Presentations, Workshops, and Special Events
CARLA sponsors a series of presentations and workshops during the academic year and occasionally offers other special events, such as the CARLA Open House. These presentations are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Locations can be found on the University map website.
CARLA Presentation Series
Winter/Spring 2022
The CARLA Presentations Series will be held online via Zoom during the winter and spring. Registration is free!
- Exploring Language Socialization and Language Identity of Migrant Nepali High School Students in the United States–POSTPONED
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
- The Effects of Guided Strategic Planning on Intermediate and Advanced Spanish Heritage Speakers’ Written Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Exploring Language Socialization and Language Identity of Migrant Nepali High School Students in the United States
Wednesday, March 16, 2022–POSTPONED
Nepali migrant students often experience language and identity shifts as they negotiate their sense of self within their new cultural and linguistic landscape in the United States. This presentation explores the results of a research study looking at ways in which how Nepali migrant students perceive their initial experiences of the English language at schools in their new country. It also showcases how these students explain their relationship with their heritage language and the shifts that they have experienced. The findings of this study highlight how such experiences shape how they perceive their identities.
Presenters
Blanca Caldas Chumbes is an Assistant Professor in Second Language Education and Elementary Education at the University of Minnesota. Her areas of interest are bilingual education, minoritized language practices and pedagogies, critical pedagogy, critical discourse analysis, and critical (performance) ethnography.
Mabindra Regmi is a Ph.D. student in Second Language Education at the University of Minnesota. He is interested in exploring the language socialization of the Nepali migrant community in the United States.
This presentation is cosponsored by the Second Language Education Program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
The Effects of Guided Strategic Planning on Intermediate and Advanced Spanish Heritage Speakers’ Written Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency
Thursday, March 31, 2022
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. (Central Time)
Register here for the Zoom link
Previous research about the effects of strategic or pre-task planning on second language accuracy have reported mixed and inconclusive results (i.e. Crookes, 1989; Yuan and Ellis, 2003; Kawauchi, 2005) and the impact on bilinguals such as Spanish heritage speakers of varying proficiency levels has not been explored. This presentation analyzes the interaction between strategic planning and proficiency on the written complexity, accuracy, and fluency of second-generation Spanish heritage speakers. Implications for the instruction of Spanish heritage speakers will be discussed.
Presenter
Vivian H. Franco Díaz is a Ph.D. candidate in Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the acquisition of Spanish as a second and heritage language, specifically academic writing development; language ideologies; and Spanish heritage language education.
This presentation is cosponsored by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies.
Past Presentations
- Many of CARLA's past presentations have been recorded and posted on the Presentation Recordings webpage.
- Browse the full list of previous talks offered through the CARLA Presentation Series.
- Request a certificate of attendance for a recent presentation.
- Certificates will only be granted to those who attend the full presentation.
- Requests must be made within one month of the presentation.
- Certificates for approved requests will be emailed within 3-4 weeks.
Please note: We encourage you to submit ideas for topics and speakers; email Karin Larson at larso205@umn.edu.
Thank you for your support of this program!
Workshops For Teachers
Check out CARLA's Saturday workshops offered to language educators during the spring:
- Integrating Social Justice Instruction and Proficiency Development in the Advanced-Level Language Classroom
Saturday, March 26, 2022
See: Registration and Refund Information
Note: All of CARLA's workshops will be offered online via Zoom in 2021–2022.
The workshops are cosponsored by the Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures and the World Languages Division of the Minnesota Department of Education.
Register soon–CARLA Workshops for Teachers fill up quickly!
Integrating Social Justice Instruction and Proficiency Development in the Advanced-Level Language Classroom
Saturday, March 26, 2022
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (Central Time)
Online via Zoom
Cost: $30 Register online with a credit card!
How can we focus in our classrooms on teaching for social justice and on proficiency development at the same time? In this interactive workshop, participants will deepen their understanding of the compatibility of social justice and proficiency-oriented approaches to foreign language teaching. After reviewing examples developed by the presenter, participants will practice adapting course units to align with both approaches simultaneously. They will also explore assessments and activities that support students’ growth as language users and as engaged members of their local and global communities.
The ACTFL proficiency guidelines, “5 Cs” of the World Readiness Standards, and principles of backward design will provide a framework for the workshop. Examples presented will be in Arabic, but teachers of all languages are invited to attend.
After this workshop, participants will be able to:
- describe the essential components of a social justice approach to foreign language teaching;
- explain the compatibility of social justice and proficiency approaches in the foreign language classroom;
- formulate meaningful essential questions for course units focused on social justice; and
- develop or adapt activities or assessments to suit a curriculum that works on social justice and proficiency development at once.
Instructor
Katrien Vanpee (Ph.D., Georgetown University) is the Director of Arabic Language Instruction at the University of Minnesota. Her interests include language program direction and curriculum design, social justice pedagogy, the development of reflective and lifelong learning skills, and the less commonly taught Arabic dialects.
Target Audience: This workshop is designed specifically for secondary and postsecondary foreign language instructors who teach at the advanced level. While teachers of all languages are welcome to participate, teachers of less commonly taught languages are especially encouraged to attend.
This workshop is not appropriate for those who teach Novice/beginning levels. It is also not designed for DLI or elementary/middle school teachers.
CARLA Workshop Registration and Refund Information
Registration Details: Registration closes at noon (Central Time) on the Thursday prior to the workshop–or as soon as the workshop fills. Space is limited–register early!
Confirmation and Zoom Link:
- Registrants will be sent a system-generated confirmation receipt immediately upon registering. Check your SPAM folder if you don't see it right away.
- The Zoom link will be sent by the CARLA office by the Thursday prior to the workshop. If you have not received the email with the link from CARLA by Thursday, please check your SPAM folder.
- Questions? Email carla@umn.edu by noon (Central Time) on the Friday before the workshop.
Refund Policy: The CARLA workshop registration fee is non-refundable. The University of Minnesota reserves the right to cancel the workshop if necessary and will grant a full refund if the workshop is not held.
Note: Registered participants who are not able to attend may transfer their registration to a colleague, provided that they email the CARLA office two days prior to the event: carla@umn.edu.
Please note: If you have ideas for topics and speakers, contact Karin Larson at larso205@umn.edu.
Special Events
There are no special events scheduled at this time.
We invite you to check out some of our past events!
CARLA Celebration Open House
Thursday, November 8, 2018
3:30–5:00 p.m.
University International Center 101
CARLA Director, Kate Paesani, speaks to the Open House attendees
CARLA sends a big "thank you" to all those who attended the CARLA Celebration Open House held on Thursday, November, 2018, at the University International Center. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate CARLA and spend time with colleagues from units all across campus.
Associate Vice President and Dean of International Programs Meredith McQuaid and CARLA Director Kate Paesani gave a set of brief remarks acknowledging those who have given their time, talent, and financial resources to further CARLA's goal of improving language teaching and learning. Special thanks were given to the following units and individuals: Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost; Global Programs and Strategy Alliance; Office of the Vice President for Research; College of Education and Human Development; College of Liberal Arts CLA Language Center; Former CARLA Director, Elaine Tarone; CARLA Executive Committee members; CARLA Advisory Board members; and Carole and Jim Hynes. Kate also provided a brief outline of CARLA's current initiatives and plans for the future, which were described in greater detail on posters created for the event.
From CARLA's special event in 2017:
Learn more about the 2017 CARLA Presentation and Open House including a video of the keynote presentation by Claire Kramsch and information about research poster sessions held during the event.
