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MBWLP: Monterey Bay World Language Project

World Languages

For over 25 years the Monterey Bay World Language Project (MBWLP), one of the sites of the California World Language Project affiliated with the California Subject Matter Project, has been offering seminars to promote best practices for teaching language and cultures in Monterey, San Benito & Santa Cruz counties. MBWLP is housed in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at CSU Monterey Bay and sponsors research-based professional learning opportunities for World Language educators, advocates for the retention, expansion, and articulation of World Language programs across language levels, and supports California schools with the creation of World Language programs in order to prepare California’s students to successfully interact in our global society. As members of the California Subject Matter Project network, program activities are supported with federal and state grants and are guided by an Advisory Board and Concurrence Committee composed of representatives from diverse state educational institutions and the private sector.

Contact mbwlp@csumb.edu with any questions.

2025-26 Programs

The Monterey Bay World Language Project at California State University, Monterey Bay invites you to participate in the 2025-26 Seminars for World Language Teachers. Please click the sections below to view the full Program Description. More events coming–please check back.

The Monterey Bay World Language Project, based at CSU Monterey Bay, invites you to join our signature 5-day workshop series, offered online.

"From Vision to Action: A Collaborative Journey for Best Teaching Practices in World Language Classrooms"

Program Summary

Embark on our transformative professional development program designed for world language teachers of all levels. During this 5-day program, you will build expertise in crafting engaging, proficiency-driven lessons, design robust assessments, and learn how to deliver impactful feedback. Join a supportive community and gain practical strategies to bring your teaching vision to life, inspiring students and enhancing your classrooms.

Dates

(Fall) September 13, October 4, November 8, 2025; 
(Spring) January 31, March 14, 2026

Time:

9:00a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  via  ZOOM


Registration Fees:

Regular $200

Early Bird rate (register by 9/8/2025) $180  

Student rate  $50

REGISTER

CEU’s available | View the flyer

For more information about MBWLP, see our homepage

For other questions, please contact us directly at mbwlp@csumb.edu

Come be inspired and connect with other World Language teachers as you gain practical experience that will directly benefit your classrooms!

Stanford World Language Project & Monterey Bay World Language Project invite you to participate in:

Designated ELD: Making it Happen for Newcomers and LTELs: Strand dELD
Focus on equity populations: Newcomers and LTELs

Designated ELD is a social justice challenge for our Emergent Bilinguals, and more so for students who are Newcomers or long-term English Learners (LTELs). Their assets, needs, and the tools required to honor their right to education are precise and distinct. Well, this workshop is practical and focused on them.

Join presenters Michelle Leversee, Katie Richards, and Maxine Sagapolutele

Saturdays: January 17, January 24, February 21 from 9:30-12:30 pm on Zoom

Register tinyurl.com/SWLPRegistration2526

Cost:
Regular $250
New teacher, $100
Interns, $100
Student teacher $75
Groups of 4-6, $200 each
Groups 7+ $150 each

3 Stanford GSE SEU units available

Questions? Email Eduardo R. Munoz-Munoz, PhD. SWLP Site director  

Download the flyer

Monterey Bay World Language Project (MBWLP) presents:

End the Year with a Bang! Celebrating Your Classroom Community 

Program description

Celebrate the final stretch of the school year with joy and connection! This session shares strategies and activities to help students and teachers feel accomplished, appreciated, and valued. Walk away with practical, ready-to-use ideas that build community, create positive closure, and end the school year on a high note.

Program Date: 3/28/2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m. via ZOOM

Register Now! (deadline 3/14/2026)

Registration Rates

Regular $50
CLTA/CWLP Summer Seminar 2025 attendees: $25

Register | Download the flyer

 Monterey Bay World Language Project (MBWLP) presents

Making Learning Come Alive! - Interweaving Language and Content in Our Multilingual Classrooms

Join us for a hands-on professional development session designed for ELD, sheltered math and science, and world language teachers. Discover how to leverage students’ full linguistic repertoires to deepen content understanding, accelerate language development, and foster inclusive classrooms where multilingualism is celebrated as an asset.

By the end of the session, teachers will leave with concrete tools to create more inclusive, rigorous, and engaging learning environments, spaces where students’ multiple languages are not seen as barriers but as bridges to higher-order thinking, deeper learning, and belonging.

Presenters

  • Letical Lopez, Math Curriculum Specialist, SUHSD
  • Yo Azama, Lead Instructional Coach, SUHSD
  • Lisa Lark, Science Curriculum Specialist, SUHSD

Date and Time

April 4, 2026,  9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location

CSUMB @ Ryan Ranch (Monterey)

Registration Fee

$125 per session, student and group rates available 

Register (1 CEU available) | See the workshop flyer

 

The Human Side of Language Teaching in The Age of AI

Are you ready to strengthen your essential role in the age of AI? Join SAILN &  MBWLP for a two-part workshop series designed to empower educators to
articulate their irreplaceable role in fostering empathy, human connection, and cultural competence, while gaining practical, classroom-ready tools and the confidence to integrate AI thoughtfully into lessons and unit design.

