NDE World Languages Newsletter
First Issue, 2026
Since January 2025, Nebraska educators have been collaborating with the NDE Office of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment to revise and update Nebraska’s 2019 College and Career Ready Standards for World Language Education. A draft of the proposed revisions is now available for public review: DRAFT‑REVISED‑2026‑WORLD‑LANGUAGE‑STANDARDS.pdf.
The public input survey is now open through March 16:
2026 Nebraska World Language Education Standards Review: PUBLIC INPUT SURVEY | QuestionPro
Feedback from parents, employers, community members, and educators plays a vital role in the standards revision process. Survey data—including written comments—will be used by NDE staff and Nebraska educators as they continue refining the 2019 standards.
As you review the draft and share input, you may wish to consider:
- Are the proposed standards and indicators measurable, appropriately challenging, clearly worded, scaffolded, specific, and connected to real‑world applications?
- Do the revisions reflect the knowledge and skills needed for employment or postsecondary success?
- To what extent do the revisions provide a high‑quality framework to guide local instructional decisions?
If you have questions or prefer to submit feedback by email, please contact:
nde.worldlanguagesstandardsinput@nebraska.gov
Please continue encouraging your students to apply for the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy!
- Individual Application: https://ndoe.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=8dCn6Xts9O4ECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D
- School Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEJW8EK8ZpxZiI8HR7e5FpzloDDQNULWta6fqjixUqDTXetQ/viewform
- Application Deadline: April 1
- Medallion Ordering Deadline: April 5
We will also host a March Seal Information Session on March 11, from 3:30–4:30 p.m. (CT).
Join via Zoom: https://educationne.zoom.us/j/96303435998?from=addon
Please note that the Seal of Biliteracy website will soon undergo an accessibility review. During this process, some links may temporarily break, and you may notice significant layout changes. Thank you in advance for your patience as we work to improve the user experience.
Finally, the Seal Information Booklet is currently being updated. The revised version will be shared later this semester.
NEBLA President: Terri Wright at Millard Public Schools
A cordial welcome to all of you that are sharing your language passions with Nebraska students daily. My name is Terri Wright and I have the great pleasure of having been elected your NEBLA president for 2026. There has been a bit of an upheaval with our name over the last couple years & I thought you might be curious about the changes. In order to become more inclusive of all languages (indigenous & international) & language teachers within our state, our original association name of Nebraska International Languages Association (abbreviated to NILA) was shortened in 2024 to Nebraska Languages Association (NLA). Two things encouraged us to make a bigger change in 2025: first, we are becoming a 501(c)(3) LLC to take advantage of tax-exempt status and perpetuate financial stability (being able to request grants, etc.) and to do so, we were called by the legal side to change our name for incorporation. Secondly, we had found that NLA was not a unique enough acronym, and potential members were struggling to find us. NEBLA is unique to us and will be much easier to use for promotion and visibility.
Behind the scenes, we have a wonderful advocate in our Executive Director, Danielle Fulcher. Danielle served as president of our organization in 2024 and has been with us through the arduous task of applying for our 501c status. As Executive Director, Danielle will provide stability for us as the executive board officers rotate through each year. She is a stable force behind a wonderful board of people who truly love Language Teaching in the state of Nebraska. Danielle has re-done our website and is working on our presence on social networks as well.
We are celebrating our board members taking on new adventures & higher leadership roles: Our President-elect, Hannah Parades, was recently elected to the CSCTFL Board of Directors. Dr. Chrystal Liu has been elected to the NCSSFL Board of Directors as the Technology Coordinator, and Alicia Shoemaker has been elected to the ACTFL Board of Directors as the Central States Regional Representative. It is so encouraging to see Nebraska gaining input in these regional & national organizations!
Finally, I am excited to announce that we will be holding our 2026 NEBLA conference in Omaha this year. Millard South High School has graciously agreed to host us on Saturday, October 17, 2026. We are collaborating with the NDE and presenting incredible speakers around the theme of “Biliteracy for all.” In order to be most effective in our presentations, I asked myself what is the true and complete definition of biliteracy. I researched to expand my knowledge & I hope this will be helpful to you as well. Biliteracy does not simply mean the ability to read in another language, but rather an understanding of the grammar systems, cultural influences and use of vocabulary in written as well as spoken language. One can be bilingual without being biliterate; but all biliterate individuals are bilingual. In other words, everything we do in our classes to provide exposure to culture, to teach patterns in the target language, and to help students absorb and compare similarities between native and target languages is moving toward biliteracy. I once attended a workshop with the creator of Duolingo and he was adamant that Duolingo works much better when the learner has a language teacher who can answer questions to explain the similarities & differences. We are powerful for our students in their ability to become biliterate and in their ability to see the bigger global picture of how languages and cultures interact!
