What is a cohort? And why do I need to know?

Your cohort is your community – your home – for the week of The CI Summit. When you register for the conference, you will make your cohort selection based on what you feel is your level of understanding and expertise in acquisition-driven instruction (ADI). The cohort teams will prepare for you a week’s worth of training, collaboration, and coaching to fit the descriptions of those cohorts. The content will be personalized to your level, but not necessarily individualized to you and your distinct needs.

Click here to go directly to the cohort choices for the 2024 CI Summit.

Here’s what to expect each day during cohort time:

• Training—The Cohort Team will demonstrate and explain specific ADI techniques and/or elements.
• Collab/debrief—In smaller groups, the Team Coaches will answer questions, give guidance about how to navigate the conference, and take care of the group’s needs. You will have a chance to ask questions specific to your needs during this time as well.
• Small group training—The team will deconstruct what you saw in the large group session, breaking it down, explaining key elements, etc.
• Small group coaching—The team will offer guided practice of those skills you saw (and other skills that you choose) and help with your specific questions and concerns needed for growth during the week.

And, if you’re still looking for more personalized support, there will be Open Coaching. Members of the Coaching Team will gather in a designated room to help you fine-tune your skills, answer your questions, and give you guidance. You could have one-on-one time with your coach (arranged ahead of time) or with another member of the Coaching Team.

Everyone, no matter their cohort level, will also enjoy these experiences throughout the week:

• Observe language labs, which are language classes with local students led by master ADI teachers.
• Attend a variety of ADI sessions, representing different perspectives on ADI/CI, led by highly experienced ADI practitioners.

Since each cohort is individualized to a specific level and designed to progress in skill and nurture community throughout the course of the week, we ask that you stay in your chosen cohort all week and do not move from one cohort to another.

If you need help choosing your cohort, read the descriptions below and then try this self-placement survey.

LEVEL 1
You are at an early stage of your journey in acquisition-driven instruction (ADI).

Choose this cohort if you:

• Have little or no previous experience with training in (ADI).
• Are new or somewhat new to the principles of second-language acquisition and how they inform instruction.
• Have had varied success implementing ADI.
• Want to build foundational skills in ADI and gain confidence as you make ADI your own.

As a member of the Level 1 Cohort, you will not only experience the support, sessions, and labs like the other cohort members, but you will also:

• View a demonstration of a less-commonly taught language.
• Receive supportive training targeted towards those who are new to ADI techniques.

LEVEL 2
You are finding your own way in ADI and want to take your skills to the next level.

Choose the general Level 2 Cohort or, if you are an elementary teacher, choose the Elementary Cohort.

Choose this cohort if you:

• Have ADI as an inherent part of your instructional practice and you implement it with consistent success.
• Have a working knowledge of the principles of language acquisition and how they inform instructional practice.
• Are interested in implementing ADI instruction more naturally with more ease and consistency, and less stress.

As a member of the Level 2 Cohort, you will not only experience the support, sessions, and labs like the other cohort members, but you will also:

• View demonstrations of advanced ADI techniques.
• Receive supportive training targeted towards those transitioning to more advanced ADI techniques in the classroom.

LEVEL 3
You are very experienced in your teaching with ADI.

Choose this cohort if you:

• Are well-versed in Acquisition-Driven Instruction (ADI) and the hypotheses of Stephen Krashen, and use these methods and techniques consistently in your classroom.
• Can easily sustain comprehensible and engaging interaction in the target language.
• Can engage in interpretive and interpersonal modes of communication through communicative events that are natural, engaging, and conducive to SLA.
• Can consistently see evidence of acquisition and proficiency growth in your classroom.
• Have skills that are solid enough to share and model strategies for colleagues.
• Have enough knowledge to explain and/or defend your instructional practices.

At this level you will have 3 options to choose from.

1. Topics in Acquisition-Driven Instruction: work with a variety of leaders in our field on topics that are important in your teaching situation.
2. Elementary Teachers: For anyone who teaches the littles.
3. Teaching Upper-Levels: For anyone who teaches advanced levels of your TL, i.e. Levels 3 and up, Pre-AP, AP, IB, etc.

LEVEL 3 Topics in Acquisition Driven Instruction

Choose this cohort if you are interested in working with other experienced ADI teachers to find ways to enhance their teaching.

As a member of the Level 3 Topics Cohort, you will not only experience the support, sessions, and labs like the other cohort members, but you will also:

• Discuss the principles of Language Acquisition and the Acquisition-driven Instruction (ADI).
• View demonstrations of advanced ADI techniques.
• Spend time exploring topics of interest to your level of expertise, e.g., curriculum development, assessment in an ADI classroom, classroom management, advanced story-asking, and more!
• Participate in roundtables and Q & A sessions with leaders in our field

LEVELS 2 or 3: Elementary Training Cohort

Choose this training cohort if:

• your primary teaching assignment is with K-6 students.
• you use various CI-based approaches to facilitate language acquisition.
• you would like to expand your ADI skills as they apply to young students.

LEVEL 3: Teaching Upper-Levels

Choose this level cohort if:

• You would like to refine your skills at teaching upper-level languages (e.g., pre-AP, AP, or IB Diploma Program.)

If you have read the descriptions and taken the self-placement survey and still have questions, contact Teri Wiechart at [email protected] for help.