Berkeley World Language Project (BWLP)

Background image: BWLP Logo

Welcome to the Berkeley World Language Project

BWLP provides high-impact professional learning for K-12 language educators.  It is hosted by the Berkeley Language Center at UC Berkeley, and was established in 1993 as a site of the California World Language Project (CWLP) .

Serving Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, and Solano counties, we offer flexible, tiered programs—ranging from one-day workshops to year-round series—designed to strengthen content knowledge, pedagogical skills, technology integration, and teacher leadership.

  • Who We Serve: Teachers of World Languages, English Language Learners, and Heritage Language Learners across all experience levels.

  • Custom Services: We also provide tailored consulting, coaching, and professional learning programs for individual schools and districts.

  • Office Hours: Collaborate with colleagues and presenters between workshop sessions.

FY2025-2026 Programming

Professional Development for Instructors

FIVE-SESSION WORKSHOP:

5 Days at BWLP

All text included in pic

PLEASE REGISTER EARLY FOR 5 DAYS WORKSHOP!

Berkeley World Language Project - 2026-2027

LEARN | CONNECT | INSPIRE

Join us for a year of learning in community!

Practical Strategies & Real Classroom Impact

  • Engaging Workshops: Practical ideas you can use right away

  • Supportive Community: Collaborate with educators who inspire.

  • Student Success: Build world language skills that last.

  • Office Hours: Collaborate between workshop sessions!

Strand A: Building Lessons for Real World Competence

Collaborate, Innovate, Invigorate: Next-level Lessons for every classroom.

  • Invigorate your teaching this year!  This strand is for all language teachers who want to take their instruction to the next level, whether beginning or experienced. You will collaborate to develop lessons that focus on teaching in the target language with comprehensible input, guided practice, grammar in context and formative assessment for all levels of proficiency.  You will build a complete Lesson over time while learning and practicing strategies to implement immediately.

  • Prerequisite: an open mind, curiosity, and a desire to grow.

Strand B: Creating Authentic Themed Units for Today’s Learners

Develop meaningful, real-life themed Units for modern language learners.

  • Build a thematic unit grounded in authentic materials that reflect real language and culture. You will learn how to design a unit that aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AP themes and CA World Languages Standards while integrating global competence, social justice, and social-emotional learning. Using backward design, you’ll craft essential questions, Can-Do statements, and assessments that support meaningful communication across all modes—creating immersive, relevant learning experiences that connect students to the real world and help them grow as confident, culturally aware language users. 

  • Prerequisite: Strand A or equivalent recommended.

Program Dates: 2026-2027

  • October 3

  • November 7

  • December 5

  • January 30

  • March 13

Cost:

Complete 5-Day  program: 

  • 4 Stanford Continuing Studies units available for an extra fee

  • Early Bird Registration: $350 (by September 19)

  • Standard Registration: $400

3-Day Program: 

  • Choose the dates that work for you.  

  • Day 1 is strongly recommended.  

  • No Stanford Continuing Studies units available

  • Early Bird Registration:  $250 (by September 19)

  • Standard Registration: $300

Get in touch! 

ONE-DAY WORKSHOP:

Purposeful Strategies for Culture-Rich Language Learning

One-day work flyer (all text on flyer included in page)

This single-day workshop will teach you how to:

  • Use innovative strategies and activities to engage students and foster collaboration.
  • Foster an inclusive, culturally rich curriculum
  • Apply scaffolding techniques and authentic resources to enhance literacy and learning.

MARCH 7, 2026
Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Cost: $100 session

PLEASE REGISTER EARLY FOR ONE DAY WORKSHOP!

This session will touch on World Language, Heritage, Dual Language, & Multilingual Learners. (Mainly Spanish examples, but can be applicable to other languages)

Professional Development for Districts

Professional Development for World Language and Multilingual Learner Teachers

BWLP District Flyer (all text in flyer included in page)

The Berkeley World Language Project (BWLP) provides districts with interactive, high-impact professional development tailored to the needs of your educators and aligned with the 2019 California World Languages Standards and Framework.

What We Offer:

  • Best practices to foster SEL development and sense of belonging in the classroom Strategies to stay in the target language with ease
  • Ready-to-use activities teachers can implement the very next day
  • Tools to advance students' reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills
  • Connection to Ethnic Studies and representation in world languages

We can also customize sessions based on your districts' needs and goals.

Our experienced teacher leaders are available to deliver in-person PD sessions. We encourage you to include language teachers and neighboring sites to collaborate and exchange ideas.

What a glimpse of the impact of our sessions? View feedback from a recent district workshop. 

Please reach out to discuss your preferred date and session goals - we'll take care of the rest. We look forward to collaborating with you!

Thank you,
Nancy Salsig, Co-Director
n-salsig@berkeley.edu
(925) 864-6390

Contact Information

Christina Estrada
BWLP Co-Site Director
c-estrada@berkeley.edu

Nancy Salsig
BWLP Co-Site Director
n-salsig@berkeley.edu

Orlando Garcia
BWLP Office Manager
510-642-9183
o_garcia@Berkeley.edu 

News

March 23, 2026

CLTA Outstanding Teacher Award - María Civano

Maria Civano pic

BWLP Registration

Register for 2026-27 Strand A

Register for One-Day Workshop - Mar 7, 2026

Follow us on social media

Important Links for Language Instruction