Funding secured by the Language Connects Foundation (LCF) helps sustain and expand access to existing ACTFL programs—from scholarships and classroom microgrants to professional development stipends, awards, and more—all supporting current and future language teachers and their students.
We invite you to explore active opportunities and impact stories below.
ACTFL Convention Stipends
High-quality professional development is key for current and future language educators throughout all stages of their careers! Funding is available to support attendance at the annual ACTFL Convention & World Languages Expo.
ACTFL Black Language Educators (ABLE) Institute
ABLE is an immersive program offering support, mentorship, and leadership training to help aspiring Black language teachers thrive in their teaching journeys. Limited stipends are available across several categories of participants.
The 2026 ABLE Institute will be held July 13–16 at Howard University in Washington, DC. Apply by May 15!
Future Teacher Scholarship Program
Dedicated to addressing a critical national shortage by bolstering the pipeline of future language educators, this award provides merit-based scholarships to graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students committed to pursuing the language teaching profession in languages other than English.
Save the Date: The 2026 call for applications will close May 29.
Vista Classroom Microgrants for Language Educators
An initiative to support and empower those who are dedicated to promoting multilingualism and cultural diversity in the classroom, this program provides small grants to K-12 language educators who are passionate about teaching languages and incorporating cultural elements into their lessons.
200 microgrants of $300 each were awarded between September 2023 and May 2025! The current application cycle closes April 29, 2026.
ACTFL Professional Awards
These annual awards honor outstanding contributions to the field of language education. Categories include achievement in areas of:
- Diversity, equity & inclusion in the language classroom,
- Sustainable development in promoting global awareness,
- Teacher education,
- Innovative use of technology in language instruction,
- Leadership at the K-12 and postsecondary levels,
- Research,
- Elementary language programs,
- The teaching of culture, and beyond!
The 2026 call for Awards nominations will Close on May 29.
National Language Teacher of the Year
The ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year Award recognizes excellence through a process that unites state, regional, and national organizations and promotes and elevates the status of language education.
Additionally, this program creates as many media opportunities as possible to increase the visibility of the importance of learning languages and cultures to the general public.
Student Ambassadors Program
ACTFL’s Student Ambassadors Program convenes a dynamic, international network of student language-learner leaders at the postsecondary level to help spread our mission, provide valuable insights and perspectives, and inspire other young people to celebrate their language accomplishments and dreams.
Your Gift Empowers Language Educators
Programs like these are made possible by generous contributions to LCF from donors like you! Please join us in supporting the language teachers who are developing tomorrow’s multilingual leaders.
I support the Language Connects Foundation for the same reason I am a teacher: learning is a lifelong pursuit, a journey filled with joy and new discoveries and deepening our human connection with each other. The LCF brings together educators to allow us to engage in our own learning so we can deliver quality experiences to our students. Nothing feels quite as good as giving back to the community that has supported me so much!
WHY I GIVE
Kei Tsukamaki, 2025 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year