Learn from and be inspired by some of the leading voices in the World Language teaching world!

About this event
Enjoy a week-long virtual conference full of insights, ideas, training, and more, all meant to lighten your load as you trek through the final months of the school year.

What does it cost to register?
Registration is FREE for active Voces subscribers. Email [email protected] for your promo code.
Not a subscriber? Pay only $50 and get full access to the conference plus teacher access to all the titles in the Voces Library until the end of the school year!

Will sessions be accessible after the fact?
Yes! All sessions will be recorded and available after the conference.

What else can I expect?
Raffles, trivia, prizes, special guests, and music!
This conference is full of informative, useful sessions for ALL language teachers—no matter what level(s) you teach and whether or not you use Voces Digital.
Sessions will run consecutively during weekday evenings and weekends from February 28 - March 6.
Participation certificates will be available for those who request one after the event.

Register Now

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Schedule

The schedule is still taking shape, but here's a peek at what we have in store:
(*All times are Eastern Time)

Monday, February 28
6pm ET	With the Summit in Sight! Presenter: Erin Almeranti	In this opening session, Erin will welcome you to the conference and discuss all you have to look forward to this week, this season, this summer, and onward. There is exciting news to share, including new materials, new features, and new ways to make your lives easier and your students’ lives richer with culture, learning, and language.
7pm ET	Helping Students Build Proficiency with the “Our Story” Series Presenter: Gary DiBianca	What do students need from us as teachers? And what do we hope for our students? These are two questions that can be used to focus classes each semester, each new unit, and - more importantly - each day. Of course, the responses to these questions can flood our minds with ideas, curricular connections, and ways to give students the best experience possible to help them build their proficiency. This session will provide some tips and strategies for using the “Our Story” series to help meet the needs of all students, especially before spring break and the end of the year.

Tuesday, March 1
6pm ET	Maximizing Target Language Use Presenter: Bryan Kandel	The teacher's voice is a source of much of the input that students hear in a world language classroom. However, maintaining target language use while speaking comprehensibly can be a challenge. Often, a shift in classroom procedures and practices is necessary to make increased exposure to the target language work successfully. In this session, participants will learn strategies and techniques for reaching the goal of 90% target language use and providing maximum amounts of input during each class period.
7pm ET	IPAa & Communicative Tasks Presenter: Anna Porto	This workshop will focus on IPAs and Communicative Tasks in Voces: what they are and how to use them effectively in your classrooms to improve interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication. Special focus will be on the Italian program, Nostra storia, but the ideas will apply to all Voces programs. In addition, we will look at scaffolding and pre-assessment strategies to prepare your students for Voces activities. And, finally, we will explore how to manage assigning and grading of IPAs & Communicative Tasks.

Wednesday, March 2
6pm ET	Entry Points into Culture Presenter: Eric Richards	Culture is a vital part of a world language program and there are many ways to approach it in the classroom. In this session, attendees will look at how to find and use "entry points" in stories to help access culture. They will learn to use different strategies and activities to help incorporate culture before, during and after reading. Attendees will also learn how to drive interactions with the text and class that not only increase student engagement, but also support language learners' cultural understanding and competence.
7pm ET	CI for the Whole Crew: Making It Work for YOU! Presenter: Jennifer Degenhardt.	Are you new to comprehensible input? Are you apprehensive about how to use short novels or readers with your students? Not sure of how to let go of the framework of grammar? Not to worry! During this interactive presentation, Jennifer Degenhardt will get you thinking about CI in a way that it is easy, manageable, and allows you to dip your toe into the waters without fear of drowning. Jen is a Spanish teacher of almost 30 years and an author of CI novels, a few of which are included in the Voces curricula. As a true and steadfast grammarian in her earlier career, she came across CI organically in response to the needs of her learning-challenged students at the time - students whose needs caused her to write her first novel. Languages are about and used by people, and that is Jen’s favorite topic! So, sign up, grab a cup of cocoa and learn how you, too, can make Comprehensible Input work on your terms. Jen can’t wait to see you there!

Thursday, March 3
6pm ET	Herding Kittens: CI Activities for Pre-Literate Students Presenter: Erica Peplinski-Burge	Comprehensible Input works for language learners of all ages! In this session, learn about the mind of pre-literate language students, and how to work with their energy and enthusiasm to create a joyous and productive classroom. Attendees will learn about community building through class meetings, realia, stories, games, and student interest activities all designed with our youngest students in mind.
7pm ET	Know What Drives You Presenter: Allynn Lodge	Build confidence in your teaching by identifying the qualities that are most important to you as a teacher, and making sure that your course reflects these priorities. Learn how to share your approach with both students and parents. While each of us will emphasize slightly different things in our teaching, as CI enthusiasts, we all place value on quality input and communication. Explore how to promote Comprehensible Input in your classroom while being true to who you are as a teacher and connecting with your audience. Discover what works and what doesn't!

