Resources - World Languages

 
Digital Learning Resources

RESOURCE

CONTENT AREA

GRADE SPAN

DESCRIPTION

Mentimeter

All

All

Interactive, synchronous tool for engaging users. Considered a "conference" app.

WooClap

All

All

User-friendly, interactive tool for engaging learners.

ClassDojo

All

All

What It Is: Not using ClassDojo yet? Now’s the time to start! This school communication tool makes it easy to stay in touch and track student progress too.

Google Classroom

All

All

What It Is: Get the most out of Google Classroom and other Google tools with this platform. They offer webinars and other resources to help teachers create and manage the best virtual classrooms.

Kahoot!

All

All

What It Is: Do you Kahoot? Teachers have loved this fun online quiz game platform for years

Webex

All

All

What It Is: Companies across the world use Webex to keep their teams in contact remotely. They offer lots of tools that are ideal for taking your classes online.

Zoom

All

All

What It Is: Project your lessons in group settings with zoom. You can even record the sessions for students who need to review later. This video and audio-conferencing tool has a chat functionality where students can ask questions as you teach.

Music Theory: Virtual Field Trips

arts

MS-HS

 

World 101

social studies

MS-HS

Understand the issues, forces, and actors that shape our world. From essays and discussion questions to glossaries and up-to-date reading lists, World101 provides comprehensive teaching resources for each of their modules.

Adobe Creative Cloud

 

 

Creative Cloud is a collection of 20+ desktop and mobile apps and services for photography, design, video, web, UX and more. Now you can take your ideas to new places with Photoshop on the iPad, draw and paint with Fresco, and design for 3D and AR

Amplify Reading

 

K-5

A digital, adaptive, K–5 supplemental literacy
program that provides remediation and enrichment for all students in building
skills in decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and close reading
through age-appropriate adventures.

Book Creator

All

All

What It Is: Book Creator is an easy-to-use tool that helps you create fun and engaging online books. They have lots of suggestions for how you can create and use books with students at any level.

Deck Toys

All

All

an edtech tool that allows you to teach and engage students by taking your usual lesson materials and turn them into guided activities that let your students show you what they know as they work at their own pace.

FlipGrid

All

All

Engage and empower every voice in your classroom by recording and sharing short videos

Mystery Science

science

K-5

What It Is: Mystery Science offers digital video mini-lessons for science subjects K-5.

National Geographic Learn at Home

All

All

Curated collections of learning activities to implement at home. By educators. For educators, parents, and caregivers.

Smithsonian Learning Activities Choice Board

All

All

Choice of Activities organized by Science, Social Studies, Culture and Art

openboard

All

All

Interactive whiteboards

CARLA - target language text resources

world languages

All

Resources are provided for multiple languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Spanish, and Vietnamese, as well as for Indigenous and Classical languages.

Center for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning

world languages

All

Free materials in Spanish, German, French, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese and other languages.

International Children's Digital Library

world languages

All

Digital children’s books from across the globe in a variety of languages.

Radio Garden

world languages

All

Live Radio from across the globe

MIT Open Documentary Lab (Docubase)

All

 

Curated database of documentaries from around the world (large number from US, Canada, and France)

MIT Open Documentary Lab (Docubase): 7 Billion Others

world languages

6-12

documents the diversity of the world's population, 6000 interviews on universal themes from 84 nations

Talk in Arabic

world languages - Arabic

 

Access the highest quality video and audio learning material from all over the Middle East and North Africa. Offered in 8 dialects: Moroccan, Algerian, Egyptian, Levantine, Iraqi, Tunisian, Saudi, and Sudanese

Amjambo Africa

world languages

 

Maine's free newspaper for and about New Mainers from Africa.  Published monthly in English, French, Kinyarwanda, Portuguese, Swahili, and Somali

Radio France Internationale

world languages - French

9-12

news clips from RFI with transcripts and questions or activities for each clip

Radio France Internationale

world languages - French

9-12

news in simplified French

1 Jour 1 Actu

world languages - French

All

media literacy

Le Pet't Libe

world languages - French

All

grown up news for kids

Goethe-Institut

world languages - German

All

variety of ways to practice German for free

Goethe-Institut

world languages - German

All

Tutorials by language ability and topic

Goethe-Institut

world languages - German

All

Step into German highlights a song a month with the music video, lyrics, information on the singer/group, and activities.  Also archives all previously highlighted songs

JLPT Stories

world languages - japanese

9-12

A podcast series, new in 2019, with stories in Japanese indexed by their level of difficulty according to the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.

