When will the schedule of sessions be made available?

The tentative conference schedule, session overview and workshop overview will be available by September 1. The full conference program will be available by February 1.

Where and when is the conference being held this year?

The 2026 conference, “Languages are FUNdamental” will be held March 12-14, 2026 at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. Information on the hotel, including how to make a reservation, can be found on the Hotel & Visitor Information page under the Conference tab on our website.

How much is presenter registration?

Presenters receive discounted registration to the conference.  Registration rates are available on our website above.

Can I pay for the conference with a purchase order?

We do not accept purchase orders, but we do accept credit cards and checks. American Express, VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. For more information on how to pay by check, see below.

I would like to pay by credit card. What is the procedure?

1. Register for the conference.

2. Select the credit card payment option when registering.  American Express, VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted.

My district needs to pay for my registration by check. What is the procedure?

1. Register for the conference and select the check payment option.

2. Print the invoice/confirmation email you'll receive and submit the invoice to your district.  

3. Checks should be made payable to "Central States"  (or Central States Conference on the Teaching for Foreign Languages). Be sure that the registrant’s name is very clearly indicated on the check.

4. Mail the the check and a copy of the invoice to:
   
   Central States Conference
   5415 Olde Saybrooke Rd.

     Grand Blanc, MI 48439

What is the difference between a workshop and a session?

A workshop (designated by a “W”)  is either 3 or 6 hours long and requires an additional fee. Participants must register for workshops, either at www.centralstatesconference.org or on-site at the conference venue if space in the workshop is still available. Sessions (designated by an “S”) are one hour long and do not require neither pre-registration nor additional fees beyond the conference registration fees. 

Can I attend the conference without registering?

No. All attendees must register for the conference.

I am attending a Thursday  pre-conference workshop. Do I still need to register for the entire conference?

Yes. Attendees of Thursday workshops must register for the full conference in addition to remitting the workshop fee.

I can only attend one day of the conference. May I register at a prorated fee?

Yes/No. Our regular registration fee allows you to attend as few or as many of the conference sessions and events (other than paid workshops) as you choose.  We will also offer a Saturday Only registration rate this year, which will allow you to attend on Saturday only.

The workshop I wanted to attend is full. Is there a waiting list?

We do not maintain a waiting list, but occasionally take late cancellations which may make seats available. Check at the registration area to see if seats in the workshop you would like to attend have become available.

I would like to submit a proposal for a session or workshop.

The proposal portal for the 2026 conference is now open here.  You can submit your session/workshop/event proposal for our 2026 conference until June 30, 2025.