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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 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.
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985391
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?)
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985692
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?
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985695
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?
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985699
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?
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985702
December 16, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. EST
DEAI Reading Group: Re-evaluating methods of assessment for greater equity and accessibility
Participants will be asked to read a short article (TBD) that introduces and problematizes the issue. The meeting will include the following components:
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.
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985391
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?)
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985692
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?
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985695
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?
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985699
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?
Register here: https://actr.wildapricot.org/event-4985702
December 16, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. EST
DEAI Reading Group: Re-evaluating methods of assessment for greater equity and accessibility
Participants will be asked to read a short article (TBD) that introduces and problematizes the issue. The meeting will include the following components:
- a summary of the background reading
- examples of how the information in the reading can be applied to Russian language teaching
- discussion in breakout groups
Teachers' Lounge: organizers and hosts
Irina Dubinina, Brandeis U, idubinin@brandeis.edu
Olga Klimova, University of Pittsburgh, vok1@pitt.edu
Susan Kresin, UCLA, kresin@humnet.ucla.edu
Lee Roby, Friends School, Baltimore, MD, eroby@friendsbalt.org
John Rook, Smith Middle School, Glastonbury, CT, RookJ@glastonburyus.org
Please contact organizers with questions or suggestions for topics.
Irina Dubinina, Brandeis U, idubinin@brandeis.edu
Olga Klimova, University of Pittsburgh, vok1@pitt.edu
Susan Kresin, UCLA, kresin@humnet.ucla.edu
Lee Roby, Friends School, Baltimore, MD, eroby@friendsbalt.org
John Rook, Smith Middle School, Glastonbury, CT, RookJ@glastonburyus.org
Please contact organizers with questions or suggestions for topics.
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