We are developing a track of classes specifically for teachers that provide bilingual education, with the help of President-Elect Hannah Paredes, in addition to focusing on gathering many fantastic speakers in a variety of categories including all aspects of language learning—listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary acquisition & culture! We look forward to a fantastic 2026 and to a phenomenal meeting of the minds at our Fall conference! Happy 2026! Terri
The 2026 Spring NDE World Language, NEBLA, & CLTA SIG K–12 Guest Speaker Series brings together national and regional experts to share research‑informed, classroom‑ready strategies that support proficiency growth, student engagement, and innovative instruction across world languages.
This spring’s sessions explore topics such as developing listening and speaking skills (e.g., Dr. Gianfranco Conti), boosting student engagement and communication (e.g., Maite Gallo Velasco), and navigating emerging opportunities and challenges in AI‑enhanced classrooms (e.g., Tom Welch; Dr. Nick Ziegler), along with practitioner‑led conversations from Nebraska educators.
Sessions run from January through April 2026 and are open to world language educators across Nebraska and beyond.
📅 View the full schedule and join sessions:
https://tinyurl.com/WLwebinarcalendar
▶️ Missed a session? Watch past spring webinars here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0TzCHNhXC0cBBCxp1-mjsIsA9b4CnbDY&si=_4zUN6w_Glo0JSEx
Additional Upcoming Webinars
1. Vibe Check: Connecting with Gen Z & Alpha Fam and Promoting Proficiency Through Current Trends
Presenter: Dr. Christopher Jacobs
Date/Time: Saturday, February 28, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (CT)
Registration:
2. Round Table Discussion: Conference Roadshow Comes Home!
Presenters: Nebraska World Language Teacher Representatives
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 25, 4:00–5:30 p.m. (CT)
Registration:
3. Disability and Additional Language Teaching
Presenter: Caitlin Cornell
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 8, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (CT)
Registration:
Sneak Peek: 2026 Fall Speaker Series
We are excited to share that five webinars are already confirmed for Fall 2026, featuring leading experts across world language education:
- Ryan Allen – FILL Implementation (Facilitated Interdependent Language Learning)
- Linda Egnatz – Seal of Biliteracy and Career Pathways
- Leslie Grahn – Mixing Tasks and Activities to Promote Proficiency
- Joshua Cabral – Engaging Learners Through Purposeful Input & Output
- Chrystal Liu & Hannah Paredes – Facilitating Proficiency in the AI‑Enhanced Classroom
More information, descriptions, and registration links will be shared this summer.
Distance Learning Teacher Support Series by ESUCC & ESU5
Looking for high‑quality, practical support for distance and blended instruction? ESUCC and ESU 5 have partnered to create the Distance Learning Teacher Support Series, a growing collection of short, informative videos designed to help educators strengthen virtual teaching practices.
Explore the full playlist here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJpETmv954jNB7fLD5G-V-gQYiCP28-ko
These sessions offer tips, strategies, and tools that teachers can put into practice right away—perfect for professional learning communities, individual growth, or instructional coaching conversations.
2026 UNL Language Fair
High school students studying Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese are invited to the 48th Annual UNL Language Fair on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the City Campus Union in Lincoln. This free, registration‑required event celebrates the 2026 theme, The Beauty of the World, through competitive and interactive language and culture events. [modlang.unl.edu]
Event highlights:
Check‑in begins at 8:00 AM, followed by ceremonies and student events from 9:30 AM–1:45 PM, concluding at 2:15 PM. Activities include poetry, music, drama, folk dance, posters, films, mini‑lessons, and more. [modlang.unl.edu]
👉 Register by March 26, 2026:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerClMoxiArcVLKdPEPKNxryP9E-IsVGqr39vFc3D6qImmf9w/viewform
📄 Teachers: Please print and complete the top portion of the score sheet for each student and bring all copies to the fair:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15JPvy5Zn_fOYW-8cDlsMno7i-Ab8kHZi/edit
More information: https://modlang.unl.edu/language-fair.
2026 UNO Language Celebration
High school students are invited to attend the 2026 UNO Language Celebration on Friday, March 6, 2026—next week—hosted by the UNO Department of World Languages and Literature at the Milo Bail Student Center on UNO’s Dodge Campus.
Students will explore UNO’s world language programs—Spanish, Spanish for Health Sciences, French, German, Italian, and Japanese—and learn about study abroad, dual enrollment pathways, and the value of language study in a wide range of careers. Community partners and campus representatives will be on-site to share how bilingualism supports future opportunities.
The celebration also includes judged performance and project‑based events, with categories for Level 1, Level 2, and Heritage Learner participants, giving students the chance to showcase their language and cultural learning.
For full event details, visit the official website.
