Privacy Policy

1. Our Commitment to Privacy

FILL (Facilitated Interdependent Language Learning) is committed to respecting the privacy of individuals who visit our website.

We believe in transparency, individual choice, and responsible use of information. These principles guide our approach to learning and our management of this website.

This Privacy Policy explains what information may be collected when you visit fill4wls.com, how that information is used, and what choices you have.

2. Website Ownership

The website is owned and operated by Tom Welch, an independent educator and advocate for Facilitated Interdependent Language Learning.

The website shares educational resources and information, including work informed by collaboration among educators associated with the Neural Network.

The Neural Network is an independent collaborative community of educators. It is not a formally incorporated legal entity and is not the legal owner or operator of this website.

3. Information You Provide Voluntarily

The website is a public educational information site. It does not currently offer visitor accounts, sign-in, contact or subscription forms, comments, uploads, payments, or an interactive AI chatbot.

Visitors can browse without a ChatGPT account. They may contact FILL using a link that opens their own email service; sending a message is voluntary.

When you contact us by email, we receive your email address and any information you choose to include in your message. We use this information to respond to inquiries and communicate with you about FILL-related matters.

We do not automatically enroll individuals in mailing lists simply because they have contacted us. We add individuals to mailing lists only when they have specifically requested or agreed to receive those communications.

4. Website Hosting and Automatically Collected Information

The website is hosted and published through OpenAI’s ChatGPT Sites. Cloudflare provides infrastructure used to deliver and protect the live website. Squarespace manages the domain registration and DNS (the settings that connect the domain to the website); Squarespace is not the website’s hosting platform.

When pages are requested, the hosting and security providers process technical information such as IP addresses, request times, requested pages, browser or device information, and security signals. This processing supports delivery, operation, troubleshooting, and protection against automated abuse.

ChatGPT Sites automatically records traffic statistics and makes summaries such as page views and unique visitor counts available to the site owner. The site does not contain separately installed Google Analytics, advertising pixels, or a session-replay tool. The absence of those tools does not mean that no visitor data is processed.

For information about provider practices, see OpenAI’s Privacy Policy (https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy/), the Sites analytics documentation (https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/sites/managing-a-site), and Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy (https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/). Provider processing and retention are subject to the applicable service terms, policies, and settings.

5. Cookies and Visitor Choices

The website’s delivery and security infrastructure uses cookies and browser-based security checks. A cookie called __cf_bm is used by Cloudflare to distinguish automated traffic and help protect the site.

Cloudflare states that __cf_bm expires after 30 minutes of continuous inactivity. Additional security cookies, such as cf_clearance, may be used when browser checks or challenges are applied.

The current website does not offer an on-page cookie consent banner or preference center. Squarespace cookie settings do not control cookies on this ChatGPT Sites-hosted website.

You can use browser settings to block or delete cookies and restrict third-party content or storage. Blocking security cookies or embedded content may affect access to the site or video playback.

Embedded YouTube content has its own data and storage practices, described below. We do not describe the website as cookie-free, and privacy-enhanced video mode is not a promise that no data is processed.

6. Third-Party Websites and Embedded Content

The website links to external resources, including ACTFL’s website and YouTube. Following an external link takes you to a service with its own privacy practices.

The home page and Resources page embed a YouTube video using YouTube’s privacy-enhanced player at youtube-nocookie.com. The player can load as the page is displayed or scrolled into view, before you press Play; the website does not block it behind a consent step.

Loading the embedded player connects your browser to Google/YouTube and can disclose technical information such as your IP address, browser or device information, and the referring site. Interacting with the player may involve additional processing and browser storage under Google’s policies.

YouTube states that privacy-enhanced mode limits how embedded views influence personalization. It does not eliminate all data processing. See Google’s Privacy Policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy) and YouTube’s explanation of privacy-enhanced mode (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171780). Opening the video directly on YouTube is subject to that service’s own settings and policies.

7. How We Use Information

Information collected or received in connection with the website may be used to:

• Operate, maintain, and protect the website.
• Respond to visitor inquiries.
• Provide information requested by visitors.
• Review available traffic summaries to understand website usage and improve its usefulness.
• Communicate about FILL-related activities when visitors have requested or agreed to such communications.
• Meet applicable legal obligations.

We do not sell personal information received through email inquiries.

8. Information Sharing and Service Providers

Services involved in this website and its communications include OpenAI’s ChatGPT Sites for hosting and traffic statistics, Cloudflare for delivery and security, and Google for Gmail correspondence and embedded YouTube content. Squarespace provides domain registration and DNS services. These providers may use their own service providers under the applicable terms and policies.

We do not intentionally disclose personal information from email inquiries to unrelated third parties for their independent marketing purposes.

Information may also be disclosed when required by applicable law or valid legal process.

9. Data Retention and Security

Email correspondence is maintained in Gmail and may be retained as reasonably necessary to respond, support ongoing communications, maintain administrative records, and meet applicable legal obligations. The hosting, security, and video providers have their own retention practices; the security-cookie expiry described above is not a retention limit for their logs or other records.

We take reasonable steps to protect information under our control, including using established service providers and their available security features.

However, no internet-based service or electronic communication method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

10. Children's Privacy

The website provides general educational information intended primarily for educators and other interested adults. It is not directed to children under 13.

It does not knowingly solicit personal information from children through website forms or user accounts.

If a parent or guardian believes a child has provided personal information through email and wishes to request its removal, they may contact the website operator.

11. Your Privacy Choices

You may use browser privacy controls to restrict cookies and embedded content, and Google’s account or service controls where applicable. There is currently no website-level cookie preference tool.

Individuals who have contacted FILL by email may request information about their correspondence, ask that it be corrected or deleted where appropriate, or withdraw consent to optional communications.

Requests can be directed to the contact email address below. Requests will be reviewed in accordance with applicable law and any relevant retention obligations.

12. Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated as the website, its services, or applicable requirements change.

The current version will be published on fill4wls.com with its effective date.

13. Contact Information

For questions about this Privacy Policy or the handling of personal information, contact:

Tom Welch

Owner and Operator, fill4wls.com

Email: fill4wls@gmail.com