FLIEC provides foreign language teacher training according to the guidelines by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) on how to implement the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentative modes in the classroom. Training sessions provide specific examples on how to teach languages immersion style, how to use the most efficient foreign-language teaching techniques, how to measure learning outcomes, how to motivate children to learn foreign languages and how to work with parents so as to nurture the child's interest in other languages and cultures at home. Finally, FLIEC training offers teachers many ideas and resources to incorporate culture to the teaching of foreign language so as to make students not only linguistically competent but culturally savvy as well.
Dr. Patricia Schiaffini has over twenty years of experience teaching foreign languages in the US and China. She offers teacher training about effective foreign-language education to K-12 teachers and university instructors, as well as consulting services to kindergarten centers and schools interested in internationalizing their curricula. A mother of trilingual children herself, Dr. Schiaffini also advises parents who want to raise multilingual and multicultural kids.
Testimonials
"Dr. Schiaffini presented to my group of Spanish Lunch Bunch teachers on best practices for teaching a second language to elementary-aged children. She outlined best practices of what to teach in a lesson, different methodologies, and ideas on how to relate to students through humor, fun, and most importantly, through incorporating cultural practices into each lesson. Her extensive teaching experience and passion for her students makes her a wonderful resource for language teachers of students of all ages. The information she shared got us all on track to start the semester with new ideas and refreshed enthusiasm for our classes!"
-A.S. Spanish Lunch Bunch, Austin TX
"I have known Dr. Schiaffini since 2013. She is an expert in teacher training, specially gifted to inspire and guide new teachers starting in the field of foreign language teaching. Her energy and optimist motivate us to become better teachers and improve our performance in the classroom. She is up to date in research and current methodology, and she always has new resources to share so we find the most useful materials and activities. What I appreciate the most is that she always finds the perfect piece of advice to help us solve specific problems. Dr. Schiaffini listens to you more as a friend than as a professional, and the feedback she provides motivates you to improve as a teacher and to develop self-confidence. Moreover, her ability to switch among the languages she masters is amazing, she is a true inspiration to me."
-P.D. ESL teacher and Spanish Language instructor, Georgetown TX
"Dr. Patricia Schiaffini advised me on practical teaching methods that were appropriate for elementary children. She was always available for help when needed. She consistently gave important feedback that helped me to develop my foreign language teaching skills. Dr. Schiaffini is a very skilled teacher trainer with a vast knowledge of teaching styles and their efficiency levels."
-M.M.O., part-time foreign language instructor, Georgetown, TX
"Dr. Schiaffini (FLIEC) has conducted many training sessions throughout the school year to help us language teachers develop teaching techniques, improve problem solving skills, and evaluate teaching materials. With her educator’s point of view and experience, her feedback was always very useful and practical. I adopted many of the techniques she taught us to improve my own teaching techniques and materials."
-H.L. , language teacher, Enrichment Language Programs, Georgetown, TX
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