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ACTR Teachers' LoungeACTR offers its members an opportunity to have regular virtual Teachers' Lounges to exchange ideas, strategies, approaches to teaching, and specific activities for a Russian language classroom. Typically each Teacher's Lounge is focused on a specific topic, but teachers are always able to share any ideas or seek advice on any topic of interest. The Lounges are open to all active ACTR members. Please follow links below to register for any or all scheduled Lounges.
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Schedule for Spring 2023
March 31, 2023: Teachers' Lounge
5:30 - 6:30 PM EST
Follow-up Teachers' Lounge on Ungrading and Evaluation
Continuing the discussion of evaluation and grading, this Teachers' Lounge will discuss current practices, challenges, and solutions to evaluating our students' cultural knowledge at the time of their graduation from our programs. How do we/can we assess their content/culture knowledge?
Please, register here.
April 14: Teachers’ Lounge
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Follow-up Teachers' Lounge on Feedback and Assessment.
Please, register here.
5:30 - 6:30 PM EST
Follow-up Teachers' Lounge on Ungrading and Evaluation
Continuing the discussion of evaluation and grading, this Teachers' Lounge will discuss current practices, challenges, and solutions to evaluating our students' cultural knowledge at the time of their graduation from our programs. How do we/can we assess their content/culture knowledge?
Please, register here.
April 14: Teachers’ Lounge
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Follow-up Teachers' Lounge on Feedback and Assessment.
Please, register here.
Past Teachers' Lounges: Fall 2022
March 17: Teachers’ Lounge
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Follow-up Teachers' Lounge on Ungrading.
In this follow-up lounge, we will tackle the question of grading and ungrading in language classes. Participants are invited to share their grading approaches, tips, and thoughts.
March 3, 2023
5:30 - 6:30 pm EST
Teachers’ Lounge: following the webinar on 02/10/2023 conducted by Linda Hecker, M.Ed. "Meeting the Challenge of Teaching Second Languages to Students with Learning Disabilities."
In preparation for the Lounge, you may want to review the slides and handouts shared by Linda during the webinar and read a chapter on "Supporting Students with LD" from a book "From Disability to Diversity: College success for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder" co-edited by L. Hecker (which we share with her permission).
Our follow-up Teachers’ Lounge to debrief the last webinar with Linda Hecker (Meeting the Challenge of Teaching Second Languages to Students with Learning Disabilities) will occur on March 3. We would typically be holding a follow-up Teachers’ Lounge in closer succession to the webinar, but we are taking a two week break, first for AATSEEL (Feb 17-19), and then on February 24 to pause in collective recognition of the tragic one year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We hope you will join us for the March 3 Teachers’ Lounge for the debrief, so that we can consider together what strategies might best support our learners with language-based learning differences.
January 20, 2023
5:30 - 6:30 pm EST
Follow-up Teachers' Lounge (after two roundtables of diverse voices from the field)
At this Teachers' Lounge we will explore lessons learned from hearing the diverse voices of our colleagues.
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Follow-up Teachers' Lounge on Ungrading.
In this follow-up lounge, we will tackle the question of grading and ungrading in language classes. Participants are invited to share their grading approaches, tips, and thoughts.
March 3, 2023
5:30 - 6:30 pm EST
Teachers’ Lounge: following the webinar on 02/10/2023 conducted by Linda Hecker, M.Ed. "Meeting the Challenge of Teaching Second Languages to Students with Learning Disabilities."
In preparation for the Lounge, you may want to review the slides and handouts shared by Linda during the webinar and read a chapter on "Supporting Students with LD" from a book "From Disability to Diversity: College success for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder" co-edited by L. Hecker (which we share with her permission).
Our follow-up Teachers’ Lounge to debrief the last webinar with Linda Hecker (Meeting the Challenge of Teaching Second Languages to Students with Learning Disabilities) will occur on March 3. We would typically be holding a follow-up Teachers’ Lounge in closer succession to the webinar, but we are taking a two week break, first for AATSEEL (Feb 17-19), and then on February 24 to pause in collective recognition of the tragic one year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We hope you will join us for the March 3 Teachers’ Lounge for the debrief, so that we can consider together what strategies might best support our learners with language-based learning differences.