Nuntii Latini

world languages - latin

9-12

A podcast on current events in latin

Latin Tutorial

world languages - latin

6-12

videos on latin grammar and ancient culture

Quomodo Dicitur?

world languages - latin

6-12

a weekly latin podcast about anything

Mandarin HQ

world languages - mandarin

6-12

Authentic street interviews on a variety of topics with transcript in Hanzì, pinyin, and English

Epic

world languages

All

books students can read in English and Spanish

Spanish Playground

world languages - Spanish

All

resources for games, jokes, videos, songs, poems, readings

Newspaper Map

All

6-12

Find newspapers from all across the world.

Dreaming Spanish

world languages - Spanish

6-12

Provides free interesting listening experiences for learners of Spanish. By listening to stories, culture explanations and games, student get used to real Spanish as it's used in context, and develop a native-like intuition for the grammar and the vocabulary, together with a clear pronunciation. The videos try to be easy enough for a complete beginner to start picking up the language.

TV5 Monde

world languages - French

6-12

provides online activities.  Sort by language proficiency and theme

duolingo for schools

world languages

All

allows schools to monitor student progress as students learn a variety of languages

BBC languages

world languages

All

resources for teaching 40 languages

Radio Canada

world languages - French

6-12

Canadian news, zone jeunesse, zone petit, maj (news for the youth), programming on science, art, music, and sports

Nouvelles de Dakar

world languages - French

6-12

A magazine about Senegal, also on YouTube

Jeune Afrique

world languages - French

6-12

News from the African continent, search for news by country, also on YouTube

Africa24

world languages - French

6-12

News and News Talk Show from the African continent, also on YouTube

BookBox French

world languages - French

All

Animated stories, read and subtitled in French

BookBox Spanish

world languages - Spanish

All

Animated stories, read and subtitled in Spanish

BookBox German

world languages - German

All

Animated stories, read and subtitled in German

BookBox Arabic

world languages - Arabic

All

Animated stories, read and subtitled in Arabic

BookBox

world languages

All

Animated stories in Russian, Portuguese, Mandarin, English, and many others

AfroCulture

world languages - French

6-12

African news and culture

Kwiziq

world languages - French

9-12

Free and paid services.  AI language coach

Francais Interactif

world languages - French

Developed at the University of Texas at Austin

Easy Language

world languages

6-12

street interviews on a variety of topics in French, Spanish, Russian, German and other languages

Videoele

world languages - Spanish

This is a website which offers videos to learn Spanish as a foreign language. It is addressed therefore to those whose mother tongue is not Spanish and wish to learn Spanish as a foreign language, whether or not they live in a Spanish speaking country.  Ability to search by proficiency level.  Provides transcripts and activities.

Le francais naturellement

world languages - French

presenter tells stories in French, illustrated by whiteboard

Screencastify

All

All

Free and paid services.  Easily record, edit, and share videos.

Lingrolearning

world languages - Spanish

All

Learn Spanish and experience culture anytime, anywhere, on any device.

African Storybook

world languages

All

free open access to books in the languages of Africa

Did you know that?

world languages - ASL

9-12

educational videos in ASL with transcript included in description

Prezi Video

All

All

Prezi Video is a video maker that puts your content right alongside you on the screen, creating a broadcast-like experience for your students.

Sesame Street

world languages

K-5

Sesamo is the Spanish version of sesame street with games, videos, and activities

Games2Teach

world languages

 

We believe that games can challenge and motivate learners to use language in meaningful, productive ways. Studies have shown that game-based approaches to learning develop social skills, improve deep knowledge, and provide better outcomes for learners. Originally designed by Dr. Jonathon Reinhardt from the University of Arizona and Dr. Julie Sykes from the University of Oregon, this site exists as a resource to aid both instructors and learners interested in accessing the benefits that games offer for language learning.

Pachas en Peru

world languages - Spanish

6-12

videos abouts the people and life in Peru

Tres Cuentos Podcast

world languages - Spanish

 

The bilingual podcast dedicated to the diverse narratives of Latin America.

Films Pour Enfants

world languages - French

K-12

short films by age and theme

Vizia

All

All

Engage viewers by integrating polls, quizzes, short answer questions into videos

Whiteboard.fi

All

All

Whiteboard.fi is an instant formative assessment tool for your classroom, providing you with live feedback and immediate overview over your students.

Facing History and Ourselves: Remote Book Clubs

All

All

A guide for supporting remote student book clubs

Center for Applied Linguistics & Embassy of Mexico

world languages - Spanish

All

free access to hundreds of multimedia Spanish resources online, including complete textbooks, lesson plans, videoclips, maps and more. These video lessons, books, movies and TV shows are age-appropriate for both the K-12 settings

Museum fur Gestaltung Zurich

world languages - French & German

All

The Swiss hotspot for modern art and design has created an innovative and user-friendly digital museum experience with interactive e-guides to exhibitions, fun artistic activities for children, and even a virtual tour of the Pavilion Le Corbusier, dedicated to the famous Swiss artist.

