Now that I am a few days post-Institute, here are some random summative thoughts:

• Technology can be a huge motivator – it can be the hook for some educators. They are interested in the technology and how it can be used for teaching, learning, creating, practicing, sharing, supporting.   Voicethread, wikis, blogs – all were motivating creative environments for one reason or another.
• One huge message we tried to get across – it really isn’t about the technology but rather what you can do with it. So many of today’s technologies create opportunities to share, support, create – leveraging them is key.
• Too many teachers are still isolated in their district, building, and classroom.
• Multilingualism is a gift – knowing another language provides insight into the soul of another culture. Language and culture are precious gifts.
• Teaching is not a linear process, nor is planning. Sure, we can start with the end in mind, but during the planning process we move through various layers and ideas regarding formative and summative assessments, creative and interesting ways to practice and create experiences in our classrooms, etc. Teaching and learning are definitely more like an image map than a timeline.
• Topic does not equal theme.  So often our textbooks and activities are topically organized, but that is not the same as theme. Topics=clothing, numbers colors. Theme=poverty, hunger, global citizenship in a 21st century. We are too often stuck at the topic instead of looking beyond to the theme.

I hope the participants have used the experiences to challenge old ideas, to create new ideas, and to explore the possibilities of teaching and learning a world language in the 21st century.

Cindy leading a demo lesson, Juan está triste. This part of the lesson is answering the question, ¿Por qué está triste Juan? Porque un ratoncito come su queso.

What I find interesting about this comment is here we have a presidential candidate who himself has second language experience (Indonesian) and third language experience (Spanish, which I understand is at a novice level). Here we have a candidate who appreciates and understands diversity and cultural differences. I’m wondering if this is signaling a shift in America politics. For so many decades our county has had the attitude of “if you want to do business with us, learn our language.” Perhaps this call is a recognition that if the United States wants to do business with the rest of the world, and understand the rest of the world, and develop tolerance for the rest of the world, perhaps we can start by speaking the languages of the rest of the world.

We’ve seen a shift in attitude due to national security. After 9/11, when the government discovered a backlog of untranslated documents, a lack of second language speakers in our citizenry, suddenly in the name of national security there is interest again in world languages.

In business, the saying was “speak the language of your customer.” Well here in the US, we have many products we are trying to sell abroad as our dollar weakens – our products are now bargains. Who are our customers? Who is interested in buying our goods? Now, perhaps, we can have a shift in part due to economics and in the name of understanding our fellow human beings.

I’m thinking this election is going to set the stage for many years to come. What kind of world are we going to have for our children and how are we going to prepare them for it?

I know my thinking is richer because I also speak Spanish, and I have had the opportunity to live in Mexico and Peru. I hope we can create a world where other languages and cultures are treasured, honored, and respected – languages and cultures within the United States as well as throughout the world.

Photo credit: Automania