Dates

April 18 & May 2, 2026 

Register Now! | Download the flyer

Workshops Include:

  • Expert-led discussions
  • Interactive Training Session
  • Practical Exercises

Hosted by:

  • Monterey Bay World Language Project (MBWLP)
  • San Diego State Language and Applied Research Center (LARC)
  • CWLP Southern Area International Languages Network (SAILN)

 

For the first time ever, CWLP Sites are offering Saturday programs focused on connection—to students, culture,
colleagues, and new tools like AI. Each session provides practical strategies to make your teaching more engaging, meaningful, and connected.

Virtual Learning Series (VLS) is a series of half-day (3 hours), online professional learning sessions designed for all language teachers that are presented by the top leaders of the California World Language Project (CWLP).

In 2025-2026, each CWLP Site will offer one Saturday program, starting at 9:00 am, from October through May.
Registration for each program is $50.00. Please note: registration dates are firm, and each CWLP Site reserves the right to cancel a program depending on enrollment.

View program flyer for more information

2024-25 Programs

The Monterey Bay World Language Project at California State University, Monterey Bay invites you to participate in the 2024-25 Seminars for World Language Teachers. Please click the sections below to view the full Program Description.

Program Description

Join us for "Empowering Connections: Strategies for Inclusion and Belonging," a dynamic five-part workshop series designed for world language teachers committed to creating inclusive and supportive classroom environments. This series will explore ambitious and practical strategies to foster a sense of belonging among diverse student populations. Learn how to harness and build meaningful connections, enhance student engagement, and celebrate students’ accomplishments. By the end of this workshop series, you'll be equipped with tools to create a more inclusive classroom where every student feels valued and empowered.

Dates

September 21, November 2, December 7, 2024; and
February 22, April 5, 2025

Register via GoogleForm

Time: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Location: CSUMB@Ryan Ranch, 8 Upper Ragsdale, Monterey, CA, 93940

Registration Fee:   Regular (after 9/14/23) $250

 Early Bird rate (register by 9/14) $200  

 Student $50

Lunch included. Free Parking.

View the program flyer (GoogleDocs) 

Stanford World Language Project & Monterey Bay World Language Project
Invite you to participate in 

Designated ELD: Making it Happen for Newcomers and LTELs

Online/zoom February 15, March 22, April 26, 2025.  9:30 am - 12:30 pm on Zoom

Strand dELD: Focus on equity populations: Newcomers and LTELs

Designated EDL is a social justice challenge for our Emergent Bilinguals, and more so for students who are Newcomers or long-term English Learners (LTELs). Their assets, needs and the tools required to honor their right to education are precise and distinct. Well, this workshop is practical and focused on them.

Let’s make it happen for them!

This workshop series is facilitated by seasoned Emergent Bilingual (EB) educators Michelle Leversee, Katie Richards, and Maxine Sagapolutele.  

Cost: Regular- $250; New teacher- $100; Interns- $100; Student-teacher- $75; Groups of 4-6: $200 each; Groups of 7 or more- $150 each

Units: Participants who complete attendance and lesson plans will be eligible for three (3) Stanford Continuing Education units (CEUs). 

REGISTER HERE I Program Flyer | Printable Information

For more information, contact Eduardo R. Munoz, Ph.D. eduardo.munoz-munoz@stanford.edu

Join SAILN & MBWLP to discover the potential of AI in language education from experienced professionals!

The two-day event strikes the perfect balance of theory and practice, offering valuable insight on integrating and utilizing Generative AI in language teaching. Attendees will learn practical strategies and techniques to enhance language learning and create engaging classroom experiences.

Dates: 10/12/2024 & 2/1/2025
Time: 9 am – 12 pm PST

Presenters Mari Ocando Finol, PhD: Writing prompts for text-based Generative AI tools

Evan Rubin, MA: Practical applications and AI tools for enhancing student engagement

Cecile Nedellec, PhD: Teacher’s AI Toolkit: Enhancing Language Education in K-12

Mat Schulze, PhD: Generative AI, friend or foe?

Register online 

Student Teachers: $40/day or $60/series

Regular admission: $70/day or $120/series

View flyer

Join language professionals across California for:

Warm-up Routines That Build Community

Description: How do you start your class each day? The first 5 minutes of class are a golden opportunity to build connections. Come learn simple strategies that make kids want to attend, want to use the TL, and want to interact from the very first minute of class. These warm-up strategies support SEL practices, social justice, and help build communicative fluency and accuracy.

