NDE World Languages Newsletter

• Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy: Please Encourage Your Students to Apply!
• Nebraska Language Association (NEBLA) 2025 Annual Meeting Highlights
• Meet your NEBLA Board: 2026 President
• Advancing Bilingual Education: Highlights from the III Dual Language Institute
• Professional Opportunities for World Language Teachers
• Help Your Students get Recognized for the 2026 World Language Week Awards!
• Please Share: 2026 Principals' Trip to China
• Celebrating 25 Years of the OPS Dual Language Program
• Thinking in Two Languages: Brain Breaks for Bilingual Minds
• Teacher Story: Dr. Josh Pope at Doane University

Thanks to Kelly Garcia from ESU5 for reviewing this newsletter!

Disclaimer: The Nebraska Department of Education World Language Program shares information about external scholarships, grants, and opportunities as a service to educators, students, and families. Inclusion in this newsletter does not imply endorsement or recommendation by the NDE. Readers are encouraged to review each opportunity carefully and determine its relevance and suitability for their own context.

Reminder: Apply for the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy! 🌎💬

The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy recognizes high school students who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language by graduation. This statewide honor celebrates students’ bilingual and biliterate achievement while promoting global competence and college- and career-readiness.

Important Dates:

• Application Deadline: November 1, 2025

• Medallion Orders Due: November 5, 2025

• Results Announced: End of November or early December

Apply Now:

• Individual Application

• School Application

For questions, contact chrystal.liu@nebraska.gov.

Celebrate Nebraska’s multilingual learners and encourage your students to apply today!

The Nebraska Department of Education World Language Program congratulates the Nebraska Language Association (NEBLA) on hosting a successful Annual Meeting on October 4th in Kearney. Led by Dr. Christopher Jacobs (UNK) and the NEBLA Board, the event offered engaging opportunities for professional learning and networking among Nebraska’s world language educators. Members approved updates to the bylaws and elected Danielle Fulcher as Executive Chair and welcomed Terri Wright as the 2026 President. Appreciation goes to keynote speaker A.C. Quintero, presenters, vendors, and sponsors for their inspiring contributions to strengthening language education across the state. 🌍💬

Hello everyone!

My name is Terri Wright and I am thrilled to be your 2026 NEBLA President! I have been teaching language (French/Spanish & even a little Japanese) for over 30 years and I have seen many changes in how we present information and encourage retention! I have taught in OPS, Elkhorn Public schools, and I am currently teaching all levels of French at Millard South High School in MPS with my amazing colleague, Hannah Frasier.

I am a Nebraska girl through & through! I received 2 Bachelor's degrees from UNO in 1990; A BA in French and a BS in Education with a certification to teach French and Social Sciences. My philosophy has always been that I can never learn enough about either my subject matter or how to present it. I am perpetually looking for ways to improve my instruction and the engagement of my students. To that end, I pursued and received a Masters of Arts in Language Teaching (MALT) with a French concentration in 2015 at UNO. I am also currently working on my PhD in TLTE at UNL. I love learning and I feel like I model that love for my students in the hope that they will catch the fever and realize that you do not have to be a student to learn and you can always have fun learning AND teaching!

I have taught French at every age from preschool to elementary to middle and high school as well as currently serving as an adjunct French professor for Metropolitan Community College. I encourage and have helped with/hosted French events for students including French Convention and French Auberge (student overnight). I have planned & taken numerous students on the greatest field trip of all time to Europe (including France, Spain, & Italy). Personally, my husband & I are blessed with 7 wonderful children ranging in age from 17 to 33 and two beautiful granddaughters (5 & 6). My youngest is a senior at Millard South so we will be empty nesters soon. Although I love time with my family, I'm enjoying some extra time for myself and more time to share my passion for language teaching with educators around the state. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any suggestions or questions! Terri tlwright@mpsomaha.org

The III Dual Language Institute, held on September 13th, 2025 at the Milo Bail Student Center (UNO), was a resounding success. The event brought together educators, administrators, and community partners dedicated to advancing bilingual and dual language education in Nebraska. This year’s keynote address was delivered by Ms. Maite Gallo, Experiencia Utah Spanish DLI Elementary Coordinator, who shared her expertise and inspiring vision for the future of dual language programs.

