Summer Language Institute

The Summer Language Institute supports K-16 language practitioners seeking to employ contemporary, research-supported best practices for world language instruction in their classrooms. Specifically, the Summer Language Institute will focus on equipping pre- and in-service foreign/world language, heritage language, immersion, and ESL/EFL educators with training on how to both modify existing curricula and create new course materials that adhere to ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. The Summer Language Institute runs in person every summer for three days, hosted at the University of Cincinnati. The year, it will occur August 7th- 9th from 9:00am- 5:00pm. Please see below for registration and additional information.  


2023 Themes and Keynote Speakers 

  • August 7th: Culture in the Language Classroom, Ke Peng, PhD
  • August 8th: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Language Classroom, Milton Alan Turner
  • August 9th: Creating a Communicative Language Classroom, Claudia Fernández, PhD
Ke Peng

 

Ke Peng, PhD

Dr. Peng is a Professor of Chinese and the Director of Chinese Flagship at Western Kentucky University. Dr. Peng was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from the Kentucky World Language Association. She is the coordinator of the Chinese Program in the Department of World Languages. Dr. Peng has over 20 years of teaching experience and has served as the college team leader for the STARTALK Master Teacher Program. Her research interests include pedagogy, teacher training and program evaluation as well as literacy development and cultural education in the Chinese language classroom. Recent research from Dr. Peng can be found in Journal of International Chinese Language Education, The Routledge Handbook of Chinese Language Teaching, and the Journal of Chinese Language Teaching.

Milton Alan Turner

 

Milton Alan Turner

Mr. Turner is a French and Spanish teacher at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio with over 35 years of teaching experience. He was awarded the U.S. Innovative Educator award by Microsoft in 2011, the Ohio World Language Teacher of the Year in 2014, and St. Ignatius’ Trailblazer award in 2020. Mr. Turner currently serves on the Ohio Foreign Language Association board as Editor for Electronic Media and is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Member for ACTFL, as well as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission Member for the American Association of Teachers of French.

Claudia Fernandez

 

Claudia Fernández, PhD

Dr. Fernández is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Spanish Basic Language Program in Hispanic and Italian Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). With more than 20 years of language teaching experience, Dr. Fernández' research interests are in the area of task-based language teaching, materials development, and input processing. She is the co-editor of Using Language Learning Materials: Theory and Practice (Cambridge Scholars Publishing), the co-author of the task-based textbooks Aula en acción (Klett World Languages) and the author of "What is and what is not comprehension-based communicative language teaching?" (Klett World Languages, to appear). She is the current recipient of the Teaching Recognition Program award at UIC for excellence in teaching. 


Event Schedule 

Day 1, August 7th: Culture in the Language Classroom

  • 8:00am - 9:00am: Registration 
  • 9:00am - 9:15am: Welcome & Overview of Daily Schedule
  • 9:15am - 10:15am: Keynote - Dr. Ke Peng (Western Kentucky University) presents: "Culture in the Language Classroom"
  • 10:15am - 10:45am: Q&A Session
  • 10:45am - 11:00am: Break 
  • 11:00am - 12:15pm: Concurrent Workshops: Culture Workshop A: Focus on Lesson Plans - Tanya Boyle (Cincinnati Public Schools) & Culture Workshop B: Focus on Assessments - Ashley Anneken (University of Cincinnati)
  • 12:15pm - 1:30pm: Lunch (provided by Vista Higher Learning)
  • 1:30pm - 2:45pm: Concurrent Workshops: Culture Workshop A: Focus on Lesson Plans - Tanya Boyle (Cincinnati Public Schools) & Culture Workshop B: Focus on Assessments - Ashley Anneken (University of Cincinnati)
  • 2:45pm - 3:00pm: Break 
  • 3:00pm - 4:15pm: Panel Discussion on Culture in the Language Classroom - Dr. Yuyun Lei and Na Li (Western Kentucky University)
  • 4:15pm - 4:25pm: Break 
  • 4:25pm - 4:45pm: Closing     

 

Day 2, August 8th: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Language Classroom

  • 8:00am - 9:00am: Registration 
  • 9:00am - 9:15am: Welcome & Overview of Daily Schedule
  • 9:15am - 10:15am: Keynote - Milton Alan Turner presents: "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Language Classroom" 
  • 10:15am - 10:45am: Q&A Session
  • 10:45am - 11:00am: Break 
  • 11:00am - 12:15pm: Concurrent Workshops: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workshop A: Focus on Creating Activities - Mariela Jaen (Cincinnati Public Schools) & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workshop B: Focus on Lesson Plans - Dr. Juan Godoy-Peñas (University of Cincinnati)
  • 12:15pm - 1:30pm: Lunch (provided by the CEDAR LRC)
  • 1:30pm - 2:45pm: Concurrent Workshops: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workshop A: Focus on Creating Activities - Mariela Jaen (Cincinnati Public Schools) & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workshop B: Focus on Lesson Plans - Dr. Juan Godoy-Peñas (University of Cincinnati)
  • 2:45pm - 3:00pm: Break 
  • 3:00pm - 4:15pm: Panel Discussion on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Language Classroom, Dr. Kai Liang and Dr. Zhuqin Borders (Western Kentucky University)
  • 4:15pm - 4:25pm: Break 
  • 4:25pm - 4:45pm: Closing    

 

Day 3, August 9th: Creating a Communicative Language Classroom

  • 8:00am - 9:00am: Registration 
  • 9:00am - 9:15am: Welcome & Overview of Daily Schedule
  • 9:15am - 10:15am: Keynote - Dr. Claudia Fernández presents: "Creating a Communicative Language Classroom"
  • 10:15am - 10:45am: Q&A Session
  • 10:45am - 11:00am: Break 
  • 11:00am - 12:15pm: Concurrent Workshops: Communicative Language Classroom Workshop A: Focus Lesson Plans - Liz Owens (Cincinnati Public Schools) & Communicative Language Classroom Workshop B: Focus on Assessments - Dr. Kara Moranski (University of Cincinnati)
  • 12:15pm - 1:30pm: Lunch (provided by the CEDAR LRC)
  • 1:30pm - 2:45pm: Concurrent Workshops: Communicative Language Classroom Workshop A: Focus Lesson Plans - Liz Owens (Cincinnati Public Schools) & Communicative Language Classroom Workshop B: Focus on Assessments - Dr. Kara Moranski (University of Cincinnati)
  • 2:45pm - 3:00pm: Break 
  • 3:00pm - 4:15pm: Panel Discussion on Classroom Management and the Communicative Language Classroom - Miranda Couch and Ginger Isaac (Cincinnati Public Schools) 
  • 4:15pm - 4:25pm: Break 
  • 4:25pm - 4:45pm: Closing

 

Each day, eight hours of professional development will be offered at the Summer Language Institute. Attendees have the option to attend one, two, or all three days, in order to earn eight, 16, or 24 hours of professional development. 


Travel Information 

The CEDAR LRC is pleased to offer a discounted group rate at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Cincinnati Uptown/University Area for attendees of the Summer Language Institute. The address is 2500 S Market St, Cincinnati, OH 45219. Attendees will have until July 24th to book at the Fairfield Inn with the discounted rate. To reserve your room, you may either: 

  1. Click the booking link: Book your group rate for the CEDAR Summer Language Institute or
  2. Call the hotel directly at 513.281.2200 and reference group name: CEDAR Summer Language Institute

Please note that reservations are with the Fairfield Inn and not under the jurisdiction of the CEDAR LRC.