January 20, 2023
5:30 - 6:30 pm EST
Follow-up Teachers' Lounge (after two roundtables of diverse voices from the field)
At this Teachers' Lounge we will explore lessons learned from hearing the diverse voices of our colleagues.
- What have we learned from listening to our colleagues with diverse backgrounds?
- How can this help us create more culturally responsive classrooms based on what we have heard from our representatives?
- And how does this help us better prepare our diverse students for study abroad programs?
Past Teachers' Lounges: Fall 2022
The theme of the fall 2022 Teacher’s Lounges is “Teaching for diversity, inclusivity, and belonging at the lower proficiency levels.” Classes at the lower end of proficiency (such as 1st and 2nd year classrooms at high schools or universities) present a special challenge for material selection and task design. Most textbooks do not adequately engage the topic, leaving instructors to develop their own materials from scratch. At the same time, Novice or Intermediate Low learners are often perceived to be unable to engage with the topic in Russian due to their proficiency limitations. Consequently, instructors often skip the topic altogether. We invite ACTR members to participate in conversations on how these challenges may be resolved in our 1st and 2nd year classrooms. Each of the lounges will be dedicated to exploring how instructors can introduce and teach diversity and promote inclusion and belonging within basic “beginner” topics, such as, for example, personal identity, family, clothing, food, etc. as well as through instructional practices that promote inclusivity and belonging. Book-ending these topics, are two Lounges dedicated to exploring approaches to teaching Russian and the diversity of the Russian-speaking peoples in the context of the on-going war in Ukraine.
October 7, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Teaching Russian today
The war in Ukraine continues to overshadow what we do in the classroom, both language-wise and culturally. Recent events inside Russia (mobilization, brutal suppression of any protests) and on the occupied Ukrainian territories (the so-called referendums) present new(er) challenges for our teaching. Some programs have changed their course content and/or co-curricular events in response to the on-going war. At the same time, many programs have seen a decrease in enrollments that may or may not be affected by the war, but this decrease itself may influence our teaching. This Lounge will be dedicated to the difficult question of teaching the Russian language and culture under these circumstances.
October 21, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Diversity and inclusion at the lower levels of proficiency I
Topics discussed will include: names, pronouns, family members, professions, discussing relationships and marriage status.
The following questions will be explored: How do we get to know our students? What personal and family information do we ask from our students and what options do we provide to them for self-expression? How do we do this in a way that promotes inclusivity and a sense of belonging? What instructional practices promote inclusivity and belonging? What are some typical oversights in either our instructional methods or our content that can lead to alienation?)
November 4, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Diversity and inclusion at the lower levels of proficiency II
Topics discussed will include “home,” “clothing,” “food,” “free time,” “travel”
The following questions will be explored: How do we discuss the topics of home, clothing, food, free time, travel and/or money/cost in a way that supports diversity and promotes inclusivity? How might we go even further to explore social justice concepts through these topics at the lower proficiency levels? Can we help students to see these realities as embedded both in cultural values and socio-economic realities? Can our lessons help students to be more reflective of these realities? Can a more nuanced way of addressing these topics help students to develop intercultural competencies?
November 18, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Diversity and inclusion at the lower levels of proficiency III
Expanding cultural representation
The following questions will be explored:
How do students come to understand “Russian culture” and the Russian Federation through our classes? What images and topics are represented? How have we expanded the representations to promote diversity and inclusion? How do we avoid presenting stereotypes and oversimplifications? What work would we still like to do? What do we need in order to do it?
December 2, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Addressing the diversity of the Russophone world
The following questions will be explored:
How might we continue to discuss the ethnic diversity within the Russian Federation, as well in the Russian diaspora in the near abroad, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine? How do we do this without being perceived to be promoting a Russian imperialist agenda? What are current best practices for teaching about the diversity of the Russophone world?
