Virtual
Project Proficiency For All Levels: It's Not Just AP
The Galápagos: From Awareness to Action
One project. One authentic topic. Different proficiency levels. Different ways to move from awareness to action.
How can one meaningful, authentic project develop proficiency for every learner, at different levels and in different languages? This workshop uses the Galápagos Islands and the challenge of ocean plastic as a model for proficiency-based learning from Novice through Intermediate and Advanced, including AP.
Originally developed for AP Spanish, the Galápagos project has been expanded into a framework for different levels and different languages, with materials in Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Japanese. Participants will see how the same authentic topic, resources, and essential questions can be adapted by changing expectations, language demands, tasks, scaffolds, and student products, while the theme and purpose stay the same. Following the progression From Awareness to Action, learners move from identifying and describing to explaining, comparing, interpreting perspectives, analyzing evidence, and proposing solutions.
The ACTFL 3 Ps Framework (Products, Practices, and Perspectives) is at the center, connecting conservation, biodiversity, tourism, and sustainability to intercultural learning at every level. Authentic student work, including posters, presentational speaking, poetry, and advocacy projects, shows students creating meaningful work for an authentic audience.
Participants will experience activities as learners in the language they teach and leave with ready-to-use materials, including IPAs, group projects, and ACTFL-aligned rubrics, all aligned with the 5Cs, the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements, and the three modes of communication. A project does not have to be limited to AP, or to one language, to be rigorous, authentic, and meaningful across different levels and different languages.
Ximena Quesada is a Spanish language educator and educational leader with more than 25 years of experience at New Brunswick High School in New Jersey, where she has taught Spanish across multiple levels, including AP Spanish Language and Culture, Spanish for Heritage Speakers, Spanish Literature, and novice and intermediate courses. Her work centers on creating culturally responsive, inclusive, and meaningful language-learning experiences that connect students with the world beyond the classroom.
Throughout her career, Ximena has contributed to curriculum development, assessment design, teacher preparation, and professional development. Her instructional practice is grounded in ACTFL standards and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for World Languages, with an emphasis on authentic resources, differentiated instruction, performance-based assessment, and global awareness. She has supported and mentored aspiring educators through teacher preparation programs at Rutgers University and Kean University, including New Jersey’s Alternative Route Program. She currently serves as a FLENJ Mentor, continuing her commitment to supporting educators and strengthening the world language teaching profession.
Her professional contributions have been recognized throughout her career, beginning with the Knights of Columbus Teacher of the Year Award (2012), followed by the Xperitas / AATSPNJ Teacher Award (2025). In 2026, she was selected as a participant in the White House History Teacher Institute and honored as the FLENJ Teacher of the Year. She was also selected for the 2026–2027 Student Literacy Leaders Teacher Mentor Cohort through The Leaders Readers Network, reflecting her continued commitment to literacy, mentorship, and educational leadership.
Ximena continues to contribute to the world language education community through professional learning, mentoring, and presentations. Her work reflects a belief that language education extends beyond communication: it provides students with opportunities to understand different perspectives, make connections across cultures, and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
Purchase Orders: If paying by purchase order, the purchase order must be received by FLENJ no later than 14 days before the event (January 28, 2027), or your registration will be canceled. Please email manager@flenj.org if you have any questions.
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Foreign Language Educators of New Jersey