ODU Language Learning Center

Kick off your first day of summer at Planet Word! On June 20, we’re celebrating Juneteenth with a full day of local authors, book signings, arts and crafts, food, a performance by West African drum ensemble Versatile Soundzz, and a Karaoke Kickback Lounge to close out the night — hosted by award-winning poet and Hip-Hop educator Tony Keith, Jr.

Get tickets: https://planetwordmuseum.org/events/4th-annual-juneteenth-literary-jubilee-black-author-book-fest/

Westhill students recognized for being bilingual A ceremony was held to recognize 103 students who earned the Seal of Biliteracy. It's a special seal from the state that is placed on a diploma to signify that a student speaks another language other than English.

📈 ! Congress will soon consider FY27 funding levels for the World Language Advancement and Readiness (WLARA) grant program.

WLARA is the only federally funded program dedicated to supporting K–12 world language education. Since 2021, Congress has invested more than $78.8 million in WLARA grants to military-connected schools to establish and expand innovative world language programs. To date, the grants have supported 33 public school districts across 19 states in languages including ASL, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.

In previous years, the House has been supportive of WLARA, including last year when it restored a $5 million budget cut. WLARA’s proven academic track record makes this a perfect space to expand opportunities to military-connected families.

⚠️ Help show our support for WLARA by contacting your Congressmembers now: https://bit.ly/3PQbwB8.

Language Learning & Technology Special Issue (Volume 30, Issue 2) now available!

We are pleased to announce that our LLT Special Issue on Emotional CALL (Volume 30, Issue 2) is now available in full at https://lltjournal.org. The special issue is guest edited by Mariusz Kruk and Mirosław Pawlak. This special issue includes an introduction by the guest editors, an emerging technologies column, and nine featured articles:
https://www.lltjournal.org/collection/col_10125_113395/

Please visit the LLT website to read more and be sure to sign up to receive your free subscription if you have not already done so. Also, we welcome your contributions for future issues. If you have questions about this process or wish to submit a manuscript, please check our guidelines for submission at https://www.lltjournal.org/submission-guidelines/

LLT is supported by the Center for Language & Technology and the National Foreign Language Resource Center (NFLRC) at the University of Hawaiʻi.

Join us at Planet Word for a full lineup of June programming — find the calendar and tickets at planetwordmuseum.org/events.

🗣 Language & Liberty: The Power and Privilege of Women’s Public Speech | June 2, 6–8 p.m. Acclaimed historian Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust traces women’s voices in American history from the Declaration of Independence to today.

🧩 Wordplay Wednesday | June 3, 5–8 p.m. The ultimate happy hour and game night — crafts, word games and puzzles, a pop-up bar from Immigrant Food, and more.

🎵️ Ella Jenkins: The First Lady of Children’s Music Sing-Along | June 6, 12–1 p.m. An interactive family sing-along celebrating the legacy of children’s music pioneer Ella Jenkins led by Grammy-nominated percussionist and music educator Dante’ Pope.

📚️ Sing-Along and Book Talk Celebrating Ella Jenkins, the First Lady of Children’s Music | June 6, 4:30–6 p.m. Explore Ella Jenkins’s groundbreaking influence on children’s music with Dante’ Pope, GWU Professor Gayle Wald, and international recording artist and teaching artist Debórah Bond.

📖 Sunday Storytime — June 14, 10–11 a.m. Kids and their grownups join children’s librarians from DC Public Library for songs, read-alouds, and activities.

🪘️ 4th Annual Juneteenth Literary Jubilee & Black Author Book Fest — June 20, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Kick off your summer with a celebration of Black authors, culture, community, and the power of words and language.

Advocacy starts with a story.
The JNCL-NCLIS Student Advocacy Academy helps students find theirs—and learn how to share it.
How will your advocacy story begin? Join us for the JNCL-NCLIS Student Advocacy Academy
👉 Learn more:https://bit.ly/4eKB2lr

The registration deadline is Friday, May 29!

Learn more and register: https://carla.umn.edu/institutes/2026/schedule
2026 CARLA Summer Institutes:
ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS INSTITUTES
* Seals of Biliteracy: Establishing and Expanding Programs in Schools or Districts
* Secondary Dual Language Immersion: Achieving the Promise of Continuation Programs
* Curating Language in the Wild: Social Media as Classroom Text
IN-PERSON INSTITUTE—on the University of Minnesota campus
* Planning Social Justice Lessons: Critical Pedagogies in Action

📢The Department of Labor, which now manages the Department of Education’s Title III funding, has announced “National Professional Development Program” grants to support professional development for those serving multilingual learners. Applications are due on July 14th for the upcoming school year.

According to the Department, between 10 and 13 grants will be awarded, ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. The Department also provided key information on its scoring guidelines, including a requirement to focus on professional development to “improve classroom instruction” and “meet high professional standards.”

Two preferential priorities were also announced, including a 5-point boost for evidence-based literacy programs and a 10-point boost for projects implemented by Indian Tribes or otherwise endorsed by State officials.

Learn more here: http://bit.ly/4v9RLTZ

Learners