Friday, March 4
6pm ET	Join us for games, some Q&A, special guests and more! It’s Friday and time to relax, so pop in at any time - we’ll be hanging out, playing some trivia and games with prizes, and just chatting until 8 pm ET.

Saturday, March 5
9am ET	Using Stick Art with CI stories Presenter: Sandy Lewis	Visuals not only enhance a story, but are crucial for memory and retelling that story. But what if you're not an artist? The answer? Stick art! Sandy has discovered that stick art, as simple as it is, is really effective in comprehensifying a story while making it more interesting. Sandy will share how you can use the internet and basic drawing skills to bring life to any story. She will also share some of her own creations, as well as her discovery of certain picture themes that flow through the Voces stories. So if you want simplicity and engagement, bring your coffee and meet Sandy at 9:00!
10am ET	What a Novel Idea! Presenter: A.C. Quintero	Teaching a novel doesn't have to be BORING! Level up your game, and score a winning goal with 3 strategies for bringing your readers to life (and your student readers to life!) The presenter, currently a classroom teacher, will walk you through activities that will spice up your lesson, contextualize grammar, and focus on real communicative goals.
11am ET	Panel Discussion: What Do LGBTQ+ Students Need From Your Curriculum?	Join Gary DiBianca, a GLSEN Safe-Space trainer, and Voces Team members as we discuss the importance of representation and inclusion in our schools, and especially in language classes. We're hoping this discussion will help teachers to feel more confident and positive about addressing the needs of their students, including gender non-confirming students. We'll also discuss the changes we'll be making in the Voces curriculum that will help to foster inclusivity. We look forward to seeing you there!
12pm ET	Kick it up a notch! More rigor, less English! Presenter: Jane Ellis	Participants will discover ways to use Voces with Heritage speakers, an advanced group, or a class with a mixed range of levels. The ideas presented are applicable to any language class, and any level of Nuestra historia. Jane will demo these activities with Nuestra historia 3 and will focus on how to use what Voces has to offer with all students.
1pm ET	Routine and Novelty; Order and Chaos Presenter: Profe Loco	The human brain craves structure. It's why the most creative people work most effectively under a certain foundation of structure rules (poetry, musical masterpieces, etc.). Yet the human brain also craves chaos; the novelty of unpredictability. The classroom cannot be overly structured and it cannot be overly chaotic. There must be chaos within the confines of a safe structure. How do you balance routine and novelty; order and chaos in the world language classroom? Kyle Carr, AKA Profe Loco, aims to answer this question offering his philosophy on the subject and various tools to be used at the teacher's disposal.
2pm ET	Learning Language through Literature: A Casual Chat with French Author Eva Clerc Presenter: Eva Clerc	Join French Author Eva Clerc and Voces Curriculum Manager Valentina Ciuffreda to learn about our new French readers and the importance of incorporating literature in the language-learning classroom. Eva Clerc will talk about her current Level 3 and Level 4 readers while giving us a sneak peek of what's to come in her captivating Level 2 reader! If you're wondering whether utilizing books in the language-learning classroom is right for you, during this session we will talk about why these relatable, engaging readers can really boost student participation and engagement. And with an author as descriptive and creative as Eva, your students will be eager for more!
3pm ET	Let’s get personal! Presenter: Señor Jordan	Enhance any lesson or curriculum by developing your personalization skills! Join Jeremy Jordan as he gives numerous examples of asking personalized questions in class to deliver input - transforming any resource into a custom-fit, engaging one for your unique students. He will also offer tips on keeping personalization interesting. Examples will be in Spanish and English but the skills can apply to any class and level.
4pm ET	A Recipe for Proficiency: Using CI in the World Language Classroom Presenter: Michelle Kindt	What are the ingredients necessary to facilitate proficiency in our students? Comprehensible Input and its corresponding ideals create a perfect mixture that inspires students and encourages language acquisition. After learning and following the recipe of CI instruction, teachers can begin to add variety and spice to produce the optimal conditions to promote proficiency.

Sunday, March 6
12-2pm ET	Join Kelsey and David for a focused and efficient 2-hour long training session, during which they will give you an overview of the Voces platform, show how to assign and grade student work, and then demonstrate how to use the editor to edit and build your own material.
2-3pm ET	Kris and Neall will be joining Kelsey and David to work with groups in breakout sessions focusing on LMS integration, using the editor, and whatever other training you all need! This afternoon session will be perfect for those new to Voces as well as those more comfortable with the Voces platform but who may have questions or need a refresher.