✨ Shine With Languages! Nebraska World Language Week 2026 Recap ✨
Nebraska celebrated World Language Week during the week of February 9, offering rich LIVE programming and On‑Demand content for students and educators across the state.
Spanish Day — Monday, February 9
In partnership with ESU 5, districts connected LIVE during their regular class periods. Dr. Nick Ziegler (ESU 5) hosted the event, engaging approximately 1,100 students from more than 40 school districts. Guest speakers included:
- Kelly Garcia (ESU 5): Lista Lista—100 most frequent Spanish words
- Danielle Fulcher (Nebraska Languages Association, LPS): Spanish slang words and phrases
- Jim Chvala (NATSP President‑Elect, Palmer Public Schools): Nebraska’s pre‑statehood ties to Spain and France
- Dr. Sergio Pérez (Embassy of Spain): Hispanic countries’ contributions to American independence
- Haley Ourado (UNO): The importance of language learning and highlights of UNO’s programming
French Day — Tuesday, February 10
Hosted by Dené Oglesby (ESU 5), French Day brought together roughly 200 students from seven districts for a half‑day of LIVE cultural and linguistic exploration. Presenters included:
- Mary Clare Liescheski (UNO): A culinary spotlight on les macarons
- Caroline Hourdry (Villa Albertine Chicago): Francophone cultural connections
- Madison Sides (UNL graduate exchange student): Live from Paris sharing la vie parisienne
- Jerry Syslo (AFO Past President): The history of the Isigny‑Omaha sister cities
On‑Demand Activities
The remainder of the week featured an array of On‑Demand learning opportunities for German, Chinese, and World Cultures Day. NDE extends sincere appreciation to all presenters and content contributors.
Educator Webinars
Throughout February, NDE and the Nebraska Languages Association co‑hosted four World Language Week webinars for educators:
- February 3: Arabic as Lingua Sacra: An Intratextual Introduction (recording)— Dr. Abla Hasan
- February 18: FILL in the Blank – Preparing for Opportunities and Challenges in the AI Age (recording) — Tom Welch
- February 21: Effortless Engagement: Low‑Prep Activities to Get Students Speaking (recording) — Terri Wright
- February 25: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Best Practices (recording) — Dr. Nick Ziegler & Kelly Garcia
Student Recognitions
NDE proudly honored Nebraska students for excellence in world language learning:
- 46 recipients of the Distinguished World Language Scholar Award
- 33 recipients of the Student Language Spotlight Award
Certificates and the official news release will be issued in March.
Thank you to all educators who nominated students for recognition!
📅 Mark Your Calendar!
The celebration continues next year—
Nebraska World Language Week 2027 will take place February 8–14, 2027.We look forward to seeing Nebraska continue to promote Languages for All in the year ahead.
The 2026 NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements are now available to provide a clear, updated roadmap for achieving language and intercultural proficiency. This collaborative framework between the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages (NCSSFL) and ACTFL is designed to empower language learners to set meaningful goals and self-assess their progress along a continuum from Novice to Distinguished.
Aligned with the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024, these documents offer a comprehensive structure for tracking growth in both Communication (Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational modes) and Cultures (Intercultural Investigation and Interaction). For educators, these statements serve as a vital tool for writing learning targets and designing curricula that reflect real-world language performance.
Key features of the 2026 framework include:
- Proficiency Benchmarks: Overarching performance targets for major proficiency levels.
- Performance Indicators: Manageable steps for each sublevel (Low, Mid, High) to help learners chart their progress.
- Performance Examples: Concrete, real-life scenarios illustrating how language and cultural skills appear in social, academic, and professional contexts.
- Intercultural Reflection Tool: A specialized tool to guide learners through a three-step cycle of reflection to deepen their Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC).
By involving learners directly in the goal-setting process, the Can-Do Statements foster autonomy, motivation, and higher achievement. We encourage all educators, students, and partners to explore these documents and use them as a starting point for self-evaluation and long-term success. To access the 2017-2026 NCSSFL/ACTFL Can-do Statements, please go to this webpage.
As world language teachers, we already use brief moments to reset the room; this “level‑up” reframes those same 5–10 minutes as purpose‑built micro‑bursts tied to one can‑do—a single interpretive, interpersonal, or presentational move learners can accomplish and feel right away. When these bursts are intentionally designed (e.g., “Extract two details from a 20‑second authentic audio,” “Produce one precise sentence with a connector”), research syntheses report reduced cognitive load and higher retention/engagement for short, goal‑aligned learning units—precisely the quick, visible progress students need between longer tasks and units. 2026 trend scans for language teaching likewise elevate micro‑goals / micro‑mastery as a practical path to steady proficiency growth in WL classrooms. Emerging “trends 2026” roundups in language learning also highlight micro‑learning as a core design pattern alongside AI‑supported personalization and immersive practice.
What Counts as a Level‑Up?
