You can view the entire January 2010 issue of The Language Educator on the ACTFL website. In addition, we just posted individual feature articles from this issue here in the Resources section of the ACTFL Online Community.
It’s a really exciting issue with some excellent information geared to language educators at all levels. ACTFL President Eileen Glisan begins her year in this position with an insightful Perspective column about using backward design planning and “big ideas” in language teaching. An article on the 2009 ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo in San Diego—attended by over 6,000 participants this past November—is another highlight of this issue, including many photos and details about the annual conference. The ACTFL award winners for 2009 are also featured.
We have a major focus on the topics of advocacy and connection in this issue. A collection of articles (“Becoming a Language Learning Advocate”) includes suggestions of tactics in tough economic times, information about facing the economic crisis in California, and details on the new advocacy-focused section of the ACTFL website. A Q&A interview with Colorado State Senator Pat Steadman continues the conversation about advocacy and explores how educators can connect with their legislators. We also feature an article about the ACTFL Online Community, encouraging more members to get involved and take part in the social networking site.
A new article in our ongoing “Career Focus” series examines how language skills can benefit individuals in careers in business and industry—featuring interviews with Cari Guittard of Business for Diplomatic Action, Charles Kolb of the Committee for Economic Development, Nido Qubein of High Point University, and several individuals who discuss how they use language skills in their corporate careers.
Other interesting articles in this issue include a look at an innovative summer immersion program in Gary, Indiana, called Study Alternative International Languages and Spanish (SAILS), and a focus on the ways that Roberta Lavine of the University of Maryland uses technology (in our “Getting Connected in the 21st Century” series). The department, “The Savvy Traveler,” also features an article on surviving culture shock by Janet Norden and Michelle Porter of Baylor University in Waco, TX.
The Language Educator debuted as an ACTFL membership benefit in January 2006 and so this issue marks the beginning of our fifth year of publication. We’ve received some great feedback from members over the last several years and we hope to continue to improve the quality of the magazine every issue.
Here’s to a great 2010 working together with all of you! Individual articles from the February issue of The Language Educator should be up shortly. In the meantime, you can access the entire virtual issue for February at www.actfl.org.