Qatar Foundation International

world languages - Arabic

All

QFI is releasing read-alouds of various children's books, working with authors, publishers, and writers from across the Arab world during this time of school closures worldwide.  Join us over the next four weeks as we features work from the Arab world and the Arab diaspora in both English and Arabic.  Each week we will have a new English and Arabic video featured on our website

Al Masdar & Qatar Foundation International

world languages - Arabic

All

Discover resources for teaching about the Arabic language and Arab World with Al Masdar. An online open-education resource library, Al Masdar features a wealth of materials and resources for educators including lesson plans, units, authentic materials and more.

Khallina

world languages - Arabic

All

Khallina is an open source tool that helps teachers and independent learners of Arabic explore Arab culture. This website contains Cultural Modules suitable for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners, on a variety of subject matters including: music, food, politics, humor, gender issues, and much more.  Each module is divided into steps to help navigate the cultural content, and uses open source audiovisuals, pictures, and reading materials. Cultural Modules are also supplemented with a variety of activities for the learner to do inside and outside the classroom, or independently.

Switzerland Tourism

world languages

K-12

Even though we can’t physically travel at the moment, we can still dream! To give you some inspiration, Switzerland Tourism now offers a virtual road trip through Switzerland so you can explore its scenery and rich cultural heritage from your home. The “Grand Tour of Switzerland” highlights 1000 miles of mountain passes, rivers, and lakes, as well as UNESCO heritage sites. From palm-lined lakes to sparkling glaciers, medieval villages to buzzing cities, the “Grand Tour” packs in an impressive number of sites and underlines Switzerland’s diverse and beautiful geography.

 

Language Education Organization Webinars

Organization

Language

Grade Span

Description

ACTFL: Teaching and Learning Remotely

All

K-12

Through June 30, 2020: 8 free virtual learning modules on "Technology in the Classroom" "Integrating 21st Century Skills to Engage Learners" "Cultivating Connections Language Learning 21st Century Literacies" "Core Practices of Effective Language Learning" "Building Vocabulary" and "Strategies to Guide Learners to the Next Level"

ACTFL: Webinar on Distance Learning

All

K-12

Free recorded webinar on how to move online in a hurry created by the Distance Learning SIG Chair

AATSP: Teaching Spanish Online

Spanish

K-12

Buenas prácticas en la enseñanza de español en línea, by Catherine Lupo, María Mercedes Freeman y Alejandro Hortal (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro).

AATSP: Teaching Culture

Spanish

K-12

La enseñanza de cultura en el aula de L2: perspectivas y prácticas a través de proyectos, by Liliana Paredes PhD, Lisa M. Merschel PhD, and Joan Munné MA.

AATSP: Remote Learning Webinars

All

K-12

Keeping the Classroom Open When the Doors are Closed Due to the pandemic, teachers have shifted swiftly to the remote learning environment, AVANT and AATSP are partnering to bring you several helpful webinars soon. The first episode will share success storied, strategies and self-care tips. Renown teachers such as Rebecca Aubrey, T.J. Troche, and Meredith White are featured with Dawn Samples hosting.

AATF: Webinar on Remote Learning

French

K-12

Supporting French teachers and students through school closures

ACTFL: AAPPL

All

6-12

AAPPL Communication Builder Overview

ACTFL: AAPPL

All

6-12

AAPPL Communication Builder How to Create a Task

National Foreign Language Resource Center: Online Teaching

All

 

This page contains materials specifically designed to support the professional learning needs of online world language educators.

Center for Advanced Language Proficiency Education and Research: Online Teaching

All

 

While the use of technology in language teaching classrooms has become increasingly more common, fewer teachers are comfortable using technology as they assess leaner progress. This webinar on assessing language using computer technology will outline ways in which technology can be used to help inform the assessment of language learners.

ACTFL: Webinar on Remote Teaching

All

6-8

Research identifies strategies for any discipline that improve learners’ academic achievement, but how do those strategies translate into learning languages? Rebecca Blouwolff, ACTFL 2020 National Language Teacher of the Year, demonstrates effective strategies to engage and motivate learners while developing their language performance. Rebecca shares how she is currently adapting these strategies to work in the remote learning and teaching environment that is today’s reality. What makes this teacher’s learning tasks effective so learners become confident of what they can do with the language? These instructional strategies are applicable to all languages and all levels. Be inspired with new ideas and examples directly from the Teacher of the Year’s classroom.

