Nebraska Languages For All
Fourth Issue, 2026
NDE World Language Education has officially transitioned to NDE World & Dual Language Education. Along with this change, the role of World Language Specialist has been updated to World & Dual Language Specialist, reflecting an expanded commitment to supporting multilingual education across Nebraska.
In addition to ongoing responsibilities in World Language education, this role will now include a dedicated focus on Dual Language programming. This includes working closely with dual language programs in connection with the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy, helping to collect and communicate teacher needs related to the Bilingual Education Endorsement, and supporting dual language teacher orientation and ongoing professional learning opportunities.
The role will also involve active participation in Dual Language Institutes and conferences across Nebraska in an NDE capacity, as well as responding to district inquiries and collaborating internally to strengthen and expand dual language programming statewide.
NDE World & Dual Language Education looks forward to building stronger connections with Dual Language programs across Nebraska. Programs are encouraged to reach out to connect, collaborate, and explore ways NDE can support continued growth and success in multilingual education.
Updates and Upcoming Changes
We’re excited to share several important updates to support your planning for the upcoming Seal of Biliteracy rounds.
August Application Round Updates
- Updated Medallion Purchase Form
We have revised the medallion purchase process for greater clarity and efficiency. Please use the new forms linked below:
November Application Round Updates
-
State Student ID Requirement
Beginning with the November round, a 10-digit State Student ID will be required for all applicants. This requirement supports Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) data tracking, as the Seal of Biliteracy is included in the NDE 2026–2030 Strategic Plan.
👉 Please work with students in advance to ensure they have access to their 10-digit State Student ID. -
Updated Payment Method for Medallions
Starting in November, credit card payment will replace the current check payment option for medallion purchases, streamlining the ordering process for schools.
Resources & Upcoming Information
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Seal of Biliteracy Information Handbook
The updated handbook for the 2026–2027 cycle will be available in July. Please review and share it with your teams once released. -
2026-2027 Information Sessions
Help us spread the word about upcoming learning opportunities- 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm, every third Wednesday afternoon - please see the flyer for details
Thank you for your continued leadership and support in recognizing and celebrating multilingual learners across Nebraska!
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), in collaboration with the Nebraska Language Association (NEBLA) and the Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA) Special Interest Group, has scheduled the 2026 Fall K–12 Guest Speaker Series for World Language Educators.
This fall series brings together national leaders, state experts, and Nebraska K–12 practitioners to share timely insights, practical strategies, and innovative approaches that support high-quality world language education. Sessions will explore topics such as language program development, instructional best practices, assessment and proficiency, the Global Seal of Biliteracy, and student-centered classroom experiences.
Designed to support teachers, administrators, and district leaders, this collaborative professional learning opportunity highlights the collective expertise of our state and professional organizations while fostering meaningful connections across Nebraska’s world language community.
📆 Full schedule and speaker lineup:
https://tinyurl.com/ndeWLguestSeries
👉 Please sign up for the full series or any individual webinar(s) using this form:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/dDd4jM1B5Y
We look forward to learning together this fall as we continue to strengthen and elevate world language education across Nebraska.
📣 Looking ahead to Spring 2027: Please don’t hesitate to reach out to chrystal.liu@nebraska.gov to nominate yourself or your colleagues as potential presenters for the 2027 Spring Guest Speaker Series. We also welcome you to share your interests and expectations regarding future topics and speakers.
In June 2026, a delegation of seven educators from Nebraska, Ohio, and Kansas participated in a week-long educational exchange in China from June 14–20. The group included four Nebraska educators, two Ohio educators, and one Kansas educator who engaged in school visits, professional dialogue with Chinese educators, and cultural experiences aimed at fostering cross-cultural understanding and educational collaboration.
Throughout the visit, the delegation collaborated with university faculty and local schools, exploring topics such as Chinese language instruction, curriculum design, and opportunities for future partnerships. Classroom observations and discussions with teachers and administrators provided valuable insights into both educational systems and created pathways for ongoing collaboration and professional exchange.
Beyond the educational experiences, participants had the opportunity to engage directly with Chinese culture, gaining a deeper appreciation for the connections among language, culture, and daily life. These experiences reinforced the importance of global perspectives in language education and highlighted the value of international partnerships in preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world.
Reflecting on the experience, Hannah Paredes, President-Elect of the Nebraska Language Association, noted, “The trip was a great success! We had in-depth discussions and explored potential collaboration opportunities.”
This educational exchange represents an important step in strengthening international relationships and expanding opportunities for world language education in Nebraska and beyond. Through professional collaboration and cultural immersion, participants returned with new perspectives, strengthened professional networks, and a shared commitment to advancing global learning.
Officer Nominations Now Open!
NEBLA is currently accepting nominations for three 2027 Executive Board positions: Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Serving on the board is a meaningful way to support colleagues and advance world language education across Nebraska.
You may nominate yourself or a colleague. Each nomination requires a short biography, a 100-word personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. Nominations will be accepted through October 1, with voting taking place at the annual conference.
Learn more about each role and submit nominations here:
Conference Registration Reminder
Mark your calendar for the 2026 NEBLA Hybrid Conference on Friday, October 17, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., hosted in person at Millard South High School with a virtual option available. This year’s conference will feature Dr. Linda Egnatz, Executive Director of the Global Seal of Biliteracy, as keynote speaker, along with a full day of professional learning and networking opportunities for world language educators across Nebraska.
