When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022, a problem that had been increasingly obvious became much more urgent: traditional Russian language materials, which focused on the Russian Federation and mainly featured ethnic Russians and mainstream Russian culture, no longer fit the locations where students were studying abroad, and students needed to learn about a much more heterogeneous population of Russian speakers that they might encounter in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, or even at home. This challenged us to undertake the creation of Diverse Russian: A Multicultural Exploration, which is a new Open Educational Resource (OER) intended for Intermediate level learners of Russian.

Virtual Reality is ever-more present in our daily lives: from creating entire virtual worlds into which we can delve and explore, to augmenting our reality and seeing Pikachu frolic around our apartments, the possibilities make this a technology we cannot ignore. And with the advances in headsets and gears that facilitate our immersion into different worlds, it would be a shame to not use this in education.

The NLRC gives these awards to recognize outstanding innovations in LCTL instruction. These innovations use technology to creatively and effectively address a real, context-based problem in LCTL education. Award winners use technology to transform traditional teaching practices, prompting learners to explore, create, and develop proficiency with language through accessible technology. These awards are generously sponsored by the Masters in Foreign Language Teaching at Michigan State University. 

Generative AI (GenAI) has rapidly evolved since the introduction of ChatGPT in 2022, revolutionizing how we interact with technology. From real-time audio conversations to advanced data analysis, GenAI continues to reshape industries—including education. For language teachers, these tools offer innovative ways to create lesson plans, generate texts, and provide interactive learning experiences. However, to harness their full potential, educators must develop AI literacy, learning how to craft effective prompts, critically evaluate AI tools, and integrate them into pedagogically sound teaching methods. As AI technology advances, staying informed and adaptable will be key to maximizing its benefits in education.