This workshop equips teachers with practical strategies for differentiating instruction and designing purposeful group work that supports all learners. Grounded in ACTFL proficiency guidelines, this session emphasizes student-centered learning and engagement. Participants will explore how to differentiate by proficiency level, learning needs, and instructional mode (interpretive, interpersonal, presentational) while maintaining high expectations for all students.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Wafa Hassan

Dr. Hassan is the Director of the Arabic Department and Culture at Global Educational Excellence (GEE), overseeing Arabic programs in 15 schools in Michigan, USA. Dr. Hassan is the director for Michigan Arabic Teachers’ Council with extensive national and international experience in training teachers of Arabic as a foreign language, Dr. Hassan played a leading role in curriculum development and general teacher-professional development. She is the co-author of a standards-based high school Arabic textbook series (Arabic 1, Arabic 2, and the accompanying Teacher’s Guide), and the author of Inclusion of ELL with Special Needs in General Education. Dr, Hassan published several research papers on language education.

Her research focuses on professional development for educators, effective pedagogical practices, heritage language learners, language assessment, and second language acquisition. Dr. Hassan also served a two-year term as President of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL), contributing significantly to the advancement of language education.

Since the early stages of the SALaMA initiative, Dr. Hassan has been instrumental in leading the partnership with GEE. Her efforts have included the design and implementation of quantitative and qualitative data collection, the rollout of Forward with Peers and PhotoVoice programming, and the dissemination of key findings through co-authored publications, gallery exhibits, and national conference presentations.