AFLA - Alaskans for Language Acquisition

Our Annual Conference “Cultivating Space, Growing Languages, Cultures, and Connections in Times of Uncertainty” took off last night in Talkeetna, Alaska.
Our Keynote Speaker, Kei Tsukamaki (2024 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year) delivered an inspiring session called “Advocacy and Visibility: Building Strong Language Programs at the Local Level”. Great conversations and meaningful interactions last night!
Exciting sessions coming up.

Congratulations to longtime language and linguistics educator and UAF educator, Sabine Seikmann!

🎉 Please join us in congratulating the 2025 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching, Research, and Service Award recipients for University of Alaska Fairbanks!

Franz Meyer – Distinguished Research Award
Renowned for advancing microwave remote sensing and leading groundbreaking satellite missions.

Sabine Seikmann – Distinguished Teaching Award
A dedicated and creative educator, inspiring students and supporting language and teacher development across Alaska.

Sean Walklin – Distinguished Service Award
Sharing his culinary expertise to strengthen community organizations and enrich student opportunities.

You can read more about this year's recipients at: https://www.uaf.edu/news/meyer-siekmann-walklin-named-2025-usibelli-award-winners.php

These awards are UAF’s highest honor, established in 1992 through the Emil Usibelli Endowment. Each year, they recognize faculty whose work exemplifies excellence in research, teaching, and service.

💛💙We look forward to celebrating these remarkable leaders at the 2025 UAF Blue & Gold Celebration on September 27! 🎫 Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.uaf.edu/blueandgold/

🌸Come visit our booth and say hello!🌸

We are excited to be part of the Cherry Blossom Festival again this year! We look forward to seeing you there👘✨

📣 Webinar Announcement: “Keeping Gaza’s Voice Alive” 🎙️

Join us for a powerful and deeply moving webinar featuring Alaa Radwan—a Palestinian translator, educator, and emerging writer—who will share stories from her upcoming book, a collection of firsthand testimonies from people living through the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Through storytelling, teaching, and translation, Alaa is working to preserve the voices and experiences of those too often silenced.

🗓️ Date: May 3
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM Cairo | 5:00 PM London | 12:00 PM New York | 8:00 AM Alaska
📍 Location: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScw4AioSdbl7RRFYiPxhOmfsDrRflITAfCoc-8LJ7ekSsJCWQ/viewform
💬 Live Q&A to follow

This is a rare opportunity to hear authentic stories of survival, love, grief, and resilience from Gaza—told with compassion and urgency.

📚✨ Don’t miss this important conversation.

🕯 WEBINAR | May 3. Speaker: Alaa Radwan Living Through Genocide: A Personal and Collective Story from Gaza

Alaskans, PNCFL 2025 Conference is happening in Anchorage the last weekend of April. Have you registered yet?

WAFLT attendees to : Have you purchased your ticket to the Saturday night reception at The Bridge Company?
Your support is appreciated for this joyful event. There will be many appetizers and beverages as we celebrate PNCFL's 2nd in-person conference. There is STILL time to register for the conference and this event. It's Alaska and it's on your bucket list.
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/pncfl2025
COFLTWill you join us?🥰
AFLA - Alaskans for Language Acquisition, it's your home base😍
, let's be friends!🤗
Idaho Association of Teachers of Language and Culture, we' re all eyes for you🥔
Wyoming Association of Language Teachers (WALT), we're riding with you🐴

World Language Teachers and Community Members, the 2025 PNCFL Spring Conference will be held in Anchorage this year. Check the link for details.

https://pncfl.wordpress.com/pncfl-conferences/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI2_g1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdXnOz__QFErt3NFcpVSZaBRsvCbskRpc60PIl1DiAe3w6TT1LiFzaZwBw_aem_s15r8f_cDANMOW09R-itjg

PNCFL Conference 2025 PNCFL Spring Conference: Anchorage, Alaska Join PNCFL for our 2025 Conference in Anchorage, Alaska at the Marriott Anchorage Downtown Hotel, April 25th-26th. Registration information Registrat…

Our conference could not have had a better start: Yo Azama was spectacular! His Joy, Curiosity, and Humankind-ness keynote kept the crowd engaged from the beginning to the end, on a Friday night!

We honored Janice Gullickson’s invaluable and inspiring contributions to the profession, which have significantly advanced our field and positively impacted countless colleagues and students. AFLA just renamed its “Friends of Languages Award” to “Janice Gullickson Friends of Languages Award”. Brandon Locke, ASD Director of World Languages, was in charge of announcing this change.

We are getting ready to check you in!

AFLA Conference Attendees:
Avoid commuting and stay in Downtown Palmer, October 25 - 27.
Get to know our scenic, friendly town in the heart of the Matsu Valley!
The following Palmer hotels are partnering with AFLA to make your stay
comfortable and affordable.

The Valley Hotel
Room choice - one queen or two twins
Rooms have mini fridge & TV
24-hour restaurant
Attached pub
Other restaurants and cafe’s closeby
Cost: $89 per night (tax exempt)
https://akvalleyhotel.com/
Must CALL and mention AFLA 907-745-3330

The Colony Inn
Room choice - one queen or two twins
Quaint & quiet- historic teachers dorms circa 1935
No restaurant attached
Near the Alehouse
About 2-3 blocks from other cafes
Check-in at the Valley Hotel first
Cost: $99 per night (tax exempt)
https://akvalleyhotel.com/
Must CALL and mention AFLA 907-745-3330

The Pioneer Motel
One room suites with a kitchenette
Motel-style, recently updated
At the bottom of the hill near Palmer High
About 3 blocks from downtown
Cost: $106 per night
https://thepioneermotel.com/
Must CALL and mention AFLA 907-745-3425

The Pioneer Motel - The Pioneer Motel Rooms & Reservations The Pioneer Motel The Pioneer Motel has been a part of downtown Palmer, Alaska since 1953. With 8 convenient cabins and 18 beautifully remodeled guest rooms, we are the most updated motel in Palmer. This year, we once again earned the honor of being the highest rated lodging in....