At various points in our lives, we each find ourselves immersed in experiences that move us in deeply powerful ways, inspiring intellectual change, personal transformation, and social action. Join us in exploring the use of project-based language learning (PBLL) as a framework for crafting compelling environments and experiences for language learners. During the NFLRC 2017 Intensive Summer Institute held at the National Foreign Language Resource Center in Hawai‘i, inservice K–16 world language educators will learn how to orchestrate rich, experiential language learning opportunities that draw on a diverse array of disciplines and Career Pathways. After participating in an abbreviated, face-to-face, project-based language learning experience, each participant will design a well-scaffolded project for use in their own language classes. Join a team of experts with background in PBLL, language pedagogy, career and technical education, and assessment in redefining what it means to teach, transforming what it is possible for students to learn, and discovering how to craft more compelling lives for ourselves in the process!
Note: This is not a beginner’s workshop. Applicants must first earn a digital badge from the 2017 Fundamentals of PBLL Online Institute as a prerequisite. Seats are limited and applications are competitive. Community college instructors interested in creating interdisciplinary connections will receive special consideration.
Seats are limited and applications will be competitive.
Important Dates
March 31, 2017: Project Blueprint Submission Deadline for the 2017 Fundamentals of Project-Based Language Learning Online Institute (Digital Badge should be received no later than April 5, 2017)
April 15, 2017: Intensive Summer Institute (ISI) application deadline
April 30, 2017: ISI Selection Results Notification
August 2-9, 2017: ISI dates
NOTE: If you received one of our conference tote bag inserts at the 2016 ACTFL Conference, there was an error on the flyer. The dates for ISI 2017 were mistakenly printed as July 2-9, 2017. The correct dates are August 2-9, 2017. We apologize for any confusion the flyer may have caused.
Application Form
The ISI application deadline has passed.
ISI 2017 Institute Purpose
To empower participants to develop and implement high quality models of experiential, project-based language learning in K-16 contexts in a variety of languages.
2017 Learning Outcomes
Participants will develop and refine their professional knowledge and skills as they:
- Experience community-based PBLL.
- Engage learners with projects that explore global issues, social problems, cultural contexts, and content from other academic disciplines as the foundations of a compelling PBLL experience.
- Explore scaffolding strategies for making language, content, and culture metacognitively accessible; for facilitating the development of 21st century success skills; and for supporting sociolinguistic output.
- Experiment with technological tools for communicating with authentic audiences, facilitating group interaction, and supporting students’ creation of public products.
- Develop formative assessments, rubrics, and feedback that improve learner engagement and performance in PBLL contexts.
Financial Support
To help defray travel expenses to attend the institute, partial financial support (up to $1,000 for foreign language faculty/staff from U.S. mainland or $350 for Hawai‘i neighbor island institutions) will be offered to our top 10 applicants as funding permits. Other accepted applicants will need to self-fund or seek financial support from their home institutions or other sources of funding in order to cover costs.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
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Participants who receive and accept funding from the NFLRC will be required to submit their completed project to the Project Repository upon completion of the intensive summer institute.
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Due to restrictions on the federal grant which funds the NFLRC, we can only offer this partial financial support to participants who currently live in the United States and whose job impacts language research, learning, or teaching in the United States. Educators and researchers in foreign countries are ineligible for this partial funding. Students are also ineligible for partial funding, unless they are employees of their institution (e.g., paid teaching assistants, lecturers, etc.).
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If you previously received partial financial support for a previous PBLL intensive summer institute (2015 or 2016), you are ineligible to receive further funding and will need to self-fund or gain funding from your institution. We will, however, waive your ISI registration fee, in these special cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS INSTITUTE? HOW DO I APPLY?
We invite practicing K-16 world language educators to apply to participate. The NFLRC 2017 Intensive Summer Institute is not a beginner’s workshop. In order to join, applicants will need to first earn a digital badge from the 2016 Fundamentals of Project-Based Language Learning Online Institute as a prerequisite. Seats are limited and applications will be competitive. Preference will be given to participants currently working at U.S. community colleges and/or minority-serving institutions, but all practicing world language educators K-16 are invited to apply. District supervisors and world language curriculum specialists are ineligible to apply.
Participants are expected to participate fully, present on their PBLL project, and submit their completed project to the Project Repository after completion of the intensive summer institute.
