This conference aims to pursue a new pathway for advocating innovative approaches in research and practices, maximizing professional exchanges and collaboration among LCTL educators, and leveraging resources and strengths in the less commonly taught languages community. We cordially invite researchers, educators, practitioners, program developers, and administrators in the LCTL community organizations to attend the conference.
Time & Location
April 23, 2021, 9:00 AM ET – April 24, 2021, 6:00 PM ET
Virtual Conference
Keynote Speakers
Dawn Samples
Dawn Samples is the Director for Professional Learning for Avant MORE Learning. Previously Dawn served as the district supervisor for an ACTFL award-winning program, and was awarded the National Language Supervisor of the Year in 2017. In her past roles as a SC Department of Education Associate for Professional Development and later as district supervisor, Dawn led graduate courses on language teaching methodology for both face to face and online settings with teachers of all levels. She now works with K16 teachers and colleagues in the field of world languages, immersion and assessment to provide professional learning opportunities, coaching and resources that support strong instructional practices and increase proficiency levels for all language learners. She also facilitates professional development training (for certification credits) in language teaching methodology, technology resources and uses, curriculum revision and program articulation.
Dr Margaret E. Malone
Margaret E. Malone (Ph.D., Georgetown University) is Director of Research and Assessment at ACTFL. She is also Director of the Assessment and Evaluation Language Resource Center (AELRC) and Research Professor at Georgetown. She has three decades of experience in language test development, materials development, delivery of professional development and teacher training through both online and face-to-face methods, data collection and survey research, and program evaluation. Her current research focuses on language assessment literacy, oral proficiency assessment, the influences of the Seal of Biliteracy on language teaching and learning and the development of short-cut measures of proficiency. Prior to joining ACTFL and Georgetown, she was Associate Vice President of World Languages and International Programs at the Center for Applied Linguistics.