Jessica Godburn, M.S.
Elementary Methodology Instructor
Jessica has spent more than 20 years sharing her love for languages and cultures with elementary students as a world language educator. Fascinated by the ways in which young learners acquire language, she is committed to creating engaging, student-centered environments where language is used for authentic and meaningful communication. She values the creativity, imagination, and play that are essential to early language learning and continually seeks innovative ways to help students connect language to real-world experiences. A strong advocate for early language instruction, Jessica believes that beginning language study in the elementary years gives students the greatest opportunity to develop confidence, proficiency, and a lifelong appreciation for multilingualism.
Jessica holds a B.A. in Spanish from The College of Wooster and an M.S. in TESOL from Southern Connecticut State University. In addition to teaching Spanish as a world language, she also teaches English to multilingual learners. She is passionate about supporting educators in creating inclusive, engaging learning experiences for their students, partnering with families, and recognizing the unique strengths and experiences every child brings to the classroom.
Join me in one of my courses!
Course Description
One of ACTFL’s guiding principles is to “Use Authentic Texts”, but implementing this with our youngest and most novice learners can be challenging. This course will explore how to create effective and meaningful learning experiences in the elementary world language class through zooming in on six different types of authentic materials (photos and art, music, picture books, games, videos, and virtual field trips and authentic correspondence). Throughout this course, we will gather and examine an abundance of authentic resources that can be used in elementary world language classes and develop strategies to make these resources comprehensible, educational, and enjoyable in the K-5 classroom. To avoid a purist mindset, we will also examine the important role of non authentic texts. We will do this in an asynchronous virtual setting via a variety of instructional technology applications. Conducted in English.
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Course Delivery
Instructor-Facilitated
Online asynchronous (no live sessions) coursework
Weekly learning modules to complete at your own pace
Collaborative discussion boards
Instructor feedback
Optional office hours with the instructor for additional support
Students in an instructor-facilitated course must adhere to the session start and end dates listed on the website. Final coursework must be submitted within one week after the course end date. Course extensions beyond one week are subject to a $50 fee.
Course Access Information
Your Idioma Schoology course invitation will be emailed one week prior to the start of an instructor-facilitated 6-week course. You may access the Idioma Schoology login from the Login > Idioma Schoology Login dropdown menu at www.idiomaconsulting.com.
Required Textbook
This course will also explore a variety of resources including scholarly articles, websites, blogs, and podcasts about authentic texts, as well as the authentic texts themselves. Please note, the teacher-shared authentic text resource bank will be in Spanish, but all language teachers are welcome.
About the Instructor
Jessica Godburn, Instructor. Read more about Jessica here.
Click here to request a syllabus.
Course Description
Elementary schoolers are not high schoolers (they are half the size!), but much of the professional development for world language teaching centers around older students. With the essential early language text book, “Languages and Learners: Making the Match'' as our guide, we will define the elements of a great elementary world language class and learn to plan for proficiency starting in Kindergarten. To do this, we will explore how and why to develop standards-based thematic units and lessons. We will gather ideas, tools, strategies, and learning activities from each other and the broader elementary world language community, and use thematic planning to give these context and meaning. There will also be space to collaborate and strategize around everything that makes our job unique- from the very abbreviated attention spans of our learners to the infamous cart with which some of us travel. We will do this in an asynchronous virtual setting via a variety of instructional technology applications. Conducted in English.
Course Delivery
Online weekly learning modules, collaborative discussion boards and instructor feedback. This course is not self-paced.
Students who matriculate into an Instructor-Facilitated course should adhere to the dates listed on the website. Final coursework should be submitted within one week after the course end date. Course extensions beyond one week are subject to a $50 fee.
What participants are saying about this course
Be the first to share your feedback!
Required Textbook
This course will also explore a variety of resources including scholarly articles, websites, blogs, and podcasts about authentic texts, as well as the authentic texts themselves.
About the Instructor
Jessica Godburn, Instructor. Read more about Jessica here!
Click here to request a syllabus.