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Advancing Arguments

The links here take you to sets of documents that will provide information about why studying French is valuable.  There are essays, maps, and testimonials to the value of French, as well as templates for flyers and presentations. Letters in Spanish help you reach out to the Spanish-speaking audience.

You might distribute these "as is" or take arguments from them as you create your own customized documents to persuade others of the value of learning French.
Brochures
Talking Points: Documents providing details as to why French is important.
Flyers: One-page documents with reasons to study French.
Presentations: These PowerPoint presentations can be customized if you wish.
Personal stories provide compelling local support for your program. These testimonials can serve as examples: you'll want to collect your own. Ask your students and alums, their parents, community members and more to talk about why French is important to them.

    Short Phrases

Personal Stories
Stories from Parents
Making Spanish Speakers Trilingual (Native speaker of Spanish stresses career benefits of knowing both French and Spanish)
Help Your Allies Create Testimonials (These documents can be used to create testimonials for your program)
Engaging testimonials of how individuals have seen the importance of French in their lives. Use some or all of the video clips. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyHs4GYIozQ&t=2s
Maps and statistics showing where French is spoken throughout the world, as well as information on France-U.S. economic relations.
Maps and lists of where French is spoken
Information from the Organisation internationale de la francophonie
Website of the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques based in Québec: Information about the French language and French-speaking cultures throughout the Americas
Business and Economic Relationships

It’s crucial to communicate with those who are making the decision to keep, reduce, or eliminate a French program, and to make the most effective arguments possible to justify retaining the program.

First, look at the Advocacy Checklist to help you organize your communication campaign.

Next, who should write to the decision-makers? Whose opinions will carry the most weight with the decision-makers? Here are some possibilities:

  • French teacher
  • Parents
  • World language colleagues
  • Past students
  • Current students
  • Other colleagues from your school or university
  • Advocates from AATF chapter or national
  • Advocates and program friends from the community

Finally, what should the communication to decision-makers say? What arguments will be most effective in your situation? Check out these resources.

  • Arguments to Frame an Advocacy Letter presents 15 important arguments that can be used by advocates and supporters. Which ones work for you?
  • Advocacy Arguments and Models gives excerpts from real letters written by advocates for French programs at all levels, from elementary school through university. There is much information here!