Registration is now open with multiple options to fit your needs, including early bird, regular, virtual-only, and discounted rates for students, retirees, and pre-service teachers. Early bird registration is $65 through August 15, increasing to $95 for regular registration, with $125 at the door. A virtual-only option is available for $30 (deadline for registration is October 15), and a reduced rate of $50 is offered for retirees, pre-service teachers, and students.
🔗 Register here: https://www.nebla.org/nebla-annual-conference/conference-registration
If you submitted a proposal, review decisions will be coming soon. Accepted presenters will receive a registration link with a discounted presenter rate of $55 included in their notification.
We look forward to learning and connecting with you this October!
Emoji Stories Across Cultures turns a familiar digital habit into a purposeful routine for language use and intercultural meaning-making. Students interpret a short emoji sequence, retell the story in the target language, and then reconstruct it within a specific cultural context.
At first glance, emojis seem universal. In practice, meaning is shaped by perspectives, practices, and lived experiences. The same sequence can represent different routines, interactions, and values depending on how—and where—the story is imagined. This routine moves students beyond describing what they see to asking a deeper question: What does this reveal about how people live and interact?
Preparation
Create a 5–7 emoji sequence that suggests an everyday situation (e.g., commuting, meals, social interaction). Include:
- People (who)
- Actions or routines (what)
- Context clues (where/when)
Set the task clearly:
→ Retell the story as it would happen in the target culture. Provide scaffolds (sentence frames, vocabulary) as needed.
Classroom Examples (Culture in the Language)
Arabic (Novice)
☕👴👦🪑🗣️😊
أنا مع جدي في المنزل. نشرب القهوة ونتحدث معًا.
→ Not just “drinking coffee”—this reflects time with elders and relationship-building through conversation
Chinese (Intermediate)
🍽️👥🥢🍲😊
我跟朋友一起吃饭。我们点很多菜，大家一起分享。
→ Not just eating—this reflects shared dishes, group-centered dining, and collective experience
French (Advanced)
🥖🧀🍷👫⏳
Le soir, je retrouve des amis… nous prenons le temps de discuter longtemps, car ces moments sont essentiels pour maintenir des liens sociaux.
→ The meal becomes secondary; what matters is time, conversation, and relationships
German (Intermediate)
🚲⏰🏫🌧️☕
Ich fahre jeden Tag pünktlich mit dem Fahrrad zur Schule, auch wenn es regnet. Für mich ist das normal.
→ Routine is not incidental—it reflects consistency, punctuality, and practicality
Spanish (Novice High)
⚽👦👧🏞️👥👏
Los chicos juegan al fútbol en el parque. Hay muchas personas mirando y animando.
→ The focus is on shared public space, community presence, and social interaction
In Practice
Students retell the emoji story and then compare interpretations. Very quickly, they realize that the same emojis produce different, equally plausible “realities.” That moment is the entry point for intercultural thinking.
Guide students to explore:
- What might be different from their own experience
- How the situation works in the target context
- Why people might act or interact in those ways
As a next step, have students revise their retelling by adding one sentence that explains the cultural meaning:
→ This shows… / This is important because…
Facilitating Cultural Thinking
This routine becomes meaningful when students move beyond describing actions to interpreting practices and perspectives.
Teacher moves:
- Shift from what to why: “Why does this happen this way?”
- Press for comparison: “Would this look the same in your community?”
- Anchor responses in context: “Where are they? What is typical here?”
Discussion prompts for reference:
- What does this reveal about daily life or relationships?
- What feels different from your own experience?
- Why might people in this culture do this differently?
- What assumptions shaped your interpretation?
Tips for Success
- Start concrete: Use familiar routines before moving to more abstract scenarios
- Model explicitly: Show the move from description → interpretation
- Require a “why”: One explanatory sentence deepens thinking
- Build comparison in: Always connect to students’ own experiences
- Reuse regularly: Consistency builds students’ ability to interpret culture
Quick Check
✔ Is the message clear?
✔ Are ideas connected (appropriate to level)?
✔ Does the response reflect a cultural practice or perspective?
This is where students begin to see language not just as communication, but as a reflection of how people live and understand the world.
Dr. Gwyneth Cliver is Associate Professor of German in the Department of World Languages and Literature at UNO and is currently president of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of German (NATG). She designs the curriculum for all levels of the language and teaches a variety of courses on language, literature, film, and culture. A literature, film, and culture scholar, her research has studied mathematical philosophy in literature of the early 20th century, artistic responses to urban shrinkage in post-Wall planned socialist cities, and literary adaptation in the films of director Christian Petzold. She also runs weekly conversation groups (Stammtisch) on Thursdays of the fall and spring semesters from 4 - 5:30. These are open to the public! If you’d like to practice your German with UNO students, please contact Gwyneth at gcliver@unomaha.edu.
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 2026-2027 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 the 2026-2027 annual events for Nebraska World Language Education
for Nebraska World Language events. 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.
Chrystal Liu, World & Dual Language Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NDE.WL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nde_worldlanguage/
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