DatesNext session: July 6 to

The International Center for Language Studies (ICLS) offers a distinctive professional development opportunity for language teachers through their Advanced Conversation courses, designed to help educators maintain and sharpen their own target-language proficiency — a dimension of professional growth that is often neglected in standard teacher PD programmes. Running from July 6 to August 7, 2026, these fully online summer courses provide French, Spanish, and German language teachers with structured, immersive opportunities to practise their speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills around engaging contemporary topics. The course structure thoughtfully combines multiple modes of language practice: asynchronous written discussion boards centred on current events and authentic materials (videos, podcasts, news articles), weekly live group sessions with experienced language educators, and twice-weekly one-on-one conversations with trained conversation partners. This multi-layered approach ensures that participants develop fluency across all four language skills while engaging with culturally relevant content they can bring back to their own classrooms. Upon completion, participants receive 3.5 CEUs and a digital certificate, with an option to purchase two graduate credits through the University of the Pacific. The courses are offered annually each summer and can also be arranged on-demand for groups of six or more, making them accessible for language departments seeking collaborative professional development experiences.