No images? Click here
Were you forwarded this newsletter? Sign up to receive it here.
Newsletter - December 2025
Dear all,
The next LCTL Book Club session is coming up this month! See below for more details!
New to our newsletter? Explore our projects in our three core areas of professional development, open resources, and strategic collaboration on our website!
Check out other events on our joint LRC calendar (also linked below under PD Opportunities and Resources).
Updates
Designing Effective Language Learning Materials: a Book Club and Learning Community
This academic year, the NLRC professional learning community will join a reading group facilitated by ACTFL's LCTL Special Interest Group (spearheaded by our very own Emily Heidrich Uebel, Associate Executive Director of the NLRC).
Professional learning community participants will join the reading group sessions and then meet with NLRC facilitators on a few separate occasions to supplement those discussions and work on implementing suggestions and themes from the book.
The first session of the book club was in October, and the second session will be in December. Please register if you’re interested!
__
The book club is focused on Designing Effective Language Learning Materials for Less Commonly Taught Languages, authored by Öner Özçelik and Amber Kennedy Kent.
The second reading group session will take place on:
- 🗓 Date: Thursday, December 11
- 🕓 Time: 3:00 PM Eastern Time (2pm Central, 1pm Mountain, 12pm Pacific)
- 📍 Location: Online via Zoom
- 🔗 Registration Link: https://msu.zoom.us/meeting/register/RCe_LQ31R0C2-NLfx7qwyA
During this session, the reading group will discuss Chapters 3-5, exploring how to design LCTL materials with purpose and clarity.
--
If you’re interested in the extra NLRC sessions, please reach out to us at nlrc@msu.edu and we’ll make sure you’re on the list to contact for the supplementary sessions!
New "Language Advocacy Resource Center"
Did you see the news that ACTFL created the Language Advocacy Resource Center (LARC)? It has advocacy materials for educators, students, families, and the general public. This includes everything from an advocacy idea bank (organized into easy-to-manage windows of time, from 5-minutes activities to more complex efforts), a language program crisis checklist, a comprehensive organizational contact directory, and materials such as a media kit that includes ready-to-post social media drafts, graphics, and a printable classroom flyer.
Free Consulting/Coaching
with the NLRC
Did you know that the NLRC offers FREE consulting/coaching?
Do you or your language department want to talk through something related to LCTL teaching or learning? From grant writing feedback to proficiency-based teaching, from online language learning to OERs, you can book time with the NLRC to gather resources, get feedback, and process ideas about the teaching and learning of LCTLs.
Don't hesitate to reach out to us to book an initial 30 minute call!
OER Textbooks from MSU
We have a wide range of OER (Open Educational Resource) LCTL textbooks published at MSU. OER Textbooks are a great form of accessible teaching and learning, for all subjects and languages! MSU and the NLRC will continue to promote and provide resources for LCTL teachers and students. Check them out here:
NLRC Social Media Highlight
As the weather turned colder here in Michigan, we started feeling the fall vibes! November was Native American Heritage Month, and we spent time thinking about all of the Indigenous languages that could use more support! We celebrated World Children's Day and the language sponges that children are! We also wished all of our friends a happy and restful Thanksgiving.
Check out our social media pages for more updates!
PD Opportunities and Resources
To view all current LRC offerings in an aggregate format, please see this calendar:
Many of our fellow Language Resource Centers and National Resource Centers (and some of our collaborative partners) have their own professional development opportunities. This section highlights some recent opportunities/resources.
CERCLL's Intercultural Competence Conference with the theme of "Intercultural Competence in a Rapidly Changing World: Supporting Sustainable Futures for All" will be in Tucson, Arizona, from February 27-March 1, 2026. Remote attendance is possible. Registration should be open soon and early bird registration rates end January 5, 2026!
The NFLRC is offering their "Envisioning Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL)" self-study course for language educators. A digital badge is available for candidates fulfilling course requirements. Registration and the content for this MOOC (massive open online course) are FREE: Registration open till May 31, 2026 Course open: January 5 – June 30, 2026.
COERLL announced several recent projects, including a plan to revitalize their award-winning Français interactif OER textbook and a new Quechua curriculum!
CARLA has teamed up with ACTFL to provide language educators with professional development and practical resources on program evaluation. Check out a webinar (January) and workshop (March) on the topic!
