Historic Downtown Campus Faculty Showcase Excellence at ACTFL 2024 Conference in Philadelphia

Last weekend, our Historic Downtown Campus Global Language faculty attended the American Council for Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL) 2024 Conference in Philadelphia. This premier event for foreign language educators drew over 7,000 participants and featured more than 600 educational sessions, an exhibit hall showcasing 200+ organizations, and countless opportunities for professional collaboration.

This year’s theme, "Language as Liberation," invited educators to explore how language instruction can move beyond functional communication, fostering empathy, equality, and cultural understanding in an age of rapid technological evolution. The conference emphasized blending traditional teaching strengths with creative, forward-thinking approaches to help students connect with diverse cultures and discover their own identities.

Among the many highlights of the event, Barbara Medina co-presented alongside her mother, Belén Medina-Mendoza, a Spanish teacher at Villa Maria Academy High School, another PAIS school. This being the second time they have presented together, having previously presented at the esteemed Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL).

At ACTFL, their session, "Elevating Engagement and Proficiency through an Interdisciplinary Approach," provided educators with actionable strategies to design interdisciplinary units that promote deep connections, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Examples from our 4th-grade students demonstrated how such activities foster engagement and build proficiency using ACTFL’s guidelines.

Our faculty returned energized and inspired, eager to incorporate innovative methodologies and technologies into their classrooms. Their participation underscores our commitment to excellence in language education and to preparing students for a global, interconnected world.