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The 2016 STARTALK Spring Conference last weekend had a singular focus: growth. STARTALK, a component of the National Security Language Initiative designed to expand the teaching and learning of strategic world languages, is committed to the growth of national instruction of these languages. Its presence at the recent National School Board Association Conference and presence at the upcoming National Parent Teacher Association Conference support this commitment. At its own conference, STARTALK further supported its focus on growth by delivering required conference sessions regarding alignment and planning for learning with a growth mindset.

The Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) at the University of Oregon supports STARTALK’s growth focus through its introduction and ongoing support of a newly-redesigned version of LinguaFolio Online (LFO), an online language proficiency portfolio. Specifically, the new platform includes mechanisms to encourage learners to engage in deep levels of reflection regarding their growth toward the learning targets embedded within LFO (set forth by the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements). CASLS representatives were at the conference to support the technical implementation of the new LinguaFolio Online at two drop-in lab sessions. Dr. Julie Sykes, CASLS Director, also addressed the pedagogical implementation of LinguaFolio online with Dr. Aleidine Moeller from the University of Nebraska in a breakout session entitled, “Make LinguaFolio Online Work for Your STARTALK Program.”