A level‑up isn’t defined by time; it’s defined by precision. You keep the 5–10 minutes but shift the purpose to one clear micro‑objective that yields a tangible win (e.g., one TL sentence with a required connector; one inference supported by textual or visual evidence). Short, targeted units—sequenced across days or weeks—are consistently linked with better retention and greater engagement.
Quick, Classroom‑Ready Examples (5–10 minutes, one can‑do each)
🎧 Mystery Earworm (Interpretive Listening)
Play a 20–30 second authentic audio snippet (metro announcement, short ad, song hook). Learners note one word/phrase they caught and make one evidence‑based guess about the setting; partner check in TL.
Why it works: Bite‑sized, goal‑aligned listening taps attention efficiently and supports recall when repeated over time.-
🧩 Emoji Evidence (Interpretive → Presentational)
Show three emojis hinting at an image/text. Students write one TL prediction sentence; after you reveal the source, they revise for accuracy.
Why it works: Focusing on a single interpretive move builds micro‑mastery emphasized in 2026 language‑teaching trends. -
🎙️ Quick‑Turn Talk (Interpersonal)
Give a prompt (preference, comparison, plan). Students take a 20–30 second speaking turn, then a partner adds a connector (because/then/so) or a follow‑up question.
Why it works: Brief, intentional output increases engagement and supports memory without overload. -
🖼️ Caption Clash (Presentational Writing)
Display a compelling image. Students craft the best TL caption (concise, 1–2 sentences). Rapid vote: funniest / most accurate / most poetic.
Why it works: Focused output in micro‑formats boosts motivation and retention. -
🕵️♀️ Micro‑Detective Reveal (Interpretive Inference)
Reveal one corner of an image; students write one inference with evidence. Reveal the full image → learners level‑up the inference with one added detail.
Why it works: Curiosity‑driven, short interpretive cycles sustain attention effectively.
Make the Level‑Up Visible
Post the micro‑objective on the board (e.g., “Today’s level‑up: Give one opinion + one reason in a short TL turn.”). Visible micro‑wins—chained across days—embody the micro‑mastery emphasis and help learners track progress toward proficiency.
Why This Isn’t “Just a Transition”
The clock stayed the same; the purpose changed. A transition manages time. A level‑up engineers a micro‑gain—a short, evidence‑backed learning event that improves retention and engagement when carefully scoped to one outcome. Trend pieces for 2026 likewise position micro‑learning among the high‑impact practices shaping language classrooms.
References (APA 7th)
Abblino. (2025, September 11). Language learning trends 2026: The amazing future of language education is here. Author. (Trends roundup highlighting micro‑learning alongside AI/VR).
EdTech Mate. (2025, May 30). Microlearning in education: Trends and predictions shaping its future. (Definition; mobile‑first/adaptive/gamified micro‑learning; engagement drivers).
Guest, C. (2025, December 12). What language teaching trends should we expect in 2026? Pearson Languages. (Micro‑goals / “micro‑mastery” emphasis for planning and progress).
LearnersView. (2025). Why microlearning is the future of education (2025 guide). (Cognitive‑load rationale; reported improvements in retention and engagement with short, goal‑aligned design).
If you’d like, I can also regenerate the minimal visual to match this 20–30‑second framing and your brand palette.
When I reflect on my educational and professional journey, it’s clear that it all began with a decision that wasn’t even mine. It was my mom who chose to enroll me in the Dual Language Program at Gomez Heritage Elementary. Years later, I learned why. One day after Pre-K, I told her that my teacher had told me not to speak Spanish. For our family, with deep roots in Mexico, Spanish was never “just” a language. It was our culture. It was the language of my grandparents, my parents, and of our home. Giving it up was never an option.
That decision shaped my life. I remained in the Dual Language Program from kindergarten through 12th grade, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL) from Midland University. Today, I have the privilege of returning to Gomez Heritage Elementary as a bilingual second-grade teacher in the same Dual Language Program that once supported me. I provide daily instruction in both Spanish and English, giving my students the same opportunity I had to become bilingual and biliterate.
Gomez serves a largely Latino student population, and our students are able to develop literacy in the language of their culture without sacrificing their growth in English. Being bilingual has never closed doors for me. In fact, it has done the opposite. It has opened doors academically, professionally, and personally. More importantly, it has allowed me to connect with a community of people I might never have reached if I had listened to that teacher in Pre-K.
I don’t fault my former teacher. Like many people, I don’t believe she understood the value and long-term impact of bilingual education. While this story is my own, I know there are many others with similar experiences. Across every career field, bilingualism does not take away; it adds.
I am proud to serve the Dual Language Program and hope to continue doing so for many years to come. I look forward to witnessing the growth, success, and accomplishments of our students as they discover the power of their languages and identities.
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 2025-2026 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 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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