In addition to the keynote, participants engaged in interactive workshops and dynamic discussions that explored innovative practices and highlighted the transformative role of multilingualism in schools and society.

The Institute was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Department of World Languages and Literature at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and the Embassy of Spain, with the valued collaboration of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the Nebraska Department of Education. Attendees left with practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and stronger professional connections to support the growth of bilingual programs across the state.

ACTFL Classroom Microgrants
Apply for a $300 microgrant to fund classroom projects that promote multilingualism and cultural awareness. Three funding cycles run from August 2025 to April 2026.
🔗 Learn more and apply

ACTFL–Taiwan Partnership
Explore short-term study, teaching, and degree opportunities in Taiwan through ACTFL’s partnership with the Ministry of Education and FICHET. Great for educators interested in Mandarin immersion and cultural exchange.
🔗 Learn more

Project-Based Learning Grants
The Central States Language for All Conference and Klett World Languages offer grants to support creative, student-centered language projects that connect to real-world use.
🔗 Apply here

Travel & Study Scholarships
Apply for professional learning abroad in Germany or Peru through CSCTFL’s 2026 travel scholarships for language educators.
🔗 Details here

Future Educator Scholarships
CSCTFL and Vista Higher Learning offer $1,000 scholarships for high school seniors or university students planning a career in world language education.
🔗 Learn more

Join world language educators from around the world at the ACTFL 2025 Convention & World Languages Expo, November 21–23, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Immerse yourself in innovative teaching ideas, connect with national leaders in language education, and celebrate the joy of multilingualism and global learning. This is your chance to represent Nebraska World Languages on the national stage and return inspired with strategies you can apply right away.

🔗 Learn more and register

Nominate your students for two statewide opportunities!

• Distinguished World Language Scholar Award
  • Teacher nominations due Nov. 15, 2025
  • Student submissions due Dec. 15, 2025
  • Teacher Form | Student Form

• Student Language Spotlight
  • Submissions due Feb. 1, 2026
  • Submission Form

Celebrate your students’ dedication to language learning and intercultural competence!

Please help Spread the Word: 2026 American Principals’ Trip to China

World Language teachers—your voice can help connect leaders with life-changing global opportunities! Please share the information about the 2026 American Principals’ Trip to China, hosted by Capital Normal University in partnership with the Nebraska Language Association (NEBLA).

This five-day summer program invites school principals, district leaders, and educators to explore Chinese language and culture firsthand while building international connections. Encourage your administrators to join an unforgettable experience that promotes intercultural understanding and strengthens global education in Nebraska schools.

📅 Application Deadline: December 31, 2025
🔗 Register Here

For questions, contact neprincipaltrip@gmail.com, hannah.paredes@ops.org, or hjuliapk@gmail.com.

The Omaha Public Schools Dual Language Program proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary—a milestone that reflects a quarter-century of excellence in bilingual education. Since its founding, the program has fostered an inviting environment where students thrive academically and socially while developing biliteracy, cross-cultural understanding, and global competencies.

At the heart of this success is the unwavering commitment of our caring and dedicated faculty and staff. Their passion, professionalism, and belief in the transformative power of language learning have shaped the program into a model of educational innovation. Families, too, have been essential partners, building a strong and supportive community around the program.

One of the greatest testaments to the program’s impact is found in its graduates. Many alumni, proud of the education they received, have returned to serve the very program that shaped their futures—as teachers, mentors, and advocates. Their presence demonstrates the enduring legacy of the Dual Language Program and the way it continues to inspire the next generation of multilingual leaders.

This vision reaches its pinnacle at Omaha South Magnet High School, home to one of the top Dual Language high schools in the country. With nearly 800 students engaged in rigorous dual language coursework, South High has received national recognition for its comprehensive K–12 pathway, academic excellence, and cultural programming. Its Dual Language students consistently demonstrate strong outcomes, with many earning the Seal of Biliteracy and contributing their bilingual skills to the broader community.

