This document outlines a plan for organizing regional World Language Days and a statewide competition. It discusses the goals of strengthening connections to high school students and teachers, demonstrating the institution's global mindset, and advocating for world language learning. The regional events would involve competitions, workshops on languages and culture, and a closing ceremony awarding certificates. The vision is to create a network of these regional days culminating in a state competition in Richmond to recognize the best students.
1. Dr. Marcel P. Rotter | University of Mary Washington
WORLD LANGUAGE DAYS
2. 1. What is World Language Day? (45’)
• Who?
• What?
• How?
2. How organize your own World Language Day (60’)
• Create the framework in your region, collaborate with colleagues
3. Present your work
4. The Vision: a state-wide network of regional World Language Days
with a culminating state competition in Richmond (15’)
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
3. Its aims are:
• to strengthen the connections with and reach out to high school
students and their FL teachers
• to demonstrate how UMW as an institution thinks globally
• to make world languages visible to the community
• to advocate world language learning in general
WHAT IS WORLD LANGUAGE DAY?
4. 8:30 am – 9:00 am
– Anderson Center
Students will arrive with their teachers on the UMW campus and proceed to Anderson Center where
they will receive orientation packages and lunch bags. Early arrivals can take advantage of our
continental breakfast buffet.
9:00 am – 9:15 am
Dodd Auditorium
Greetings from the department. A spokesperson from the department will describe the day’s events.
9:30 am – 10:30
pm Combs Hall
Competitions (Spelling Bee, Extemporaneous Speech, Poetry, Posters, Video/Skits) When not
competing, students may see the poster exhibition or the video screenings. In addition, they may visit
information tables.
10:30am-12:30pm –
Combs Hall
Workshops! Learn new languages, listen to fascinating accounts from people who lived abroad, learn a
craft.
12:30-1:30 p.m –
Anderson Center
Closing Ceremony After some presentations by UMW students, certificates will be given to all
participating schools and awards will be presented to the winners of the day’s competitions.
THE DAY’S EVENTS
6. Workshops
• Other languages (Arabic,
Italian, Chinese, Korean)
• Study abroad experiences
• Crafts (Schultüten, friendship
bracelets, …)
Competitions
• Spelling Bees
• Extemporaneous speech
• Poetry Recitations
• Music Videos
• Posters
two levels of competition:
intermediate and advanced
WORLD LANGUAGE DAY
7. Prizes
• Give-aways from Embassies
and cultural centers (Goethe
Institut, Alliance Francaise,
Instituto Cervantes)
• Certificates (best in each
category/level, best overall
school)
Food
• Breakfast (donated)
• Lunch (before awards
ceremony) - charged
Exhibitors
• Help defray cost
• Sometimes donate prizes
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
8. Personnel
• Language instructors and native
speakers from community for
Spelling Bees and Extemporaneous
Speech
• Advanced students for Poetry,
Posters, DVDs
• Lower-level students as ushers,
tour guides, “accountants”
• Anyone qualified - workshops
Website
• Use Google website or
Wikispaces as website (if
possible – institutional website
to avoid blockers in schools)
• Use Google forms for signup
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
14. August /
September October November December January February March Day of WLD
• Build
Committee,
• Set date for
WLD
• Create Web
page
• Secure room
and funding
• Create/
update rules
• Contact
schools,
teachers,
presenters
• Invite
dignitaries
• Contact
embassies&
cultural
centers for
prizes
• Send out
reminder
emails to
schools
• Request
facility
services
• Contact
caterer
• Set menu with
catering
• Monitor
website
• Receive,
deposit (nag
for) checks
• Assign Rooms
• Assign
workshops
• Print room
signs and
certificates
• Train
volunteers
• Confirm
workshop
leaders
• Arrive early
• Hang room
signs
• Place rules in
rooms
• Assign
“accounting
Office”
• SHOWTIME
TIMELINE FOR PLANNING
15. • Find a partner from the same
general geographic area
• Work on the worksheets
• Present your preliminary plan
HOW CAN YOU ORGANIZE A WLD?
16. • A culminating state
competition in Richmond in
April
• Best students compete against
each other
• Winner will be recognized in
the press
• Sponsors could award prizes
• A state-wide network of
regional World Language Days
• Students compete in respective
languages and levels, regional
winners are sent to Richmond
for the finals
THE VISION:
