2020 National Conversations on Teaching of RussianSeries of talks each featuring a panel of experts who will discuss the issues we are all confronting in the Russian language teaching field due to the COVID19 crisis, help brainstorm possible solutions, think about the future of the field, and support professional networking. Members of the panels will represent large and small universities, both state and private colleges, and K-12 programs
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Much is changing in our profession due to the global health crisis, and we have to rethink, readjust and reinvent how we teach the Russian language and culture, build communities of learners, organize extra-curricular events, and support our students while also keeping our own balance. The uncertainties created by the pandemic make it difficult for us to plan for the fall and even the spring semester, study abroad programs and co-curricular activities. Perennial questions of inequalities in the American society exacerbated by the economic crisis and the recent events of police brutality against people of color are also on the minds of both teachers and students as we are preparing for the 2020-21 academic year.
All ACTR members can participate in the Conversations; non-members are encouraged to register and watch broadcast on Youtube live (no fee) or become members. A recording of each Conversation will be available publicly shortly after the event.
Conversation 1
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Changes to the pedagogy at the post-secondary level (programmatic goals, methods, classroom-based assessment)
Panelists: William Comer (Portland State University), Lynne deBenedette (Brown University), Cynthia Martin (University of Maryland), Shannon Spasova (Michigan State University), Kristen Welsh (Hobart and William Smith Colleges) Moderator: Irina Dubinina (Brandeis University) |
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Conversation 2
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Inclusivity in the Russian language classroom
Panelists: Lindsay Ceballos (Lafayette College), Thomas Garza (The University of Texas at Austin), Lauren Nelson (Pritzker College Prep), Rachel Stauffer (James Madison University) Moderator: Colleen Lucey (The University of Arizona) 
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Conversation 3
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Co-curricular activities and events;
building communities of learners Panelists: Evgeny Dengub, UMass Amherst, Kathleen Evans, Indiana University Bloomington, Laura Marshall, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Lee Roby, Friends School Of Baltimore, Iza Savenkova, Dickinson College, Maria Shardakova, Indiana University Bloomington Moderator: Irina Dubinina (Brandeis University) |
Conversation 4
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Changes to the pedagogy at the K-12 level
(programmatic goals, methods, assessment) Panelists: Emily Matts Henry (American Councils) Paavo Husen (Illinois Mathematics and Science Acade, retired) Ken Petersen (American Councils) Katerina Ratushnyuk (Staten Island Technical High School) John Rock (Smith Middle School, Glastonbury) Betsy Sandstrom (Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology) Jane Shuffelton (Brighton High School, retired) Mara Sukholutskaya (East Central University) Mark Trotter (Indiana University) Moderator: Nataliya Ushakova (Staten Island Technical High School); president (ACTR) |
Conversation 5
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Study abroad and Flagship programs and intensive summer programs
Panelists: Karen Evans-Romaine, Co-Director of the Russian Flagship program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Graham Hettlinger, Director of Higher Education Programs, ACTR Jason Merrill, Director of the Middlebury College Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian Jeannette Owen, Director of the Critical Language Scholarships Program, ACTR Nana Tsikhelashvili, Director of the Middlebury School in Russia Irina Walsh, Co-Director of the Russian Language Institute, Bryn Mawr Moderator: Evgeny Dengub (UMass Amherst) |
Questions? Comments? Email Evgeny Dengub at edengub@gmail.com
