Please read Cohort Descriptions carefully so that you register for the most appropriate training.

Beginning Acquisition-Driven Instruction (ADI)

You belong in a Beginning cohort if any of the following apply to you:

• You have no previous experience with training in acquisition-driven instruction (ADI). 
• You have attended previous trainings, but have yet to implement it.
• You do not completely understand how to accomplish ADI.
• You understand ADI but cannot implement it yet.
• You are interested in learning how to more immediately apply a variety of fundamental skills and techniques for facilitating acquisition.

Advanced-beginning Acquisition-driven Instruction

You belong in a Advanced-Beginning cohort if any of the following apply to you:

• You understand acquisition-driven instruction but cannot consistently implement it.
• You have previously attended a multi-day training in acquisition-driven instruction in which you experienced a demonstration ADI in a less commonly taught language.  (i.e.: iFLT, regional CI conference or multiple shorter ADI/CI trainings).
• You have attempted to implement various comprehension-based readers or curriculum with(out) success.
• You have started to explore the topic of acquisition-driven instruction on your own through books, blogs and social media.
• You are somewhat new to the principles of second language acquisition and how they inform instruction.

Intermediate-low Skill Level

You belong in Intermediate LOW if you use ADI less than 50% of the time in your classroom, to facilitate language acquisition but have not yet gained enough skill or confidence to make those approaches your own/to develop your own style.

 You are interested in further developing the following ADI skills:

Comprehensibility

• Establishing meaning
• Providing repeated exposure to language structures in an interesting way
• Implementing a variety of strategies to keep input comprehensible
• Sustaining interaction using comprehensible language (meeting ACTFL’s 90% target)

Connecting with Students/Personalizing

• Connecting to text/conversations through personalized questions
• Asking questions to establish a positive teacher-student relationship
• Asking questions to help students get to know each other
• Using non-verbal feedback (i.e., nodding, smiling, using gestures, etc.)
• Listening for an answer and using the information to drive the conversation

Building Community

• Establishing and maintaining an all-inclusive environment
• Using new information to build community
• Establishing procedures to create a positive environment
• Training students to respond in supportive and appropriate ways 

Keeping things interesting

• Asking varied, interesting questions
• Using actors and props

Intermediate-mid Skill Level

You belong in Intermediate MID if you use ADI more than 50% of the time in your classroom, with fairly consistent success. Choose this level to expand your skills and make them an inherent part of your instructional practices.

 You are interested in further developing the following ADI skills:

Comprehensibility

• Providing repeated exposure to language structures in an interesting way
• Implementing a variety of strategies to keep input comprehensible
• Sustaining interaction using comprehensible language (meeting ACTFL’s 90% target)

Connecting with Students/Personalizing

• Connecting to text/conversations through personalized questions
• Asking questions to establish a positive teacher-student relationship
• Asking questions to help students get to know each other

Building Community

• Establishing and maintaining an all-inclusive environment
• Using new information to build community
• Establishing procedures to create a positive environment
• Training students to respond in supportive and appropriate ways 

Keeping things interesting

• Asking varied, interesting questions
• Using actors and props
• Using questions to inspire HOT (higher order thinking)
• Using (whole or in part) authentic resources in a comprehensible way
• Using content to inspire interest in the world around you
• Using stories to inspire interaction in the target language.

Intermediate-high Skill Level

You belong in Intermediate HIGH Cohort if ADI is an inherent part of your instructional practices and you implement it with consistent success.  You are close to being experienced enough to teach it to others, but would like to continue to refine your skills before you venture into training others.

 You are interested in further developing the following ADI skills:

Comprehensibility

• Using language that stretches students’ comprehension
• Circumlocuting; breaking down ideas in the TL
• Rephrasing for comprehension
• Providing repeated exposure to language structures in an interesting way
• Implementing a variety of strategies to keep input comprehensible
• Sustaining interaction using comprehensible language (meeting ACTFL’s 90% target)

Connecting with Students/Personalizing

• Asking clarifying questions
• Asking differentiated questions based on student ability
• Facilitating class conversations – knowing who can answer what and how
• Building Community–establishing and maintaining an all inclusive environment
• Do weekend chat and other chats
• Traditional PQA–ask questions that will be used in the future

Building Community

• Establishing and maintaining an all-inclusive environment
• Using new information to build community
• Establishing procedures to create a positive environment
• Training students to respond in supportive and appropriate ways 

• Keeping things interesting

• Adding appropriate humor
• Incorporating story-asking strategies
• Keeping interactions rich with target language culture
• Encouraging other points of view
• Asking varied, interesting questions
• Using questions to inspire HOT (higher order thinking)
• Using (whole or in part) authentic resources in a comprehensible way
• Using content to inspire interest in the world around you

Intermediate-Elementary

You belong in an Intermediate- Elementary cohort if your primary teaching assignment is with K-6 students and you use various CI-based approaches (at least 50% of the time)  to facilitate language acquisition and would like to expand your skill or confidence to make those approaches your own/to develop your own style.

 You are interested in further developing the following ADI skills as they apply to young students:

Comprehensibility

• Establishing meaning
• Providing repeated exposure to language structures in an interesting way
• Implementing a variety of strategies to keep input comprehensible
• Sustaining interaction using comprehensible language (meeting ACTFL’s 90% target)
• Using language that stretches students’ comprehension
• Circumlocuting; breaking down ideas in the TL
• Rephrasing for comprehension
• Asking clarifying questions
• Differentiating questions

Connecting with Students/Personalizing

• Connecting to text/conversations through personalized questions
• Asking questions to establish a positive teacher-student relationship
• Asking questions to help students get to know each other
• Using non-verbal feedback (i.e., nodding, smiling, using gestures, etc.)
• Listening for an answer and using the information to drive the conversation
• Facilitating class conversations through differentiated questions
• Do weekend chat and other chats
• Traditional PQA–ask questions that will be used in the future

Building Community

• Establishing and maintaining an all-inclusive environment
• Using new information to build community
• Establishing procedures to create a positive environment
• Training students to respond in supportive and appropriate ways 

Keeping things interesting

• Asking varied, interesting questions
• Using actors and props
• Using questions to inspire HOT (higher order thinking)
• Using (whole or in part) authentic resources in a comprehensible way
• Using content to inspire interest in the world around you
• Using stories to inspire interaction in the target language
• Adding appropriate humor
• Incorporating story-asking strategies
• Keeping interactions rich with target language culture
• Encouraging other points of view
• Asking varied, interesting questions
• Using questions to inspire HOT (higher order thinking)
• Incorporating  authentic resources (whole or in part) in a comprehensible way
• Using content to inspire interest in the world around you

Experienced Skill Level

Leadership/Mentorship Strand  

In this cohort, you will focus on refining advanced skills in ADI, including 

• Differentiating ADI
• Sustaining continuous interaction in comprehensible language
• Knowing what students can do at various proficiency levels

• Building community–establishing and maintaining an all-inclusive environment

• Adding appropriate humor
• Keeping interactions rich with target language culture
• Encouraging other points of view

Participants will also work on developing skills for the purpose of mentoring peers and transitioning colleagues and departments to ADI.  Preparing and presenting sessions for local, state, and regional events and conferences will also be at the heart of the leadership/mentorship cohort experience. You will receive guidance from experienced trainers on writing proposals, preparing content for presentations and presenting skills in general. In addition, you will learn how to coach colleagues to reach their full potential as an acquisition-driven instructor.