If you meet the above criteria and are interested in the summer institute, we encourage you to apply. Please submit an online application form by the April 15, 2017 deadline. Be sure to allow adequate time to fully answer the questions. Also, don’t forget to proofread your entries before submission. If you experience any difficulty with the online form, please contact us for assistance.
Notification of selection results will take place by April 30, 2017 via email. We will be accepting around 20+ participants for this summer institute.
2) I RECEIVED A BADGE FOR COMPLETION OF THE 2015 or 2016 FUNDAMENTALS OF PBLL ONLINE INSTITUTE. DO I NEED TO TAKE THE 2017 ONLINE INSTITUTE TO APPLY FOR THE 2017 ISI?
If you earned a 2015 or 2016 Fundamentals of PBLL Online Institute badge, we can grant you free access to the 2017 PBLL Online Institute site. While it is not necessary for you to take the 2017 Online Institute in full, you will need to submit an additional career pathways-focused Project Blueprint to qualifty for application to the 2017 Intensive Summer Institute. Contact nflrc@hawaii.edu for more information.
3) I TEACH ESL/EFL. CAN I APPLY FOR THE INSTITUTE?
The National Foreign Language Resource Centerʻs mission is to help improve the U.S.’s capacity in foreign language education, especially in less commonly taught languages. English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) is outside the scope of this summer institute. Applicants should be teachers of languages other than English.
4) ARE THERE ANY INSTITUTE FEES?
There are no fees for submitting an online application form. However, accepted participants are required to pay a non-refundable $100 registration fee. Please DO NOT SEND PAYMENT UNLESS NOTIFIED OF ACCEPTANCE.
5) WHERE WILL THE INSTITUTE TAKE PLACE?
The summer institute will be held on August 2-9, 2017 in Moore Hall 155 on the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa campus. Only accepted participants are allowed to attend.
The UH Mānoa campus is 3 miles from Waikiki (about a 10-minute drive). If you are coming from the Honolulu International Airport, it is about a 20-minute drive (non-rush hour traffic).
6) ARE THERE LODGING OPTIONS AVAILABLE?
There are a number of housing options available. For those who are on a budget or prefer the convenience of staying on campus, rooms in the East-West Center residence halls (Hale Mānoa, Hale Kuahine, or Lincoln Hall) can be reserved by accepted institute participants. Room rates range from $32 to $80 per night, depending on room type (dorm room or visitor housing).
For those who wish to stay in a hotel and have easy access to Waikiki and its beaches, shopping, and restaurants during institute after-hours, studios w/kitchennetes at the Ewa Hotel Waikiki can be reserved at special summer institute rates. More information about housing options will be made available to workshop participants once they are accepted.
7) ARE MEALS PROVIDED?
Participants will be provided with continental breakfast refreshments each morning as well as afternoon snacks. There will also be a welcoming reception on the first day of the institute. Apart from that, participants are responsible for their own meals. Extensive information regarding on-campus and off-campus dining options will be provided to participants upon their arrival.
8) IS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED?
No transportation is provided. Transportation is the responsibility of the participant.
The island of O‘ahu is serviced by the Honolulu International Airport (HNL). Airlines that fly to Hawai‘i include American, United, Delta, Hawaiian, & Alaska Airlines, and a wide variety of airlines from abroad. The airport is about a 20-minute drive (non-rush hour traffic time) from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa or Waikiki.
For more information about available ground transportation services (including shuttles, taxis, The Bus, etc.), click here.
9) IS CHILDCARE PROVIDED AT THE INSTITUTE?
No childcare is provided. Also, there are some restrictions regarding children staying in the East-West Center residence halls. Please contact us for more information.
10) WHAT DIGITAL BADGES CAN I EARN?
Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL) Intensive Summer Institute Designer badge: This badge certifies that a participant has finalized the design of a project and that the project meets the minimum quality standards specified in the Developing column of the Project Design rubric. Criteria: 2017
Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL) Intensive Summer Institute Implementer badge: This badge is granted to a participant who has implemented a project in a language class. Criteria: all years.
Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL) Intensive Summer Institute Teacher badge: This badge is granted to a participant who has designed and subsequently implemented at least one additional distinct project (over and above the originally implemented project) in a language class. Criteria: all years.