Friday, April 25th
1:00 - 1:40 PM EDT (all times are U.S. Eastern Time / восточное время США)
Welcoming remarks from ACTR Executive Director, Dan Davidson, and ACTR President, Olga Klimova
1:45-3:15 PM EDT
Panel 1-1. Students in the World Beyond the Classroom (Roundtable)
Panel 1-2. Open Architecture Curricular Design: Theory and Practice (Roundtable)
Panel 1-3. Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies in Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language: Innovations, Challenges, and Applications
Panel 1-4. Russian Language in Multilingual and Bilingual Communities: Global Trends, Policies, and Teaching Practices
Panel 1-5. Heritage Russian Language Education
Share-out Session 1. Enhancing Russian Language Learning: AI Innovations and Open Educational Resources
3:30-4:30 PM EDT
Keynote Lecture 1. Being and Becoming Bilingual: New Insights about the Mind and the Brain Reveal the Openness of Language Learning
Judith Kroll, University of California, Irvine (USA)
4:45-6:30 PM EDT
Panel 2-1. Building Bridges: Graduate Student Advocacy and the Power of Peer Collaboration (Roundtable)
Panel 2-2. Task-Based Language Teaching of Russian at Various Levels of Proficiency (Roundtable)
Panel 2-3. Innovative Strategies for Teaching Russian: Idioms, Complex Topics, and Total Physical Response
Panel 2-4. Creative Approaches to Russian Language Learning: Folklore, Reading Strategies, and Proficiency Development
Panel 2-5. Intercultural Competency Training for Study Abroad: Using the Flagship Culture Initiative in Flagship and Beyond
Share-out Session 2. Tailoring Instruction in Russian Classrooms: Differentiation and Authentic Resources for Novice Learners
6:30-8:00 PM EDT
Panel 3-1. Практика преподавания детям-билингвам в Японии и Южной Корее с помощью образовательного подхода Content and Language Integrated Learning (Roundtable)
Panel 3-2. Student-Centered Teaching of Russian: A Roundtable in Memoriam of Cynthia Martin (part 1)
Panel 3-3. Supporting Students with Disabilities and Learning Differences in the Russian Language Classroom (Roundtable)
Panel 3-4. Artificial Intelligence in Russian Language Education: Pragmatics, Interaction, and Neurodiversity Support
Panel 3-5. Innovative Teaching Strategies for Russian: Film, Heritage Learners, and Real-Life Tasks
Share-out Session 3. Enhancing Oral Proficiency and Embracing New Practices in 21st-Century Russian Language Teaching
8:00 - 9:00 PM EDT
Evening Social & Discussion: Reflections on the Day’s Sessions
Saturday, April 26th
8:00-9:30 AM EDT
Panel 4-1. The Summer Russian Language Teachers Program (SRLT): An Opportunity for International Connections (Roundtable)
Panel 4-2. Дифференцированный подход на интенсивных курсах РКИ: стратегии успеха и преодоление вызовов (Круглый стол)
Panel 4-3. Teaching Russian Grammar: Challenges and Strategies
Panel 4-4. Innovative Approaches to Russian Language Instruction: Hybrid Learning, Research-Based Teaching, and Early Language Acquisition
Panel 4-5. Developing Intercultural Competence in Russian Language Education: Theory, Media, and Multilingual Contexts
Panel 4-6. Past and Present: Evolving Technologies in the Teaching of Russian as a Foreign Language
Share-out Session 4. Russian Language Education in a Changing World: Digital Resources and Global Perspectives
9:45-11:00 AM EDT
Keynote Lecture 2. The Current Language Situation in Kazakhstan: From Language Shift to Russian to Language Diversification
Eleonora Suleimenova (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan)
11:15 AM-12:45 PM EDT
Panel 5-1. Promoting Civil Discourse through L2 Instruction (Roundtable)
Panel 5-2. Teaching Russian through STEM: Topics, Approaches, and Resources (Roundtable)
Panel 5-3. Pedagogical Applications for the Russian-Language Classroom (Roundtable)
Panel 5-4. Innovative Approaches to Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language: Interdisciplinary Methods, Program Development, and Linguistic Identity
Panel 5-5. Russian Language and Study Abroad: Post-2022 Challenges, Regional Perspectives, and Colonial Contexts
Panel 5-6. Teaching Russian in Diverse Contexts: Pragmatic Approaches, Learning Comfort, and Regional Perspectives
Share-out Session 5. Inclusive and Innovative Approaches to Teaching Russian: Global Perspectives and Digital Methodologies
1:00-2:30 PM EDT
Panel 6-1. Russian Language Pedagogy and Research Series: Connecting Educators and Sharing Insights from Research and Practice (Roundtable)
Panel 6-2. Inclusive Practices and Pedagogies: Creating Inclusive Materials for the Russian-Language Classroom (Roundtable)
Panel 6-3. Addressing Gaps in Student Preparation for Overseas Study (Roundtable)
Panel 6-4. Expanding Russian Language Education: Humor, Global Citizenship, and Cross-Cultural Connections
Panel 6-5. Approaches to Russian Language Teaching: Communication, Positive Psychology, and Gender Inclusivity
Panel 6-6. AI's Ethical Quandaries: Towards Responsible Integration in Russian Language and Culture Pedagogy (Roundtable)
Share-out Session 6. Engaging Students in Russian Language Learning: Project-Based Approaches, Grammar Challenges, and Academic Writing
2:45-4:15 PM EDT
Panel 7-1. Advancing Russian Language Proficiency: Strategies for Effective Skill Development (Roundtable)
Panel 7-2. Student-Centered Teaching of Russian: A Roundtable in Memoriam of Cynthia Martin (part 2)
Panel 7-3. Reading is FUNdamental! How to Teach and Encourage Reading in a Russian-language Classroom (Roundtable)
Panel 7-4. Integrating Stories, History, and Visual Media in Russian Language Instruction
Panel 7-5. Advancing Russian Language Education: Advocacy, Policy, and Cultural Perspectives
Panel 7-6. Developing Foundational Skills in Russian: Pronunciation, Writing, and Feedback Strategies
16:30 -17:30 PM
Virtual Reception and Recognition of ACTR Co-Founders:
- Dr. Irwin Weil (by Anthony “Tony” Brown)
- Dr. Dan E. Davidson (by Richard Brecht)
- Dr. Richard D. Brecht (by Jane Shuffleton)
Concluding Remarks by ACTR President, Olga Klimova, and Vice President, Lee Roby