Nomination Process
The nomination packet should include materials submitted by the nominee as well as a letter of support. The letter of support should be written by someone who has observed the nominee’s teaching and can comment on it. This may be a non-ACTR member, such as a professional from another organization or a faculty member from another department.
From the nominee:Since this award recognizes excellence in teaching, consider presenting evidence of classroom excellence and innovation in your curricula.
Please submit an application form which includes:
- A CV, which should focus on teaching (maximum 5 pages);
- A two page annotation of an effective language learning activity or project that you developed independently;
- An application statement in which you explain what makes you an excellent teacher. You may wish to address some of the following factors:
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Ability to adapt to and effectively address students’ needs within their particular institutional context, demonstrated, for example, through the creation of new teaching materials, the development of innovative instructional strategies, or the implementation of tailored support systems;
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Development of welcoming classroom practices and curricular materials;
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Materials and courses developed independently or in collaboration;
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Undergraduate mentorship and community building at your institution, commitment to professional growth, including participation in pedagogically-oriented professional development and contributions to the field of Russian language teaching;
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Promotion of interest in Russian studies and the Russian-speaking world;
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Anything else that distinguishes you as an excellent teacher of Russian.
In the supporting letter:
Please show how the candidate demonstrates excellence in teaching and inspires students in their study of the Russian language and culture. We are especially interested in evidence of excellence and innovation in the classroom, including testimonials from students or other colleagues, classroom observation reports, or comments on teaching materials developed by the nominee. You may wish to address the following topics:
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The nominee’s dedication to students’ linguistic and cultural development;
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The nominee’s commitment to professional growth, including participation in pedagogical workshops, conferences, programs, etc., and contributions or potential to contribute to the field of Russian language pedagogy;
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The nominee’s innovations in teaching, including the development of teaching materials (traditional or digital);
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The nominee’s efforts to promote Russian language and culture through organizing and participating in extracurricular activities or other outreach work;
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The nominee’s commitment to fostering students’ understanding of the cultural and linguistic variety of the Russophone world, creating a welcoming classroom environment, and practicing pedagogical approaches that create opportunities for all students
- Nomination packages must be submitted electronically by December 1.
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Finalists will be notified by January 15.
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Awardees will be announced at the ACTR general membership meeting in February 2026 and recognized in next issue of the ACTR Newsletter.