MaFLA Conference 2023
Building Global Perspectives Through the Power of Language

October 26-28, 2023
Sheraton Springfield
Monarch Place Hotel

REGISTRATION TO ATTEND MAFLA 2023 IS NOW OPEN!

MAFLA is very happy that we will once again be back together in person at the MAFLA 2023 Conference. The Conference will offer engaging sessions and workshops, networking opportunities, an exhibition hall with numerous vendors, and the chance to forge meaningful connections with other educators of Italian.
MAFLA is committed to making this conference an unforgettable experience that will bring our community together once again. Don't miss this opportunity!  See you in Springfield!

ITALIAN SESSIONS AT MAFLA

Join us for a diverse lineup of Italian sessions at MAFLA, featuring engaging topics led by expert educators and colleagues:
  • Andiamo al museo: Exploring Art in the Language Classroom, Melina Masterson, UMass Amherst.
 
  • From Andiamo to Bravo: Connecting, Building, and Celebrating Italian Programming in Massachusetts, Ivana Marroncelli, Italian Consulate, Boston.
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  • Increasing global citizenship through cross-cultural connections and proficiency buildup abroad, Silvia Dupont & Justin Evans, Newton North High School.
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  • Teaching Italian Cuisine and Culture Through an Interdisciplinary Lens, Maria Succi-Hempstead, Smith College; Morena Svaldi, Mount Holyoke College.
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  • Italiano Inclusivo - Guidelines for Expressing Gender Identity in the Italian Classroom? Nicole Chalifoux, Medford High School.
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  • "AATI-MA Chapter Member Meeting,",  Morena Svaldi, Mount Holyoke College.

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MaFLA 2023 Keynote Speaker
Fred Kudjo Kuwornu 
Filmmaker Producer Activist Scholar Educator Author of: "Documentary for Social Change," "Diversity Digital Culture in Italy," "Black Italy"

WORKSHOP
In addition to the regular conference, please, consider attending a 3-hour workshop on Friday morning. 

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Mediation and Linguistic Diversity in the Language Classroom
Gina Maiellaro, Northeastern University


October 27, 2023
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Mediation, as outlined by the CEFR, involves learners acting as social agents to bridge communication and facilitate the construction of meaning using various languages or modes. Mediation is a strategic process that encompasses emotional, cognitive, social, and cultural intelligence, all of which are essential for language use in diverse real-world contexts. Finally, mediation plays a pivotal role in facilitating successful plurilingual/pluricultural interactions.
Join our workshop to acquire essential knowledge of mediation in language learning and its practical classroom applications.
  • Explore the role of mediation in the language acquisition process
  • Revisit the importance of mediation in plurilingual education
  • Survey the CEFR mediation scales and how they apply to the ACTFL Intercultural Competence benchmarks
  • Discover diverse approaches for implementing mediation techniques and strategies in your classroom
  • Explore language ideologies and stereotyping in Italian and how linguistic diversity contributes to the broader notion of social justice
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Teaching materials are provided in both Italian and English and can be adapted for other languages.