The Commission has been working on several projects: (1) Guidelines for principals and administrators for hiring teachers of French; (2) National Professional Standards for Teachers of French; (3) the desirability and feasibility of immersion opportunities in the U.S. for teachers of French to promote maintenance of language skills; and (4) a survey to explore how professors promote the teaching of French as a career opportunity in college classes. Progress in each of these areas will be described in this report as well as a discussion of the meetings and decisions of the Commission.

The Commission met in Paris in July 2000, at ACTFL, and at Central States 2001 to share information.

I. Work on the Guide to the Best French Teacher Candidate was well underway. Target date of completion was the July 2001 meeting in Denver.

II. The National Foreign Language Standards Collaborative (a joint effort consisting of AATF, AATG, AATI, ACL, ACTR, ACTFL, CLASS/CLTA, and NCJLT/ATJ representatives) introduced the final version of the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) for teachers of world languages. AATF Commission members attended the special ACTFL session in November which reported on the progress of the National Standards. A copy of the standards was available for public viewing and is now available on the NBPTS Web site [http://www.nbpts.org]. A pilot group of foreign language teachers prepared for certification starting in the fall of 2000 in the assessment phase. The first NBPTS certification opportunity is open to all experienced foreign language teachers in fall 2001.

Teachers must demonstrate their ability to meet NBPTS standards and document this ability with examples from their classroom instruction. They must show through extensive portfolio building that they meet the criteria in each standard. We encourage AATF members to seek out NBPTS preparation centers. There are several in each state. These centers (usually Colleges of Education) support teachers in their quest for National Board Certification through peer support groups and through training by National Board Certified teachers. The success rate of these centers is usually higher than the national average of 52%. We will look at other ways to help and encourage more AATF members to become successful in this quest.

The 2001 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards outlines fourteen foreign language standards: 1. Knowledge of Students, 2. Fairness, 3. Knowledge of Language, 4. Knowledge of Culture, 5. Knowledge of Language Acquisition, 6. Multiple Paths to Learning, 7. Articulation of Curriculum and Instruction, 8. Learning Environment, 9. Instructional Resources, 10. Assessment, 11. Reflection as Professional Growth, 12. Schools, Families, and Communities, 13. Professional Community, and 14. Advocacy for Education in World Languages Other than English. The Commission’s task was to identify standards that the AATF should address as language-specific.

III. We discussed both the desirability and feasibility of immersion opportunities in the U.S. for teachers of French to promote maintenance of language skills. In order to achieve this goal, we need to acquire funds and designate centers throughout the U.S. Acquiring funds will take time and energy, but we hope to find ways to promote the AATF’s involvement in providing professional development as well as other immersion opportunities. Perhaps a means of eliciting information about immersion programs for French teachers and students could be created, and the AATF could serve as a "clearing house" for these programs. At present, this project is on hold. The AATF currently has study abroad scholarships that partially address the need to help members maintain their language skills.

IV. We created a pilot survey to explore how college professors and high school teachers promote the teaching of French as a career opportunity in their classes. Because of the shortage of teachers and the few French teacher candidates that some regions are experiencing, the Commission believes it is in the interest of the profession to see who is promoting careers in teaching. The survey was given to French teachers in Ohio during a state conference. This pilot was a means to find out if the survey instrument is appropriate to the AATF membership as a whole. We need to find out what French language departments are doing to promote the career choice of French language instruction. The second audience was high school language teachers, since they will help us promote language career choices at an earlier age.

V. 22 high school teachers and 6 college professors returned the survey. There were fewer French professors attending the state foreign language meeting. With the low number of respondents, results should not be taken as significant. However, we were able to see if the survey asked for the information we wanted. The same survey will be made available to AATF members on the 2002 dues renewal invoice.

It was interesting to see that so many teachers (40%) and professors (50%) encourage students to consider careers in foreign languages and to study abroad (teachers - 90%; professors - 60%). A career as a French teacher is of lower priority (teachers - 18%; professors - 20%). Question #5 about participation in the AATF was very revealing; having students participate in the AATF National French Contest or join the AATF as undergraduates majors is not seen as essential.

1998-2000 Phase One: Exploration and Alignment /Done.

2000-2001 Phase Two: Identify /Done and Address Tasks _____ To be done.

2002-2002 Phrase Three: Establish Support. _____ To be done.

We are still asking the question: What funding agencies are available to help in this effort?

Susan Colville-Hall
University of Akron (OH)

Ada Azodo (IN) E-mail: [aazodo@ iun.edu]

Judith Baughin (OH) E-mail: [judith.baughin@uc.edu]

Carmen Grace (CO) E-mail: [gracec@spot.colorado.edu]

Kirsten Halling (OH) E-mail: [kirsten.halling@wright.edu]

D. Brian Mann (GA) E-mail: [bmann@ngcsu.edu]

Eliane McKee (NY) E-mail: [mckee@buffalostate.edu]

Denise Arnold (NE)

David Arcangeli (NM)

Mary Bourgault (NH) E-mail: [mebourgault2000@yahoo.com]

Karen Campbell Kuebler (MD) E-mail: [kkcdanser@aol.com]

Dinah Lewis (Canada) E-mail: [dlewis@telus.net]

Jacqueline Marschel (AZ) E-mail: [marschel@doitnow.com]

Nancy Oakes (NM) E-mail: [oakes@rrhs.rrps.k12.nm.us]

Patricia Spence (AK) E-mail: [spence@jsd.k12.ak.us]

Christine Stevenson (MO) E-mail: [cstevenson@brentwood.k12.mo.us]

Toni Theisen (CO) E-mail: [dakar95@ aol.com]

Created: October 18, 2001
Last update: October 18, 2001