Faculty/Staff Detail

Robert Ponterio, Modern Languages Department, with Professor Emerita of International Communications and Culture Jean LeLoup, U.S. Air Force Academy, and William Heller, SUNY Geneseo, were the recipients of the Anthony J. Papalia Award given at the annual conference of the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers (NYSAFLT) for an outstanding article on foreign language education. Their article, “Cultural Perspective in the Language Classroom: Providing a Meaningful Context for Communication,” was published in the NYSAFLT Language Association Journal, Vol. 61, No. 3, 11-36, and is available online in the Language Association Journal archives.

Ponterio also received NYSAFLT’s Dorothy Ludwig Memorial Award for Outstanding Service for work on the Foreign Language Teaching Forum (FLTEACH); the Civilisation Française website supporting Marie Ponterio’s work on that project; the Bien Dit! high school French textbook series with Marie Ponterio and other authors; and numerous articles and workshops for professional development of language teachers.

Ponterio, Mark Warford, Buffalo State College, and Dawn Santiago-Marullo, Victor Central School District, presented a session at the NYSAFLT Annual Convention in Rochester on Oct. 16. In “Teaching in the Target Language: Issues and Answers,” they examined pathways to implementing the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages guidelines for teaching at least 90 percent in the target language at all levels of language instruction. They explored the theoretical underpinnings and implementation strategies from the perspectives of administration, schoolteachers and teacher training, with a focus on classroom practice and the student.