Instructor: Michele Whaley

Biography: Michele Whaley has taught languages in Alaska for more than thirty years. She has mentored teachers for the last fifteen, sharing methodology techniques locally, nationally and internationally at language conferences and workshops. A recent focus is on preserving indigenous languages. Michele believes that languages open our eyes to new ways of thinking and communicating, and she works to find and share the most effective techniques for language acquisition. Michele was the 2016 Pacific Northwest Language teacher of the year and she was a national finalist in 2017. She teaches Russian at the University of Alaska and kindergarten through fifth-grade Spanish at Pacific Northern Academy in Anchorage. She has been part of COSSI since its inception.

Classes by this instructor

COSSI Group A (Levels 1 & 2): Beginning Low-Beginning Mid

This blended level course is for students with no previous, or just a brief introduction of Spanish. Intensive language instruction with an emphasis on developing basic communication skills in Spanish. This course will introduce students to the present tense, fundamentals of verb conjugation and basic sentence structure. Students will learn greetings, expressions of courtesy, and other useful beginning vocabulary. It will introduce conjunctions and basic prepositions for combing sentences. It will focus on the alphabet, pronunciation differences between English and Spanish, including stress and writing accent marks.
June 24-27, 2024 | 9:00am-4:00pm | Redmond

LinguaFest @ COCC: Rethinking the Power of Language

Calling all second language teachers in need of a refreshing change! Join our groundbreaking conference designed exclusively for educators who've faced burnout and are seeking innovative solutions. Discover how to use language to inspire joy and build strong classroom communities, with authentic teaching labs showcasing revolutionary strategies. Engage in interactive workshops, dynamic presentations, and collaborative sessions to challenge your practices and gain firsthand knowledge of the latest research. Connect with like-minded teachers to fuel your professional growth and reignite your passion for second language teaching. Together, we shape the future of language acquisition on a transformative journey. LinguaFest attendees are eligible for 2.4 Continuing Education Units with a minimum 90% completion rate. Certificates will be mailed to students after the event.
July 1-3, 2024 | 8:30am-4:30pm | Redmond