advocacy for world languages
DESCRIPTION
Slideshow for presentation to world language methods students at Winthrop University.TRANSCRIPT
Advocacy forWorld Languages
Lynn Fulton-ArcherWorld Language Specialist, Rock Hill
What do these have in common? Strong Curriculum Organization Effective Planning Enthusiasm Up-to-date Information
BUILDING BLOCKS OF ADVOCACY
“Where” does Advocacy occur? In your own classrooms
Build strong programs that show results In your community
Create opportunities for students to use the language outside the classroom
In the legislatureContact representatives to support foreign language initiatives
“Who” are the Advocates?
Students Parents Community Members Businesses Native Speakers YOU!!!
“What” can you do?
Be proactive, not reactive!Don’t wait for budget cuts to act
Establish relationships with everyone at all levels!Administration, teachers, parents
Get parents involved!Committees, volunteers, e-mail
“When” should you advocate?
At the beginning of the yearSend letters to parents with program goals, meet with administrators and colleagues about the upcoming year
In the middle of the yearSponsor festivals to highlight students
At the end of the yearCreate opportunities to highlight student achievement
“How” can you advocate?
Create a strong, standards-based program that produces results!
Sponsor festivals and other events that highlight your language program.
Contact the media with positive events within your programs.
Create newsletters and flyers about languages in your school.
Recent Congressional Initiatives
• STUDY Abroad Foundation Act: $80 million to send students abroad
• SMART grants: Federally funded grants of $1.445 billion dollars each year
• TEACH grants to provide loan forgiveness upon teaching in high need areas
• COMPETE legislation increasing numbers of IB and AP programs in critical areas
What’s the message?
We have power!But how do we use it?We need a roadmap!
Our Advocacy Roadmap
The Goal Areas of the National Standards Communication Culture Connections Comparisons Community
Communication
Interpersonal Talk with everyone! Have an “elevator speech” about languages
Interpretive Visit www.languagepolicy.org Do your homework!
Presentational Informal notes, thank you’s Formal letters, information for the news
Culture
Products Legislation Studies, Research and Reports
Practices Grade Level, PTO, School Board Meetings Get involved!
Perspectives Put yourself in others’ shoes Learn what drives decisions
Connections
Knowledge Information we have Information others need
Viewpoints Our perceptions of decision-makers Decision-maker perceptions of educators
Comparisons
Language “School” language “Local” language “National” language
Culture “School” culture “Local” culture “National” culture
Community
Within the School Student-created materials Video, print publications
Beyond the School Festivals and Special Programs Outreach to business, community
Lifelong Learning Panels of former students Careers with languages
Local Resources
Rotary Clubs Sister Cities Organizations Trade and Tourism Boards
National Resources
http://www.languagepolicy.org
National Resources
http://www.languagepolicy.orgLobby organization for foreign
languagesSpecial pages devoted exclusively
to foreign language advocacy Links to Congressional and Senate
Web pages, funding sources and grants
National Resources
http://www.nnell.org
National Resources
http://www.nnell.org
Information specifically about early language learningContact information to obtain the
NNELL Advocacy PacketLinks to journal articles and Web
sites concerning early language learning issues
National Resources
http://www.mla.org
National Resources
http://www.mla.org
MLA Language Map2000 Census information that can be
accessed quickly and easily showing numbers of languages spoken broken down into city, county, state, region
Additional Resources
Flyers & BrochuresModern Language Associationhttp://www.adfl.org/resources/index.htm
Web SitesForeign Language Association of Georgiahttp://www.flageorgia.org
VideosAsia Societyhttp://www.asiasociety.org
Discover Languages Ideas
Mailbox Banners“Home of a French student”Discover Languages logo
Language TreeShowing languages spokenby students, teachers
Alumni ForumStudents return to discusshow they use language
Advocacy Building Blocks
Create a strong, standards-based program that produces results!
Sponsor festivals and other events that highlight your language program.
Contact the media with positive events within your programs.
Create newsletters and flyers about languages in your school.