SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TODAY: Google Form
The Coccia Institute and the Italian Program at Montclair State University (NJ) invite you to submit a proposal for Teaching Italian XVIII to be held on Friday, October 17.
Language education requires embracing a more holistic approach that enhances program visibility, sustainability, and relevance. Teaching Italian has primarily focused on curricular evolution and pedagogical innovations. With Teaching Italian XVIII, Toolkit italiano: Building Innovative Pathways to Success, we take a new direction by inviting proposals that explore creative, out-of-the-box strategies for strengthening Italian programs.
There is a critical gap in language education professional development that addresses program growth and sustainability. Educators need practical toolkits that empower program visibility, enhance student engagement, and forge meaningful connections between the classroom and broader institutional and community contexts. Such tools can help programs expand their reach and establish their role in creating globally competent, culturally aware students.
Teaching Italian is seeking leaders for three (3) workshops (workshops may be co-led) that provide actionable frameworks for expanding the reach and impact of Italian programs. Workshop proposals should highlight frameworks for K-12 Italian programs that have demonstrated measurable results, including success metrics such as enrollment growth, increased retention, enhanced community partnerships, secured funding, improved student outcomes, and/or participation in nationally recognized programs (such as AP Italian). The goal is for educators to leave with a robust toolkit that will elevate the reach and impact of their Italian program.
Proposals should address one of the following contexts:
- Strategic Program Development: Approaches for setting strategic goals, identifying growth opportunities, and building sustainable Italian programs that respond to institutional priorities and student interests.
- Community Engagement and Partnerships: Strategies for connecting Italian language programs to local, national, and international communities, including dual enrollment programs, and partnerships with the Italian community. This could include industry partners, cultural organizations, and alumni networks.
- Advocacy Initiatives: Effective methods for promoting Italian language programs within schools, districts, and communities to secure funding, resources, and institutional support for program sustainability and growth.
- Career-Connected Language Learning: Frameworks for integrating career-readiness skills into the Italian curriculum and highlighting the value of Italian language proficiency across diverse professional sectors.
The objectives of the workshop leader(s) are to:
- Work within the current critical context of language education to develop comprehensive resource toolkits that can be immediately implemented across diverse levels and institution types
- Co-create adaptable program-building strategies that address various institutional settings, from K-16, with scalable approaches for programs of different sizes and resources
- Facilitate engaging discussions on increasing program visibility and impact through authentic connections to industries, communities, and career pathways
Share your expertise and help us build a toolkit that will in turn build our language programs, empowering administrators, educators, and learners alike to invest in Italian across the U.S.A.
For participating in Teaching Italian, the Coccia Institute will offer an honorarium to workshop leaders.
To submit a proposal, please complete the form https://forms.gle/TpVg9SCXPvHt28EV9
DEADLINE: Sunday, May 25, 2025.
Accepted proposals will be notified by Monday, June 16, 2025.
For further information about our previous 17 programs, please visit: https://www.montclair.edu/modern-languages-and-literatures/programs-of-study/italian/teaching-italian-symposium/
We welcome any questions and look forward to your submission.