As we celebrate 25 years, we honor the past, recognize the present, and look forward to a future where the OPS Dual Language Program continues to empower students with the skills and opportunities to succeed in a diverse and interconnected world.

Long block schedules in Nebraska—often 82 to 90 minutes—allow time for deep learning but also require intentional pacing to keep students engaged. Brain breaks are short, purposeful pauses that help learners recharge and refocus.

In world language classrooms, these breaks can do more than reenergize—they can connect students to cultures beyond the one being taught. A Japanese stretch, a Latin dance, or an African proverb brought to life invites students to experience culture in motion and see language as part of the global human story.

💬 Why Brain Breaks Matter

Short, well-timed breaks improve attention, memory, and motivation. When tied to cultural movement or mindfulness, they also nurture intercultural curiosity. A global brain break turns a simple pause into a shared human moment—reminding students that communication happens not only with words but also through rhythm, gestures, and laughter.

🌍 Global Brain Breaks for Any Classroom

These mini-activities can be used in any language classroom, regardless of the target language. Each takes two to three minutes and brings a new culture—and new energy—into the room.

🇦🇪 Mini Dabke – Arab World

🕺 Try a few simple steps from the traditional line dance Dabke. Step right, stomp left, hop, and repeat—then join hands for a short sequence to lively Middle Eastern music.
💡 Why it works: Builds rhythm, teamwork, and appreciation for communal dance traditions.
🎧 Try this: Beginner Dabke Steps

🪶 Animal Spirit Stretch – Indigenous North America

🦅 Move like symbolic animals: soar like an eagle, stomp like a bear, glide like a turtle. Briefly reflect on what each represents—strength, wisdom, or patience.
💡 Why it works: Promotes mindfulness and honors Indigenous perspectives on balance and nature.

🇨🇳 Eye Relaxation Routine – China

🧘‍♀️ Follow this short wellness practice used in Chinese schools. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and gently massage pressure points around the eyes.
💡 Why it works: Reduces fatigue and models a real classroom wellness habit from Chinese education.
🎥 Guide: Chinese Eye Exercises

🇩🇪 Rhythm & Movement – Germany

🎵 Play upbeat instrumental Oktoberfest or folk-dance music. Students clap to the beat, march in place, and add gestures like “cheers” (raising an imaginary mug) or spinning once in a circle.
💡 Why it works: Brings the lively spirit of German festivals into class through rhythm and movement—no lyrics needed.
🎧 Try this: Oktoberfest Instrumental Playlist

🇫🇷 Crêpe Flip Challenge – France

🥞 Pretend to make and flip a crêpe in the air like during La Chandeleur (Crêpe Day). See who can “catch” it without dropping!
💡 Why it works: Adds playful movement while introducing a cultural tradition of good luck and celebration.
📚 Learn More: La Chandeleur Tradition

🌍 Proverb in Motion – Francophone Africa

🗣️ Choose a proverb (in English or translated) such as “Little by little, the bird builds its nest.” Have students act out its meaning, then share the lesson.
💡 Why it works: Encourages empathy and reflection through storytelling traditions found across African cultures.

🇯🇵 Radio Taisō – Japan

🤸 Follow Japan’s famous two-minute morning exercise routine. Move to the rhythm and count the motions in any language.
💡 Why it works: Combines mindfulness and movement while showcasing a beloved Japanese daily practice.
🎥 Watch: Radio Taisō Routine

🌟 One-Minute Dance Break – Latin America

💃 Play a short salsa, merengue, or bachata clip (e.g., La Vida es un Carnaval). Invite students to mirror steps or clap to the rhythm.
💡 Why it works: Boosts energy and celebrates the joy and rhythm central to Latin dance culture.
🎧 Try this: Salsa Basics – 1-Minute Routine

🇪🇸 Rhythm Relay – Spanish Caribbean

🥁 Create a simple body-percussion pattern (clap, tap, snap). Each student adds one motion as the rhythm travels around the circle.
💡 Why it works: Builds listening and coordination while drawing inspiration from Afro-Caribbean percussion and call-and-response traditions.