December 16, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. EST
In the last Teachers' Lounge of the fall 2022, we will hear from colleagues with diverse backgrounds in our field. Please note that this is a change to what was previously announced as we try to accommodate the various demands of the end of the semester and year on everyone's time. The December 16th Lounge will explore the following questions:
Teacher’s Lounges will resume in January 2023 and will focus on feedback, assessment, and grading practices that are both grounded in SLA research and equitable.
October 7, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Teaching Russian today
The war in Ukraine continues to overshadow what we do in the classroom, both language-wise and culturally. Recent events inside Russia (mobilization, brutal suppression of any protests) and on the occupied Ukrainian territories (the so-called referendums) present new(er) challenges for our teaching. Some programs have changed their course content and/or co-curricular events in response to the on-going war. At the same time, many programs have seen a decrease in enrollments that may or may not be affected by the war, but this decrease itself may influence our teaching. This Lounge will be dedicated to the difficult question of teaching the Russian language and culture under these circumstances.
October 21, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Diversity and inclusion at the lower levels of proficiency I
Topics discussed will include: names, pronouns, family members, professions, discussing relationships and marriage status.
The following questions will be explored: How do we get to know our students? What personal and family information do we ask from our students and what options do we provide to them for self-expression? How do we do this in a way that promotes inclusivity and a sense of belonging? What instructional practices promote inclusivity and belonging? What are some typical oversights in either our instructional methods or our content that can lead to alienation?)
November 4, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Diversity and inclusion at the lower levels of proficiency II
Topics discussed will include “home,” “clothing,” “food,” “free time,” “travel”
The following questions will be explored: How do we discuss the topics of home, clothing, food, free time, travel and/or money/cost in a way that supports diversity and promotes inclusivity? How might we go even further to explore social justice concepts through these topics at the lower proficiency levels? Can we help students to see these realities as embedded both in cultural values and socio-economic realities? Can our lessons help students to be more reflective of these realities? Can a more nuanced way of addressing these topics help students to develop intercultural competencies?
November 18, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Diversity and inclusion at the lower levels of proficiency III
Expanding cultural representation
The following questions will be explored:
How do students come to understand “Russian culture” and the Russian Federation through our classes? What images and topics are represented? How have we expanded the representations to promote diversity and inclusion? How do we avoid presenting stereotypes and oversimplifications? What work would we still like to do? What do we need in order to do it?
December 2, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Addressing the diversity of the Russophone world
The following questions will be explored:
How might we continue to discuss the ethnic diversity within the Russian Federation, as well in the Russian diaspora in the near abroad, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine? How do we do this without being perceived to be promoting a Russian imperialist agenda? What are current best practices for teaching about the diversity of the Russophone world?
December 16, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. EST
In the last Teachers' Lounge of the fall 2022, we will hear from colleagues with diverse backgrounds in our field. Please note that this is a change to what was previously announced as we try to accommodate the various demands of the end of the semester and year on everyone's time. The December 16th Lounge will explore the following questions:
- What can we learn from colleagues with diverse backgrounds, including diverse enthoracial and gender identities, that will help us create more inclusive and diverse language classrooms?
- How did their unique backgrounds and professional experiences impact their learning of the language and how do they impact their teaching practices?
Teacher’s Lounges will resume in January 2023 and will focus on feedback, assessment, and grading practices that are both grounded in SLA research and equitable.
Teachers' Lounge organizers and hosts:
Irina Dubinina, Brandeis U, idubinin at brandeis.edu
Olga Klimova, University of Pittsburgh, vok1 at pitt.edu
Susan Kresin, UCLA, kresin at humnet.ucla.edu
Lee Roby, Friends School, Baltimore, MD, eroby at friendsbalt.org
John Rook, Smith Middle School, Glastonbury, CT, RookJ at glastonburyus.org
Please contact organizers with questions or suggestions for topics.
Irina Dubinina, Brandeis U, idubinin at brandeis.edu
Olga Klimova, University of Pittsburgh, vok1 at pitt.edu
Susan Kresin, UCLA, kresin at humnet.ucla.edu
Lee Roby, Friends School, Baltimore, MD, eroby at friendsbalt.org
John Rook, Smith Middle School, Glastonbury, CT, RookJ at glastonburyus.org
Please contact organizers with questions or suggestions for topics.
Resources