AATG

German

K-12

AATG is providing members free access to our full library of on-demand webinars.

Georgia DOE

All

K-12

Two webinars on Technology and Online Tips by Georgia Teachers

International Association for Language Learning Technology

All

K-16

Several webinars on teaching remotely

Indigenous Language Institute

Indigenous Languages

K-12

recordings of yearly symposiums based around the following themes: 2011 – Native Languages Everywhere, Everyday for Everyone; 2012 – Conquering Challenges in Native Language Work; 2013 – Motivating Youth & Children to USE Native Languages; 2014 – Take Initiative and Create Language Opportunities; 2015 – To App or Not to App: Looking at How Technology Impacts Language Learning; 2016 – It’s an Immersioncy! The Urgent Need for Conversation Now!; 2017 – Speak First – Read and Write Later; 2018 – Understanding Intergenerational Trauma: The Healing Power of Language; 2019 – Second-Language Learners: The Journey Starts With Me

Goethe-Institut

German

K-12

Weekly National Webinar on Fridays from 11 am - 12 pm

NECTFL

All

K-12

During this webinar, participants will gain strategies for engaging all language learners in online instruction that are grounded in the ACTFL Core Practices. The presenter will share a suite of resources that are publicly available that provide guidance and ideas for planning and implementing language instruction through remote learning. The webinar will conclude with a question and answer session with the presenter.

ACTFL

All

K-12

Part 1: Resource for stimulating interpretive/interpersonal/presentational Communication created by Distance Learning SIG member Victoria Russell, Professor of Spanish and Foreign Language Education at Valdosta State University provides helpful advice on supporting learners in remote teaching and learning situations

ACTFL

All

K-12

Part 2: Resource for stimulating interpretive/interpersonal/presentational Communication

ACTFL

All

6-12

Developing Online Assessments created by Maris Hawkins, who shares some strategies to assess students and suggests ways to circumvent students’ use of online translators

Diane Neubauer

All

6-12

This was an impromptu, online meeting of world language teachers to share ways I have used Zoom. Some who attended shared from their experience, too. This video shows the meeting host's view (aka the teacher's view, for world language classes). For those who attended, they had a participant's view, which does look different. Included: - General expectations about online teaching with live meetings: it feels different. - Basic features in Zoom: video & audio, chat window, using images, & what still makes sense to do with physical whiteboards. - Brief visit from Fanny Price, the hen. - Adjustments to TPR, ways to do Picture Talk, asking a story; Breakout Rooms. - Recording class & sharing videos with students. - Zoom settings (among the MANY settings, which seem most useful, first).

Center for Applied Linguistics

All

K-12

CAL is offering weekly professional development webinars to teachers and parents of ELs & language learners! View our list of content and sign up for our next webinar!

Qatar Foundation International

All

6-16

This Connected Communities series of webcasts will introduce tools and resources for teachers who want to create deep connections with cultures across the world. In this episode, we have Daniela Kon Executive Director of SIMA and Maggie Chumbley facilitator and instructional design specialist joining us. We will discuss different resources and ways of engaging students through film.

Qatar Foundation International

All

6-16

Making your language class effective in a virtual environment can be challenging. This session discusses how educators can utilize research-based frameworks to design engaging and interactive activities using different levels of technology for the synchronous or asynchronous virtual classroom. Participants will then experience a hands-on interactive virtual Arabic example lesson. The session was moderated by QFI's Director of Programs Julia Sylla and led by QFI nonprofit partner Culturingua’s leadership team, Nadia Mavrakis, Nader Mehdawi, and Cindy Dorsey, who have experience designing and delivering engaging Arabic, Spanish, and French courses following ACTFL standards.

ACTFL

All

6-12

Remote Learning: Keeping our Learners Close.  How can I provide my learners a week of engaged learning? Remote teaching and learning does not mean taking five days of face-to-face lessons and putting everything online. We need to keep in mind the most effective strategies for learning in order to engage our learners in an online environment: moving from teacher-driven to student-centered and focusing on learning (through engagement and relationships) rather than teaching. How can I focus on what is most important to support my learners so they maintain their language skills? Experience what a week of learning looks like in this 1-hour webinar with Yo Azama and Michelle Lupisan.

