choppy canned phrasing to a student-centered approach. The idea of proficiency gives students opportunities to produce in the language, be creative with the language and actually work toward higher levels of proficiency. We all have been working quite diligently to learn the talk, now is the time to start walking the walk.
Our conference will focus on the practical implementation of proficiency-based instruction, supported through the six core practices from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Yo Azama, 2012 ACTFL Teacher of the Year, will join us as keynote speaker and featured presenter. We are excited to have one of the best join us this year as we continue making the shift in our instructional practices.
Conference registration is open by going here until Sept. 9. You also will want to make sure to be a part of our hotel block to guarantee the rate for your room. Deadline for hotel registration – by phone only – is Aug. 24; call the Crowne Plaza at (888) 233-9527 to reserve your hotel room.
On-site registration opens 5 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 15, with the pre-conference workshops beginning at 6 p.m. ET. You also can join us that night for the president’s reception, a great way to meet the KWLA Board of Directors in a more informal setting. On Sept. 16, the day is packed with the opening session and keynote address to kick off the day, sessions and workshops all day, and ending with a reception prior to language specific immersion dinners. The sessions continue on Sept. 17, which also includes our annual awards luncheon, where the new 2016 KWLA Outstanding Teacher and other awards will be announced.
We certainly hope you will consider joining us in Louisville in September!
Lucas Gravitt is a German teacher at Scott County High School and is the owner and director of the Central Kentucky German School in Lexington. He serves as the president-elect and conference chair of the Kentucky World Language Association.
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