Did you know that there are actually TONS of PD options available that are specific to world language teachers? Both in-person and online conferences are happening all the time! I wanted to create a round up of different places you can go to learn and improve. Check out this list of professional development for world language teachers!

Just a note for you, I am in the Midwest, so my knowledge is a little biased towards regional conferences near me. I tried to find and add national and regional conferences that aren’t near me, but I’m sure I missed some that I’ve never had the chance to go to because of the distance. If you notice something missing from the professional development for world language teachers list below, drop me a comment so I can add it to the list. Thanks!

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Professional Development for World Language Teachers

Online Opportunities

Sometimes it’s hard to get approval for a sub or help with expenses to travel, so I wanted to start by sharing a round up of online learning opportunities for professional development for world language teachers. If you know of a conference that I missed, please drop a comment below and let me know so I can add it!

World Language Teacher Summit

This is a virtual conference that takes place in October. Here’s info for each year:

• World Language Teacher Summit 2023
• World Language Teacher Summit 2022
• World Language Teacher Summit 2021
• World Language Teacher Summit 2020
• World Language Teacher Summit 2019

CI Reboot

This conference takes place online during the summer. Check out info here!

The Global Seal of Biliteracy

The Global Seal of Biliteracy is putting on YCred on demand from Oct 23- Nov 10. This is free to attend for teachers AND students. Learn more here!

University of Wisconsin – for Heritage Teachers

In Wisconsin (but online, so serves folks from all over the U.S.), the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater offers low-cost online professional development webinars, workshops, and workshop-series for heritage language teachers. Check out their resources here!

Hybrid Conferences

A hybrid conference offers in-person as well as online opportunities. There aren’t a ton of these that I’m aware of, but some of the state organizations I’ll list below might do some of these, too!

IFLT

This conference is a hybrid conference that takes place in the summer. In the past, the in-person portion has happened in Michigan. Check out their website here for more info!

In-Person Conferences

There are many in-person conferences throughout the year! Below I’ll list the regional and national conferences I am aware of. If I’ve forgotten or missed any, please let me know!

AATSP

American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese is a national organization. You can check out more info here!

ACTFL

ACTFL hosts an in-person conference that moves around the country. This is usually mid-November. Check out details on their conference for this year here!

CI Midwest

Comprehensible Midwest, as you might guess, takes place in the Midwest. This has been in November the past few years. Check out their website for details on this year’s conference here!

Comprehensible Iowa

This is an in-person conference that happens in the summer in Iowa. Check out the info for the next conference here!

CSCTFL

Central States is the Midwestern regional organization. Learn more about their conference here!

Mitten CI

Mitten CI is an in-person conference that takes place in Michigan, usually in the spring. Learn more here!

NECTFL

Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is a regional organization in the northeast. Check out their conferences and info here!

NNELL

NNELL is for K-8 educators so if you have littles and middles, check out their info on professional development here!

Pacific Northwest PNCFL

PNCFL is in the regional organization of upper northwest of the United States. Here’s their page with info on their regional conference!

SCOLT

Southern Conference on Language Teaching is a regional organization in the south. Check out their info here!

SWCOLT

The Southwest Conference on Language Teaching is a regional world language teachers’ organization that hosts an annual conference. Click here to check out their info!

How to Make the Most of Professional Development for World Language Teachers

Let’s be honest. It is one thing to go to a session or conference, but it is another to walk away with something you can actually use in your classroom next week. That is why I always recommend having a simple note-taking system before diving into any professional development for world language teachers. Whether it is a paper notebook or a digital doc, keep space for ideas you want to try, links to resources, and reflection questions like “How would this look in my classroom?” or “Could this be adapted for Spanish 1 or 2?”

Taking a few minutes to reflect right after each session can help solidify the learning and spark ideas. And if you attend virtually, remember to pause, rewatch, or even share clips with colleagues to discuss. That is part of what makes this kind of professional development for world language teachers so powerful, it is not just about consuming info, it is about creating connection and growth.

State Organizations

There are many state organizations! Below I’ll list the organizations and links to their pages. If you are anywhere near the state, I highly recommend giving their page a follow, since they often offer amazing professional development for world language teachers throughout the year.

• Alabama – AWLA
• Alaska – AFLA
• Arizona – AZLA
• Arizona – CERCLL
• Arkansas – AFLTA
• California – CLTA
• Colorado – CCFLT
• Connecticut Council of Language Teachers – CT COLT
• Delaware – DECTFL
• Florida – FFLA
• Georgia – GSU CULTR
• Georgia – FLAG
• Hawaii – HALT
• Idaho – IATLC
• Illinois – ICTFL
• Indiana – IFLTA
• Iowa – IWLA
• Kansas – KWLA
• Kentucky – KWLA
• Louisiana – LFTLA
• Maine – EMME
• Maryland – PEARLL
• Massachusetts – MAFLA
• Michigan – MWLA
• Minnesota – CARLA
• Minnesota – MCTLC
• Mississippi – MFLA
• Missouri – FLAM
• Nebraska – NILA
• Nevada – PLAN
• New Hampshire – NWAHLT
• New Jersey – FLENJ
• New Mexico – NMOLE
• New York – NYSAFLT
• North Carolina – FLANC
• North Dakota – FLAND
• Ohio – OFLA
• Oklahoma – OFLTA
• Oregon – COFLT
• Pennsylvania Modern Language Association – PSMLA
• Pennsylvania, Montgomery County – MCATFL
• Rhode Island – RIFLA
• South Carolina – SCFLTA
• Texas-Brazos AATSP Chapter
• Texas – TFLA
• Utah – UFLA
• Vermont – VLFA
• Virginia – FLAVA
• Washington – WAFLT
• West Virginia – WVFTLA
• Wisconsin – WAFLT
• Wyoming – WALT

More Professional Development for World Language Teachers

Like I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I know more opportunities pop up all the time! And – I am SURE there are more state organizations I didn’t find in Facebook groups and things like that in my searching. Please, if you know of more opportunities, drop me a comment so I can add them to this post and hopefully make it easier to build connections with those around us!

Turn PD Ideas into Real Classroom Wins

One of the best things you can do after attending professional development for world language teachers is to try one small thing right away. Not everything at once. Just one strategy, one tool, or one mindset shift. If something excited you, test it out and see how your students respond.

Maybe it is a new way to introduce vocabulary. Maybe it is a framework for planning more input-rich lessons. Whatever you choose, the goal is to keep your momentum going and avoid the classic “I’ll try it later” trap. Share your experience in your next department meeting or on social media. When we keep sharing, adapting, and experimenting, we grow—not just as teachers, but as a community.

Save this post for later!

Spanish Teachers on Social Media

Remember, you don’t have to go to an organized conference to learn from other teachers! Check out my post here on places to connect on social media.