ACTFL

All

K-12

Going the Distance: Tools and Strategies for Online Teaching and Learning.  With the shutdown closing brick-and-mortar classrooms, teachers have been thrust head (and keyboards and webcams) first into distance and remote learning. Although the curriculum and standards did not change, the delivery mechanism did. In this session with Nicole Naditz, we will explore important design considerations for your remote learning experiences and tools anyone can use (yes, even if you have never done this before!!) to start delivering meaningful world language instruction online. You will leave with resources to help you get started at your own pace. Nicole is a National Board-Certified Teacher, Google Certified Innovator and Trainer and Apple Learning Academy Specialist. After having taught French for 25 years, she now serves as the Program Specialist for World Languages and Instructional Technology for San Juan Unified School District. She was the 2015 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year.

Instituto Cervantes at Harvard

Spanish

 

recordings of events and talks relating to the Spanish-speaking world

 

Maine Statutes

§4726. World languages

Each school administrative unit: [1985, c. 178, (AMD).]

1. Required to offer.  Shall offer one 2-year sequence in a world language; and

[ 2007, c. 259, §1 (AMD) .]

2. Encouraged to offer.  Is encouraged to offer one or more additional world languages as part of its secondary school program.

[ 2007, c. 259, §1 (AMD) .]

3. American sign language.

[ 1991, c. 279, §3 (RP) .]

American sign language is a world language and may be offered to fulfill the requirements of this section. [2007, c. 259, §1 (AMD).]

For purposes of this section, "world language" means a language, either ancient or modern, that is used or has been used for written, oral or signed communication in the multilingual and multicultural worldwide community. [2007, c. 259, §1 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

1983, c. 859, §§C5,C7 (NEW). 1985, c. 178, (RPR). 1991, c. 279, §3 (AMD). 2007, c. 259, §1 (AMD).


§4701. English as language of instruction

The language of instruction in elementary and secondary schools shall meet these requirements.   [PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§ 5, 7 (NEW).]

1.  Basic language.  The basic language of instruction in all schools shall be the English language.  

[PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§ 5, 7 (NEW).]

2.  Exceptions.  A school may provide instruction in a language other than English in the following circumstances, subject to approval of the commissioner:  

A. Transitional instruction using bilingual techniques may be provided to students of limited proficiency in English; and   [PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§ 5, 7 (NEW).]

B. Schools may also establish bilingual programs for the purpose of providing proficiency in both English and a 2nd language.   [PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§ 5, 7 (NEW).]

[PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§ 5, 7 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1983, c. 859, §§C5,C7 (NEW).

 

Administrator Resources

What languages should be taught?  A great question to ask and one that has a lot of different answers.  The ultimate answer depends on what your school district values.  This document provides questions and data to help you make that determination.

What benefits come from learning another language?  Many!  World Language supports all aspects of Maine's Guiding Principles.  In addition, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) provides research showing the affects of learning another language on brain development, academics, and mindset.  ACTFL also provides a needs assessment questionnaire to help school districts determine if providing opportunities to learn another language would benefit their students. 

When should we start offering another language?  Anyone can learn a language at any age; however the younger one starts the more benefits there are.  When learning a language it is critical to have consistent opportunity to engage in the language over long periods of time.  The article "Establishing High-Quality Foreign Language Programs in Elementary Schools" published in 2000 by The Education Alliance at Brown University outlines the benefits of developing Early Language Programs, the characteristics of successful programs, and considerations for how to maintain a program. Teachers of Critical Languages Program through the US Department of State brings teachers of Mandarin and Arabic to public schools in the US for a one-year exchange. Visiting International Teachers offers school districts several options to find world language teachers to teach Arabic, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. It is recommended that school districts reach out early when considering this option.

Planning for success The article "Planning for Success: Common Pitfalls in the Planning of Early Foreign Language Programs" published by Center for Applied Linguistics addresses common pitfalls that impact program success.

Professional Organizations

Educators for a Multilingual Maine (EMME) -  EMME is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote and improve the teaching and study of languages and cultures of the world. EMME also strives to further the common interests of teachers, students and others for whom languages play an important role. The EMME website offers resources and information for Maine's K-12 teachers of French, German, Latin, Spanish, ESOL, ASL, Indigenous and other languages.

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)  This council is dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. ACTFL is an individual membership organization of more than 12,500 language educators, students, and administrators.

American Sign Language

Arabic

Chinese: Chinese Language teachers Association, USA;  New England Chinese Language Teachers AssociationChinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools

French: American Association of Teachers of French; AATF-Maine has a Facebook page

German: American Association of Teachers of GermanAATG - Maine Chapter

Japanese

Latin: American Classical LeagueNational Junior Classical LeagueMaine Classics

Native American Languages The Indigenous Language Institute provides vital language related service to Native communities so that their individual identities, traditional wisdom, and values are passed on to future generations in their original languages.

Russian: American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European LanguagesAmerican Council of Teachers of Russian

Spanish