College of Arts and Sciences » CEDAR Language Resource Center » Webinars

Center Webinars

The CEDAR LRC offers a year-round (online) webinar series focused on contemporary best practices for language teaching and learning, with two webinars per semester. These webinars provide professional development opportunities for language educators and promote best practices for language education at the regional and national levels. 

Paula Winke
  • Speaker: Dr. Paula Winke (Michigan State University) 
    • Title: "Planning a Semester Ahead for Communicative Assessments in Language Classrooms" 
    • Date: Monday, April 3rd, 2023
    • Time: 3:30-5:00pm EST
    • Abstract: Dr. Winke will showcase two communicative assessment types, which each have very different purposes. We will map out an idealized semester plan, wherein self-assessments, group orals, weekly achievement quizzes, and other assessments (writing tasks, Oral Proficiency Interviews, multimodal tasks, etc.) live side-by-side to measure the various types of learning and achievement that occur through class instruction.
Meg Malone
  • Speaker: Dr. Meg Malone (ACTFL Director of Assessment and Research) 
    • Title: "Assessment in Communicative Language Classrooms" 
    • Date: Thursday, March 9th, 2023
    • Time: 3:30-5:00pm EST
    • Abstract: Assessment is critical to understanding the extent to which language has been taught and learned. This presentation focuses on ways to assess language in a communicative-based classroom with a focus on assessing oral proficiency. Sample tasks, rubrics and strategies will help participants determine ways to both include more proficiency-based assessment activities and communicate results to learners.
Manuela Wagner
  • Speaker: Dr. Manuela Wagner (University of Connecticut) 
    • Title: “Teaching for intercultural dialogue: From theory to practice”
    • Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2022
    • Time: 3:00-4:30pm EST
    • Abstract: In this workshop, we think about how we can plan, teach, and assess intercultural competence in language education. We bridge theory and practice by analyzing lesson plans that intentionally and systematically integrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to engage in intercultural dialogue and solve real world problems in the target language.
Paul Toth
  • Speaker: Dr. Paul Toth (Temple University)
    • Title: “How to focus on linguistic accuracy within a task-based approach to language teaching”
    • Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2022
    • Time: 3:00-4:30pm EST
    • Abstract: This webinar equips second language teachers to integrate a focus on target grammar and vocabulary items within a communicative, task-based lesson design. Participants will explore the possibilities for utilizing authentic texts both as motivators for learners’ communicative self-expression and as a basis for developing learners’ understanding of how linguistic tools can be utilized for their own purposes. After briefly reviewing cognitive and social perspectives on the role of grammar instruction in second language development, the presenter will share his own materials and research on how learners engage in interpretive and interpersonal communication while working on accuracy with target structures.