The ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo

A graduate of the University of Michigan with a PhD in Slavic language and literatures, Benjamin (Ben) Rifkin currently serves as a professor of Russian at Ithaca College in New York and has recently accepted the position of Dean of the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Hofstra University. Ben Rifkin belongs to several professional organizations, and formerly served on the board of directors of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

ACTFL’s next Annual Convention and World Languages Expo will take place at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, November 17-19, 2017. Drawing more than 7,000 educators, the event provides a venue for language teachers of all levels to learn about best practices in language instruction to enhance student language acquisition. The convention will offer over 800 educational sessions covering evidence-based teaching practices, innovative programs, and the latest trends in the language profession. 

The event will also feature an exhibit hall with over 250 companies showcasing their products and services. Attendees can also participate in exhibitor-sponsored workshops and visit the exhibit hall’s Social Media Lounge and Career Café. 

To learn more about the ACTFL’s Annual Convention and World Languages Expo, visit www.actfl.org/convention-expo.

The Learning and Teaching of Slavic Languages and Cultures

A tenured professor of modern languages and literature at Ithaca College, Benjamin “Ben” Rifkin formerly served as the dean of the College of New Jersey and as a vice dean for undergraduate affairs at the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. Ben Rifkin is author of over 20 articles about Russian film and literature, foreign language education, applied linguistics and second language acquisition, as well as textbooks and edited volumes.

Together with co-editor Olga Kagan, Rifkin edited "The Learning and Teaching of Slavic Languages and Cultures," published in 2000 by Slavica. This volume surveys various methodological developments in the teaching of Slavic languages, with contributors from many subfields of the Slavic Studies. 
It also strives to showcase research in the field of Slavic-language studies and to raise key questions for consideration in the years to come. The volume won the 2001 Award for Best Contribution to Language Pedagogy from the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages.

Poetic Provost – Benjamin Rifkin reads Russian Poetry