Michèle Braud

Bio:

Michèle Braud is a leader in World Language and Immersion education with thirty-five years of experience teaching diverse students in a wide variety of settings, mentoring educators and representing Louisiana nationally and internationally. She led major organizations while chairing committees that advance language acquisition at school, state, national and international levels and earned honors including Teacher of the Year, Claes Nobel Educator, National State Supervisor for Languages, and was inducted into the Palmes d’Academiques.

Presentation Title:

Are We Delivering on Our Promise of Biliteracy?

Session 2, 10:50-11:50 (Meeting Room 1)

Presentation Abstract:

Achieving biliteracy requires more than teaching students a second language—it requires intentionally developing strong readers who can transfer literacy skills across languages. Research consistently demonstrates that higher levels of language proficiency are associated with stronger academic achievement, making literacy instruction an essential component of every world language classroom. This interactive session explores what it means to develop proficient readers in a second language and considers which Louisiana Department of Education literacy resources can be effectively adapted for world language instruction. Through discussion, reflection, and collaboration, attendees will identify instructional strengths, uncover gaps, and leave with practical approaches for helping students fulfill the promise of biliteracy.

What will you learn?

What is biliteracy—a big picture overview.
What strong reading looks like in a world language classroom—and how to know whether students are truly developing literacy, not just language skills.
Ways to adapt existing Louisiana Department of Education literacy resources to support meaningful literacy instruction in world language and immersion classrooms.

Seminar Title:

Strategies to Support Biliteracy

Session 1, 9:40-10:40 (Room 127)

Seminar Abstract:

While many literacy skills can transfer from one language to another, cross-linguistic transfer is not automatic; educators must explicitly teach students how, when, and why to apply knowledge from one language to another while also addressing the linguistic features unique to the target language. This interactive session explores what it means to develop proficient readers in a second language and examines literacy strategies that strengthen both language proficiency and comprehension. Through discussion, reflection, and collaboration, attendees will identify instructional strengths, uncover gaps, and leave with practical approaches for helping students fulfill the promise of biliteracy.