🎉 Festival Moves – Global

🌈 Choose a world festival—Diwali, Carnival, Lantern Festival, or Día de los Muertos—and invent gestures that represent its traditions: lighting lamps, tossing flowers, flying kites, or parading in rhythm.
💡 Why it works: Encourages creativity and global awareness while celebrating cultural diversity.

✨ Extend the Learning

• Mix it up: Include traditions beyond the culture you teach.

• Student choice: Let learners select a region or festival to feature.

• Quick reflection: Ask, “What value or idea does this movement represent?”

• Celebrate globally: Combine short clips into a “Global Brain Break Wall” for Nebraska World Language Week.

“Brain breaks remind us that communication isn’t only with words—it’s also through rhythm, laughter, and connection.”

I frequently get asked how I made it to my current position as Associate Professor of Spanish at Doane University and my response is that it was a series of events that gradually changed the way I thought about teaching and the Spanish language. When I first started my undergraduate career at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, I was set on being an elementary teacher. Then, I took Spanish for a gen ed requirement. I loved it! I decided to minor in Spanish. Next, my professor took a group of us to Salamanca, Spain for three weeks. I REALLY loved it! I decided to be a Spanish teacher. I must admit that I ended up dropping the teaching endorsement but even that decision helped guide me to grad school, a year abroad in Spain, researching language learning during study abroad, and teaching young adults.

My teaching is guided by providing opportunities for my students to use Spanish to form a community and to become members of a broader community. It took a long time for me to learn how to facilitate this Spanish-language community building. Through carefully structured activities, encouragement, and a little grade-related motivation too, I’ve learned that it’s possible to get undergraduate students using Spanish to form relationships with each other and to use the language for real communication. I will never forget one early rainy morning during my PhD program in Wisconsin. I was walking up the stairs, ready to teach my second-semester class when two students met me on the way yelling “¡LLUEVE EN LA CLASE! ¡LLUEVE EN LA CLASE!” By telling me that it was “raining in the class,” they were telling me there was a major leak in the ceiling. Once we got the immediate situation taken care of, I realized that this group of second-semester students had USED SPANISH to tell me about this emergency. What started off as a leaky ceiling ended up being a moment of pride. Now, hearing my students interact with each other about their lives in their beautiful non-native Spanish varieties brings me much joy. Of course, I’m not naive. I do know that some English is used in hushed tones and that English is useful at times! We’re not perfect but we gradually get to as much immersion as possible.

Since coming to Doane, I’ve extended my concept of community into our surrounding Crete, where there are ample opportunities to speak with and learn from community members and leaders who speak Spanish as a first language. None of this quite prepared me for the joy I’d experience taking students abroad. At the time of this writing, I’ve co-led student trips to Mexico, Panama, and one to the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Most of the students on these short trips are going abroad for the first time in their lives. Over the course of a week and half, I see first hand how students go through similar evolutions of ideas that I experienced when I was in their shoes. By allowing them to observe and interact with peoples of other cultures, I feel like I am doing some of the most important teaching I do and I do it by sitting back, pushing when needed, and allowing students to become global citizens.

NDE World Language Education will continue to offer customized professional development opportunities to meet the unique needs of Nebraska Educational Service Units (ESUs) and school districts. Our comprehensive offerings for the 2025-2026 academic year encompass a variety of enriching themes. Please check the document for details or contact Chrystal Liu at chrystal.liu@nebraska.gov for questions.

Please check this document for the 2025-2026 annual events for Nebraska World Language Education. If you or your organization have events to share, please email Chrystal Liu (chrystal.liu@nebraska.gov) to add your events in the shared calendar.

Email: chrystal.liu@nebraska.gov
Website: https://www.education.ne.gov/worldlanguage/
Location: 500 S 84th St 2nd Floor, Lincoln, NE 68510
Phone: 402-430-8147

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