CLTL’s Refreshed Spring Showcase Highlights Language Educators in Bloom

The 2026 Coalition for Language Teaching & Learning (CLTL) Spring Showcase looked a little different this year than its previous five iterations, but in many ways this perennial favorite among language instructors at WashU felt more alive than ever. Moving from the lower level of Eads Hall and making a new home this year in an updated, sunny classroom on Hillman Hall’s main floor provided a refreshing change of scenery. Though the space changed, the familiar format of the coalition’s annual Spring Showcase remains intentionally simple; participants each prepare a single slide to share a favorite language teaching activity (in this case an engaging grammar exercise) during a series of 1-minute lightning rounds. The goal is not polished perfection, but practical exchange; a low-pressure opportunity to share ideas, spark inspiration, and learn from one another.

This year’s showcase stands out not only for the creativity of the activities presented and subsequent robust conversations, but also the community that has formed around them. Many participants have been part of the coalition for years, returning not only to exchange ideas but also to reconnect with colleagues across languages and departments. Presenters were energetic and eager to share not because they had to, but because they were proud and excited to contribute to this group. Conversation sparked quickly within small groups as attendees asked questions and shared insight that extended each activity into workable strategies for their own course design. The structure, thoughtfully designed in partnership with the CTL’s Educational Development team, helped the groups settle into a rhythm that felt casual, yet rigorous.

The sense of camaraderie grew even stronger during the happy hour that followed the presentations. Instructors who teach the same languages gravitated toward one another, their sentences alternating seamlessly between English and a dizzying assortment of global languages. To an outside listener with an untuned ear it might feel like catching only half the conversation, but the tone and ease of those exchanges said everything. Participants moved easily from group to group, making connections between departments and teaching contexts. The result was a dynamic, approachable event where ideas circulated freely and relationships deepened in real time. The gathering beautifully demonstrated that the strength of the coalition’s showcase lies not only in the ideas exchanged, but in the people who come together to share them. In a bright new space with an engaged and connected group, that strength was on full display.

The CLTL Spring Showcase and its counterpart, the Fall Language Teaching Fair, are open to anyone at WashU who teaches (or is preparing to teach) a language course, including faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. As the 2025-2026 academic year draws to a close, language instructors across disciplines are invited to join us in 2026-2027. While the focus has traditionally been on spoken languages, there is room to grow the coalition by engaging instructors of other forms of language, including programming and music.

Are you interested in participating in next year’s Language Teaching Fair and/or Showcase, but feel uncertain whether your ideas are ready to share? These events are designed to meet instructors where they are by offering support, encouragement, and the opportunity to grow within a community of peers. Our CTL Educational Development staff are available year-round to support participants in shaping their ideas, ensuring participation remains accessible and meaningful. Reach out and let us know how we can help! Otherwise, stay tuned to CTL newsletters for more information on CLTL and upcoming opportunities to connect.