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STARTALK is a component of the National Security Language Initiative. It’s mission is to increase the teaching of strategic world languages while simultaneously supporting continued growth for teachers and the exploration of cutting-edge approaches to language learning. STARTALKS’s (https://startalk.umd.edu/public/) conference last weekend was in service of furthering this mission. At the conference, the STARTALK team underscored the importance of continued professional development. Facilitators provided a space for teachers to share, collaborate, and explore using the TELL Framework (http://www.tellproject.org/framework/) as a guide.

The Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) conducted a session at the conference focusing on reflective practice as a means to facilitate a student-centered classroom. During the workshop, participants explored the principles of reflective practice and how they relate to the student experience through the use of Catalyst (https://catalyst.uoregon.edu/), an online platform that utilizes the TELL Framework to foster goal setting, reflection, and professional collaboration among educators. As always, CASLS is thrilled to have taken part in STARTALK’s fall conference and warmly thanks those who participated in the workshop. CASLS also thanks the team at NFLC and PEARLL for their ongoing collaboration.