Description:

Learn how to engage students in authentic language acquisition through the process of Discover, Understand, Use in this resource-packed and experiential in-person, live session. Language learners take the front seat, steering their way towards proficiency, embracing challenges, and enjoying the rewarding journey of mastering a new language via the DUU cycle. Discovery of language allows students to grasp the fundamental rules and structures of the language they are studying through authentic resources and natural contexts; collaborative opportunities for students to explore and understand these concepts leads to greater retention; and multiple occasions to use the new language equips students with the practical experience that readies them to take their skills on the open road!

Presented by:

Aubrey Swisher

Enthusiastic secondary-level Spanish teacher, world language department advocate, and advisor of Spanish National Honor Society at Boonsboro High School in Maryland, Aubrey Swisher celebrates diversity as she equips her students with broadened perspectives, compassion, and global competence. She is a teacher-leader, collaborator, and curriculum writer who demonstrates her passion and admiration for the Spanish language and cultures by creating cultural contexts for every theme, making use of authentic realia to present vocabulary and grammar in context while introducing students to the products, practices, and perspectives of different countries. With 15 years of teaching experience at the secondary level, she teaches levels 1-AP Spanish Language & Culture in addition to being adjunct faculty at Hagerstown Community College. Aubrey was recently named the 2023 Maryland World Language Teacher of the Year.

Aubrey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and English from Saint Vincent College, Diploma of Advanced Hispanic Studies from Universidad de Salamanca, Global Seal of Biliteracy, and a Master of Arts in Instructional Design & Technology from West Virginia University. She is currently pursuing National Board Certification. Aubrey is a contributing author and participant in case studies for Klett World Languages. She is a candidate for the Secondary Representative on the 2024 American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Board of Directors.

Caroline Schlegel

Caroline is a master Spanish educator committed to students, professional development, and advocacy. She was named Washington County Public Schools 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year and was also the 2019 Maryland World Language Teacher of the Year. Caroline understands that language and culture are the keys to making connections across complex ideas with cultural proficiency. She believes professional development and mentorship are integral in sustaining quality programs. She was awarded Salisbury University’s 2013 Mentor Teacher of the Year and was the recipient of the 2016 Marchan Ball Outstanding Co-teacaher award. Caroline presents across the nation to build a community of practice to connect and lead teachers through collaboration. She contracts as a Quality Assurance Analyst for the Maryland State Department of Education, ensuring that the world language curriculum aligns with ACTFL Standards and Core Practices, is a dual-enrollment adjunct professor at Hagerstown Community College, and currently serves as the Vice President of the Maryland Foreign Language Association.

Caroline holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Salisbury University, an Advanced Hispanic Studies Certificate from La Universidad de Málaga, and is a recipient of the Global Seal of Biliteracy.

What is “A/Cquisition?”

A/Cquisition is a collaboration between two award-winning Spanish teachers, Aubrey Swisher and Caroline Schlegel, whose purpose and passion is to make a difference together in their classrooms and beyond. Authenticity and Context drive their lessons. If you see the A/Cquisition stamp in the corner, you know that the materials & plans have been co-planned, co-created, co-edited and actually taught in the classroom!

Over the years, A/Cquisition has expanded its network while presenting for Maryland Foreign Language Association, American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, ACTFL, Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Fellowship of Language Educators of New Jersey, Foreign Language Association of Virginia, Mid-Atlantic Association for Language Learning Technology, and Association for Language Learning in the United Kingdom.

Together as A/Cquisition, Aubrey and Caroline are webinar presenters for Klett World Languages and have been guests on the Language Lounge podcast sponsored by Wayside Publishing. They have been featured by Code.org for their exemplary cross-curricular lesson development.