L2TReC Utah

On April 22, 2026, the University of Utah College of Humanities proudly recognized Lissie Ah Yen with the Staff Excellence Award!

“Lissie is the very definition of Staff Excellence, and I cannot imagine someone more deserving of this year’s award.” — Prof. Devin Jenkins, Director, L2TReC

Lissie consistently goes above and beyond in her role at L2TReC, while also lending her expertise across the college in faculty travel, budget management, and program coordination. And on top of it all, she works as an Associate Instructor teaching Samoan! We are thrilled to celebrate her dedication, impact, and outstanding work!

🎓✨ Calling all Bridge Program educators!

Join us for the 2026 Bridge Program Institute, our annual kickoff to the university–high school co-teaching partnership for the 2026–27 school year.

This essential institute focuses on teaching and learning for upcoming Bridge Program 3117 courses and provides important opportunities to stay aligned with program expectations.

📌 Important reminders:
🔹 Attendance is required for all instructors planning to teach Bridge courses next year
🔹 Earn K–12 USBE Credit
🔹 Work toward (or complete!) your DLI Endorsement—three years of attendance meets state requirements

Connect with colleagues, prepare for the year ahead, and strengthen your impact in the classroom. 🌟📚

July 29th - 31st, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM | UofU Campus

Learn more here: https://l2trec.utah.edu/news/2026-summer-bridge-institute.php

🀄✨ Calling all K–12 Chinese educators!

Join us for the 2026 Chinese Bridge 3117 Curriculum Workshop, an online, university-level session designed to support you in preparing for the upcoming academic year.

This workshop will walk you through the 3117 Bridge Program curriculum, helping you better understand course structure, expectations, and key resources—all while engaging in meaningful language practice and cultural learning.

June 24th, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Online

Connect, prepare, and start the year with confidence from wherever you are! 💻🌏

See more info here: https://l2trec.utah.edu/bridge-program/news/2026-chinese-language-teacher-workshop.php

📚✨ Calling all K–12 Spanish educators!

Join us for the 2026 Summer Spanish Language Teacher Workshop, a university-level experience designed to deepen your cultural knowledge and strengthen your language practice—all taught en español.

This year’s workshop features two dynamic sessions led by expert faculty:
🔹 Dr. Devin Jenkins explores the evolution of Spanish—from Classical Latin to today—and how language change can enrich your teaching.
🔹 Dr. Gary Atwood-Méndez takes you on a journey through ballads, epics, and heroes across centuries of Spanish and Latin American literature.

Engage with meaningful content, connect with fellow educators, and bring fresh perspectives back to your classroom.

June 22-25, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | UofU Campus

Register Now: https://l2trec.utah.edu/news/2026%20Spanish%20Workshop.php

✨ Calling all K–12 French educators!

Join us for the 2026 French Language Teacher Workshop, a four-day immersive experience entièrement en français designed to deepen your cultural knowledge and strengthen your classroom practice.

Led by Dr. Anne V. Lair (University of Utah) and Mme Michèle Harward (Canyons School District), this year’s workshop will:
🔹 Explore the new NCSSFL-ACTFL 2026 standards
🔹 Put culture and interculturality at the heart of your teaching
🔹 Revisit proficiency—how to assess it and help students grow
🔹 Share practical resources and strategies you can use right away

Connect with fellow educators, refine your approach, and leave inspired for the year ahead.

Venez passer quatre jours en français avec nous! 📚

June 8-11, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00PM | UofU Campus

Have you ever had une expérience onirique—a dreamlike experience? ✨

The French adjective onirique evokes the surreal, fleeting quality of dreams, often associated with imaginative or fantastical imagery. The term originates from the Greek word ὄνειρος (óneiros), meaning “dream,” and is paired with the French suffix -ique, meaning “pertaining to.”

Beyond its literal sense, onirique is used to describe anything that feels unreal, ephemeral, or dream-infused, particularly in literature, art, and film.

To our French speakers and learners: how might you use onirique to describe a moment, place, or artistic work?

🎉🐴 Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧✨

February 17 marks the start of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival—a time to celebrate fresh beginnings and new possibilities. Each Lunar New Year is symbolized by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, bringing its own unique energy into the year ahead.

✨ 2026 is the Year of the Horse ✨
The Horse represents passion, energy, and transformation. After 2025—the reflective and introspective Year of the Snake—the Horse invites us to embrace movement, change, and bold action.

It’s a year for momentum, courage, and chasing what inspires you.
What intentions are you setting for the new year? 🐎💫
Tell us—what action are you ready to take?

📢 Event Update: Our first L2TReC Speaker Series event, originally scheduled for October 15, has been rescheduled to November 5.

Join us for an afternoon of thought-provoking discussion and light refreshments as we kick off this exciting series!

🗓️ Mark your calendars—we look forward to seeing you there.

Meet Ann Fillmore, one of L2TReC’s dedicated Research Assistants! 👩‍🏫

With years of experience teaching writing and a passion for second-language pedagogy, Ann brings a unique perspective to our work on learner corpora and Spanish language research.
Learn more about her journey, research, and what inspires her work with L2TReC ⤵️
https://l2trec.utah.edu/news/meet-ann.php

📖✨ Word of the Day Wednesday: 老师 (lǎoshī) ✨📖
[lao-shr] – noun
Meaning: Teacher 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫

🧧 Etymology:
老 (lǎo) – “old” or “respected”
师 (shī) – “master” or “teacher”
Together, 老师 is a title of deep respect and wisdom, honoring those who pass on knowledge and guide others.

🎓 From calligraphy to calculus, teachers hold a sacred role in Chinese culture — not just as educators, but as life mentors.

💬 Who has been a “lǎoshī” in your life?

#老师