I’m pretty old.  I started teaching in 1994 long before my freshmen were born!  My daughter is a senior in my Spanish 4 class and I have seen 21 classes graduate before her.  It goes so fast!!

When I started teaching, I was a graduate of a 4 year program with no study abroad.  It was offered, but I didn’t know anyone who had ever done it.  It was kind of like a mythical semester.  I entered my classroom with what I guess was Intermediate Mid-High language proficiency at best (we didn’t test back then, just the subject matter exam).

I got by… but I didn’t feel comfortable and confident until I began to read for pleasure, watch TV and listen to music in Spanish, and TRAVEL so I could hear and use language to communicate!  I am an advanced speaker today but if I had had the right opportunities, it might have come sooner!

Teachers today are being asked to use 90% plus Target Language in the classroom… some of these are language minors who are teaching with low to mid intermediate skills… or even intermediate high just looking for the chance to bump their skills up to Advanced Low.  Its something I really have been concerned about as a language teacher!  How can we help all teachers feel comfortable using the target language to teach!  How about this: http://equator.eftours.com/global-citizenship/madrid-spanish-classroom  Madrid is the ULTIMATE classroom!  And with the opportunity to specifically build proficiency while touring??? This is a great PD opportunity!

In the article, I read this: “We are hoping that these language teachers will improve their language skills and become more confident teaching in the target language – Spanish in this case,” said George Stewart, Director of Education at EF Education First. “Towards those ends, they will become more conversant with current idiomatic phrases, socio-cultural trends – things like fashion, education and business – as well as become adept at using the OPI method to help their students become more conversationally fluent. Not only do these programs offer a powerful learning and professional development experience, they also represent a rare opportunity for each teacher to expand their own professional network among like-minded language teachers.”

As educators, we don’t have normally have access to a program designed for US!  I always travel with my students, with my family, for conferences… but never somewhere to help ME develop things that I am excited to carry back to my classroom.  So I am going!  I am GOING!  I’m going to Madrid, maybe I’ll raise my proficiency… but what I care most about is the opportunity to bring back some powerful cultural connections that will benefit my students!  And I know others of you will want to come and we will all have a new network of teachers who are also focused on how they can increase proficiency and expose their classes to more culture!

If you’re still looking for some professional development this summer and you want to get it in the heart of Madrid, consider coming with me!!!