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The Fall 2017 STARTALK Conference this past weekend served to spark collaboration and discussions regarding the critical need to develop globally competent students. Dr. Anthony Jackson, from the Asia Society Center for Global Education, served as the keynote speaker for the conference. During the talk, he offered the Center’s definition for global competence as “the capacity and disposition to understand and act on issues of global significance.” Conference sessions focused on embedding proficiency-based assessment, culture, differentiation, and effective unit and lesson design in STARTALK summer programs served as practical tools to increase student motivation, engagement, and as a result, global competence.

The Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) at the University of Oregon supports STARTALK through its creation and ongoing support of LinguaFolio Online (LFO), an online language proficiency portfolio. STARTALK LinguaFolio Online involves mechanisms to encourage learners to engage in deep levels of reflection regarding their growth toward the learning targets (matched to the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements) embedded within each STARTALK program. CASLS representatives were at the conference to present about successful integration of LinguaFolio Online in STARTALK programs and regarding the integration of technology in the STARTALK classroom. CASLS would like to extend a special thank you to our co-presenters, Dr. Gay Rawson and Dr. Mary Thrond from the Fargo Public Schools summer program.

STARTALK works to increase the teaching and learning of critical need world languages in the United States. For more information about STARTALK, please click here. For more information about LinguaFolio Online, please click here.