World Languages

News and Updates

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

2025 World Languages Proficiency Academy

Join us for the 2025 World Languages Proficiency Academy, a transformative professional learning event aligned with DESE's vision for equitable, culturally responsive, linguistically sustaining, and rigorous, standards-based education. Hosted at Westfield State University from June 23–25, 2025, this Academy will empower educators to create affirming learning environments and promote high academic achievement for all students.

Application Phases

Why Attend?

• Engage with Experts: Learn from renowned presenters and leaders in proficiency-based instruction, including Rebecca Blouwolff, Leslie Grahn, and more.
• Collaborate with Peers: Network with educators across the state, share best practices, and build lasting professional connections.
• Gain Actionable Tools: Acquire strategies and resources to implement the 2021 World Languages Curriculum Framework and improve student outcomes.

Apply for a Space

Massachusetts PreK–12 public school World Language educators and supervisors can apply for a space at the Academy.

How It Works

1. Apply: Submit your application during your designated phase (see table below).
2. Register: Within two weeks of your phase's conclusion, MAFLA will contact approved applicants with a registration link.

All eligible applicants will receive DESE-funded registration as long as spaces remain available. This process is not competitive, and spaces are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

What Educators Are Saying

• "[Strategies learned at Proficiency Academy] will improve communication and motivate the students to speak in the target language."

• "Implementation of proficiency-based techniques and best practices will inform my overhaul of Spanish course curriculum. The theory we reviewed this week will be crucial."

• "I feel like I have a clearer understanding of what pieces are involved and I now have resources where I can find help to implement those pieces."

• "[Strategies learned at Proficiency Academy] will help me restructure the Spanish curriculum with a proficiency approach, using the different tools provided."

• "Seeing the work implemented was very beneficial, and the rubrics work is helpful for my practice. I think understanding proficiency helps me make my teaching more cohesive."

Don't Miss Out!

Secure your fully-funded space today and join a transformative professional learning experience that will elevate your teaching and inspire your students. Apply early to ensure your place!

For questions, contact worldlanguages@mass.gov .

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Follow-Up Sessions for the 2024 MA World Languages Proficiency Academy

DESE is sponsoring three virtual follow-up sessions for participants of the 2024 MA World Languages Proficiency Academy. These sessions are led by our expert presenters, Catherine Ritz and Rebecca Blouwolff, and will focus on continuing your work in proficiency-based instruction:

• Session 1: January 7, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (Curriculum Progress)

• Session 2: March 4, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (Curriculum Alignment and Unit Design)

• Session 3: May 6, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (Next Steps)

Each session will include breakout groups for collaboration, opportunities for feedback, and actionable strategies for your classroom. Participants can earn 1.5 PDPs per session.

Registration is now open! Visit MAFLA.org to secure your spot.

World Languages at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

We believe that all Massachusetts students should acquire linguistic and cultural proficiency in at least one language in addition to English. Proficiency in one or more world languages will empower all students to use languages other than English to tell their own stories, understand the stories of others, and engage with their communities.

Guiding Principles

The following principles are philosophical statements that underlie the standards and resources in the 2021 World Languages Curriculum Framework. They should guide the design and implementation of world language programs in schools. Programs guided by these principles will prepare students for success in college, career, and their lives as productive, global citizen

1. Effective world language programs invite, include, support, and benefit all students.
2. Effective world language programs lift up all students and empower them to act with cultural competence and critical consciousness.
3. Effective world language programs produce high levels of linguistic and cultural proficiency in one or more world languages in their students.
4. Effective world language programs are communicative and support meaningful, authentic, and affirming interactions in the target language.
5. Effective world language programs measure linguistic proficiency.
6. Effective world language programs foster risk-taking and mistake-making toward growth in linguistic and cultural proficiency.
7. Effective world language programs deliver meaningful, relevant, and cross-disciplinary content to motivate students to acquire the language and build proficiency.
8. Effective world language programs differentiate instruction and content, so that they are accessible, rigorous, and appropriate for all students.
9. Effective world language programs connect students to their peers in the classroom, their community, and speakers/signers of the target language throughout the world.
10. Effective world language programs promote social and emotional growth.

Last Updated: January 22, 2025