SWCOLT 2024 Pre-Conference Workshops
WORKSHOP 1: Using a Learner Corpus to Create Pedagogical Materials for Language Classrooms
Day & Time: Thursday, February 29 – Half Day (morning) - 9 am-12 pm
Presenters: Fernando Rubio, Elnaz Kia, Valerie Sky
Workshop Description: The objective of this workshop is to equip both present and prospective language educators with the skills needed to generate data-driven teaching activities tailored for their classrooms utilizing learner corpora. Workshop participants will learn about pedagogical applications of corpus linguistics in the language classroom and build necessary skills to create their own data-driven teaching materials. To participate, the attendees will need their laptops and internet access. First, the presenters will briefly introduce corpus linguistics and various types of corpora and engage the audience through examples using YouGlish and COCA. After the participants are comfortable with the idea of a corpus, they will learn about the specificities and benefits of learner corpora using the Corpus and Repository of Writing (Crow; Staples & Dilger, 2018) and the International Corpus Network of Asian Learners of English (ICNALE; Ishikawa, 2023). Second, the participants will learn the necessary skills that are needed for creation of a corpus in any language. They will use example written responses in English from ICNALE (or their own student samples) to follow steps necessary to construct their mini-corpora. After that, the participants will learn how to use basic corpus linguistic tools and techniques using AntConc (Anthony, 2023) and the ICNALE corpus.
Goals/Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, the attendees will be able to:
1) Utilize corpus analysis tools (i.e., AntConc; Anthony, 2023) to analyze their students’ performance,
2) Build a corpus using samples from their own students,
3) Identify patterns of language use in students’ samples by using corpus analysis tools and techniques, and
4) Create their own corpus-based teaching materials.
WORKSHOP 2: Artificial What? Getting Real with AI in Education
Day & Time: Thursday, February 29 – Half Day (morning) - 9 am-12 pm
Presenter: Dr. Ngan-Ha Ta
Workshop Description: AI is here and students will never know life without it. In fact, many industries already use AI alongside human employees to complete their work and produce products for consumption. Teachers need support in what this technology is, what opportunities and challenges are present when leveraging AI, plus what skills students will need in order to successfully live and work alongside AI. In addition, teachers deserve to know how AI can be a powerful and time-saving support in their work. This workshop will use demos and examples from existing AI tools to provide a robust introduction to AI in education and will include time for interested participants to try AI tools, including learning about and practicing prompt iteration. Participants will receive extensive links to resources to help educators successfully start with AI for themselves, and also to support development of skills students will need going forward.
Goals/Outcomes:
Participants will:
1. Share what AI is and isn't
2. List some things AI does well and some of its limitations
3. Describe ethical, equity, bias and student data privacy considerations with AI
4. Choose at least one tool or approach to implement with students and explain how they hope to use it and what they hope learners take away from the
experience.
WORKSHOP 3: From Novice to Superior: A Hands-On Refresher to ACTFL and Proficiency-Based Teaching
Day & Time: Thursday, February 29 – Half Day (afternoon) - 1 pm-4 pm
Presenter: Celia Chomon Zamora, Ph.D, CAE
Workshop Description: This workshop is designed for language educators who are new to the profession or who would like a refresher on the basics. Participants will learn about key ACTFL concepts such as proficiency and performance, the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do statements, the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages, and the Core Practices, which are essential for promoting student-centered, proficiency-based language instruction. The workshop will be highly interactive, with opportunities for participants to apply what they've learned through small-group discussions, reflection activities, and collaborative lesson planning. Participants will leave with a deep understanding of how ACTFL can help them meet the needs of their diverse learners (e.g., heritage language learners) through strategies such as differentiated instruction and create more engaging, authentic, and meaningful language learning experiences by leveraging technology and other resources. This workshop is ideal for language teachers who want to enhance their pedagogical knowledge and skills, improve their assessment practices, and align their instruction with national standards.
Goals/Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
· Define proficiency and describe the levels of proficiency,
· Use the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do statements to guide instruction and assessments,
· Identify the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages and their components,
· Understand the Core Practices and how they can be applied in the classroom.
WORKSHOP 4: Performance-Based Activities in the World Language Classroom
Day & Time: Thursday, February 29 – Half Day (afternoon) - 1 pm-4 pm
Presente: Melanie Mello
Workshop Description: Recent studies show that performative practices help improvisers communicate more engagingly and interactively, accelerating language learner's progress in proficiency in the interpersonal mode of communication. In this workshop, participants will:
• Be introduced to several performance-based activities and concepts connecting improv, neuroscience, film, and language acquisition in theory and practice
• Participate in activities to explore how students' communication and collaboration skills can be developed through improv
• Examine drama-based pedagogical concepts and learn how to apply them in the classroom, using a popular film as inspiration.