Training and Instructional Support

Free Training on the Voces Platform

Do you need training on how to use the Voces platform? These online sessions are ideal for those who have an active, paid subscription to Voces and have specific questions about how to use the materials and tools. Complete this form to choose the topics and schedule a time, and we'll be in touch with confirmation soon after! Here are some of the topics you can get free training on:

Instructional overview
Creating classes and adding students
Assigning
Grading
Editing
Platform features and settings (like the Game Center, Account Settings, etc.)

Instructional Training

Do you need instructional training on how to implement the Our Story curricula? Are you and your department looking for training on Comprehensible Input (CI) techniques and Acquisition-Driven Instruction (ADI)? These online training options offer convenient, in-depth instructional guidance on CI and ADI by some of the best trainers in the industry!

Look over the instructional training options below and then call or email us to schedule!

Cost: $500 base fee + $100/participating teacher
Average Run Time: 3 hours

We offer three versions of this session, based on the group's overall experience and familiarity with CI/ADI. Participants will be expected to complete a survey prior to participating in the presentation. The results of this survey will be used to determine the version we provide.

In this session, deep dive into the what, why, and how of Comprehensible Input and Acquisition-Driven Instruction. First, we focus on the science behind CI and ADI and how understanding the connections between our brains and second-language acquisition can help us teach more effectively. Then, we'll unpack specific tools in the Our Story curriculum, like TPR, story scripts, PQAs, and the stories themselves, and talk about how you can use those materials to produce Comprehensible Input and provide Acquisition-Driven Instruction. This session will include explanation and demonstration, as well as opportunities for teachers to try the techniques for themselves in small groups (using breakout rooms).

Cost: $300
Average Run Time: 1 hour

Choose one topic from the list and enjoy a targeted one-hour training session on that topic, using examples from Our Story.

A Story from Beginning to End: Get a breakdown of techniques you can do before, during, and after a story. This overview will use a story from the level, language, and Our Story title you choose.

Talking with Students: Learn key techniques for getting students talking and listening in the target language while staying comprehensible. We'll touch on using the PQA scripts and ready-made activities in Our Story, as well as approaches you can use anytime when talking with students.

How to Teach a Novel: Get a breakdown of techniques you can do before, during, and after reading a novel with a class. This overview will use a novel from the level and language you choose.

Using Videos and Images in the Classroom: Videos and images are powerful tools if you know how to use them, and there are many videos and images within Our Story—from the Netflix series Go! Vive a tu manera to the interview-style videos to the country-specific photos at the beginning of each unit. In this one-hour session, we'll discuss best practices for using videos and images to provide compelling, comprehensible input to your students.

Finding Success with Authentic Communicative Tasks and Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs): The authentic tasks and IPAs in Our Story stand out as challenging, real-world scenarios that call upon students' creativity and fluency, not just with the language but with the cultures about which they are learning. This session will show you how to utilize the authentic communicative tasks within every unit to prepare students for the IPA and will also touch on best practices when administering an IPA.

Customized In-Person or Virtual Group Training

If you and your colleagues need a more tailored, in-depth experience, or if you're looking for on-site, in-person training, then contact us to start planning! We have a team of experienced trainers and instructional coaches to give you and your colleagues the inspiration and insight they need.

Virtual group training:
Cost: $1000 base fee + $100/participating teacher
Average Run Time: 3 hours

In-person group training:
Cost: starting at $5000 (for those in the continental US)
Average Run Time: 1 school day

We will meet with you for up to an hour before the training to determine what specific topics to cover, pertaining to what languages and levels. From there, we'll create a customized session. Please note that the group lead will be expected to complete a survey before scheduling to help us narrow down what topics to cover. If we aren't equipped to provide the training for those topics or believe those topics won't require this intensive type of training, we'll inform you then, prior to payment or any additional investment of time.

*For additional options and pricing, contact us at 1-800-848-0256 or [email protected].

The Hub: Free Support for the CI/ADI-Based Classroom

The Hub is your go-to place for support and supplements for the CI/ADI-based classroom. It was created to provide training and support to teachers who use the Voces curriculum series, Our Story (Notre histoire, Nuestra historia, Unsere Geschichten, and Nostra storia). However, much of the information at The Hub is useful to any world language teacher, especially those who are familiar with Acquisition-Driven Instruction (ADI).

The Hub is free to all teachers. Everyone is welcome! If you have a subscription to Voces and want to access The Hub, then log in to any title, go to settings, and add The Hub from the drop-down menu of available titles. If you don't have a subscription and want to access The Hub, then sign up for access here.

The Hub contains a wealth of training and support materials, including:

a complete library of video tutorials on key techniques for ADI.
activities to use with pictures, cultural resources, story scripts, and other world language resources (including those in Our Story).
ideas on using Voces-specific games and other games creatively.
additional ADI-based resources on everything from using music and podcasts in the classroom to classroom conversation and routines. These additional resources were created by Voces collaborators, including Marta Ruiz Yedinak, JJ Epperson, Allynn Lodge, and Eric Richards.
the complete instructional video collection, "How to Teach for Language Acquisition" by Gary DiBianca, which provides strategies for making target language comprehensible for your students using the resources within Our Story.
information on additional training and conference opportunities.

Keep in mind that The Hub will grow over time, with more tutorial videos, additional activity ideas, and other support added as needed.

We hope you find The Hub to be a welcoming, inclusive, and educational experience.

If you have questions about The Hub, including its purpose, the contents within it, or anything else, email [email protected].

A Teacher's Guide to Our Story

"A Teacher's Guide to Our Story" is part "how-to" manual, part personal narrative, part invitation. It puts forth overarching ideas related to teaching through the use of stories and the Our Story curriculum and addresses important details concerning the first days and weeks of school. It contains guidance on lesson planning and assessments, as well as reflections on the teaching of grammar and culture. It also includes personal anecdotes from the classroom. While the guide offers a road map for teaching language, it is also meant to encourage teachers to teach their own way and embrace their own journey. "A Teacher's Guide to Our Story" is written for teachers who aim to bring their complete selves to the classroom, by another teacher who is striving to do the same.

Learn More Order Your Copy Today

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Voces® is the registered trademark of American Eagle Co., Inc., for print and digital textbooks and resources. "Nuestra historia" and "Notre histoire" are trademarks of American Eagle Co., Inc. This work is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. Unauthorized reproduction, including reproduction of the work in its entirety or in part, is expressly prohibited. Voces® may not be copied, duplicated, or stored on any server or electronic device. All Voces® content, unless otherwise stated. Copyright 2001–2024 American Eagle Co., Inc.