Abstract: 

Interpersonal communication affects the hearts, minds, and actions of individuals as they function in the everyday social world (Braithwaite, Schrodt 2015). This workshop focuses on interpersonal communication strategies and activities that enhance instructional practices. Participants will discover and practice applications and techniques to increase their students’ engagement in developing interpersonal speaking skills. Designed to equip world language teachers with strategies and activities aligned with the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Interpersonal Communication standard, this workshop explores practical methods to enhance students’ abilities to engage in meaningful, real-life conversations—both spoken and written—in the target language. Participants will discover activities where students follow guided conversations, focusing on key communication skills such as asking questions, providing feedback, and sustaining dialogue. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to see how AI tools can streamline lesson planning and instructional design. By seamlessly combining the latest research with practical, hands-on activities, this workshop ensures educators leave with effective strategies and tools to immediately boost student engagement and communication in their classrooms.

About the Presenter:

Cecile Nedellec (she/her), Ph.D., is the 2025 Teacher of the Year for the California Language Teachers’ Association (CLTA), and in May she will receive the Leadership Award in Biliteracy from the San Diego County Office of Education, Multilingual Education and Global Achievement, for which she was nominated by the San Diego Unified School District. Cecile’s passion for supporting and mentoring teachers led her to earn a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. Her doctoral dissertation is titled “Teachers’ Understanding of Differentiated Instruction in Swiss Elementary Schools.” Cecile began teaching languages (French and English) in 2005. She currently teaches all levels of French at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego, where she also serves as the World Languages Co-Department Chair and as a member of the SGT and ILT teams. In 2009, she became a California World Language Project (CWLP) Fellow. Since 2009, Cecile has been mentoring teachers, and in 2021, she became an instructor for the UCSD Department of Extended Studies induction program in partnership with her district (San Diego Unified School District). Since 2015, Cecile has contributed to the planning and implementation of activities for the Southern Area International Languages Network (SAILN) at SDSU. She coordinates project resources and liaises with stakeholders to collect and disseminate project information. She also serves as the SAILN Strand A lead and provides support to the other leads.