Date: Monday, October 7, 2024

Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m. via Zoom

Download the flyer

Presenter Liz Matchett, NBCT,

has been an educator for over 35 years dedicating herself to the promotion of world languages at every level. Awards include Palo Alto Educators Association 2024 Outstanding Leadership Award, 2023 AATSP Teacher of the Year (Secondary), 2016 CLTA Teacher of the Year, and the 2012 McGraw Hill/CLTA Outstanding Teacher Leader Award. Service activities include co-chairing the California World Languages Framework Committee and being a Team Member for the Stanford World Language Project. She is currently a Teacher on Special Assignment for World Languages and DLI for the Palo Alto Unified School District, is an instructor for the Stanford Teacher Education Program, and is the Executive Director of the California Language Teachers’ Association. She lives in Redwood City with her husband.

Co-sponsored by CSUMB's School of World Languages and Cultures csumb.edu/wlc; California Language Teacher Association clta.net; American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese aatsp-norcal.org; and the Monterey Bay World Language Program csumb.edu/mbwlp 

World Languages

Learn about previous MBWLP programs and workshops

MBWLP celebrates 25 years

The Monterey Bay World Language Project (MBWLP) recently celebrated 25 years of supporting language and culture learning in the tri-county region with a gathering of past participants and supporters. Read more in an article from the CSUMB newsroom. Project Director Dr. Yoshiko Saito-Abbott is a Professor of Japanese in the School of World Languages and Cultures and currently serves as the Professional Development Director of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ). 

MBWLP Leadership Team

MBWLP Site Director

Dr. Yoshiko Saito-Abbott

Professor of Japanese, CSUMB School of World Languages and Cultures; MBWLP Founder/Director, and PI. Ph.D in Education (Foreign and Second Language Acquisition). Selected awards: 2014 CLTA Hall Wingard Lifetime Achievement Award; 2007 Allen Griffin Award for Excellence in Teaching; President of The Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) 2016-2018; Professional Development Director of AATJ 2020-Present; 2024 ACTFL Wilva Rivers Award for Higher Education. She also received 2022 Marian Penn Partnership Award at CSUMB for her recognition of her contribution to communities through service-learning. Campus Directory Information

MBWLP Teacher-Leader Team

Yo Azama

Lead Instructional Coach/ World Language Curriculum Specialist in Salinas Union High School District. Selected awards: 2012 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year (TOY); Elgin Heinz Teacher Award in  2015; Outstanding Teacher of America Award by Carlston Family Foundation in 2013.

Anne Cappiello

Harbor High School, Spanish for Heritage Learners. Nominated for California League of High Schools Educator of the Year for Region 5 in 2014; 2015 CLTA Outstanding Teacher; Recipient of The Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation’s LIGHT Award grant in 2015-2017 to build a curriculum for heritage language learners.

Cameron Chien

North Salinas High School, Japanese. Instructional Coach at North Salinas High School, CAJLT Website/Media Coordinator, AP Japanese Content Development Team member.

Kristal KW Gaskell

Everett Alvarez High School, Spanish. MA TESOL '98 (MIIS); BA Linguistics '94 (UCSC); Multiple Subject BCLAD Teaching Credential with Reading Authorization; Single Subject Spanish Teaching Credential.

Erica Hashiba

Everett Alvarez High School, Japanese. Department Chair for Global Languages (2015 - Present), 2017 Everett Alvarez Award, 2018 Japanese American Citizens League IMPACT Award, Salinas Union High School 2018 District Teacher of the Year.  

Minako Kamimura

Rancho San Juan High School, Japanese

Michelle Leversee

Del Mar High School, Spanish. Coordinator of the Emergent Multilingual Students Program. National Board Certification for Professional Teaching Standards, 2009-2019. 2014 WV World Language Teacher of the Year, 2020 and 2022 Del Mar High School Teacher of the Year. Taught all levels of Spanish Language Acquisition, AP and IB Spanish, Spanish for Heritage Speakers.

Mio Nishimura

Alisal High School, Japanese. 2018 CLTA Outstanding Teacher Award, 2018 Alisal High School Teacher of the Year, TCAL 2004 and 2008 Coach of the Year.

MBWLP Staff

Cynthia Tanabe

Program Coordinator Campus Directory

Email: mbwlp@csumb.edu

Call: (831)582-4256

MBWLP Contact Information

Email: mbwlp@csumb.edu

Phone: (831)582-4256

Mailing Address: MBWLP, 100 Campus Center, Building 504, Room 2411, Seaside, CA 93955

Street Address (for GPS navigation only!): 3050 Divarty Street, Seaside, CA 93955 See on Google Maps