Hope that you are all enjoying some beautiful Fall weather!
Fall means lots of activities for French teachers. So here is an update on what is going on in Region VI. Chapter leaders have told me that they are eager to know what is going on in other chapters. Alors voilà!
Two weeks ago, I had a great time doing a session and visiting with teachers in Iowa at the Iowa World Languages Association conference in Des Moines and am now looking forward to visiting with the Wisconsin teachers in Appleton in just two weeks at WAFLT. Then in March I hope to see many of you in one place at the Central States Conference in Minneapolis. Please don't hesitate to invite me to your area!
SAINT LOUIS
The following is a letter that St Louis Chapter president, Anna Amelung, sent to the members in September to tell them about events from September through January.
Chers Collègues,
Le comité directeur de l’AATF de St. Louis vous souhaite une joyeuse rentrée et une très bonne année scolaire/académique 2014-2015. Encore une fois notre chapitre vous propose des activités pédagogiques de qualité à ne pas manquer. Marquez vos calendriers et venez nombreux !
· Audra Merfeld-Langston, chargée du Grand Concours, nous invite à participer au groupe "American Association of Teachers of French Greater St. Louis Chapter" sur Facebook.
Merci de vous abonner et/ou d'envoyer le lien à d'autres personnes qui le trouveront utile.
· Le samedi 6 septembre à UMSL, Clark Hall 413 (de 8h30 à midi) aura lieu un DOUBLE ATELIER. Tout d’abord les professeurs Jeanne Zarucchi et Anne-Sophie Blank nous montreront comment employer le nouveau site web du Musée d’Art : L’Art français au Musée d’art de Saint-Louis: une nouvelle ressource pédagogique. Ensuite le professeur Lionel Cuillé va présenter une conférence sur Guillaume Apollinaire: "Le détournement de l'arsenal militaire: Apollinaire poète et soldat". ATTENTION : Il faut que vous répondiez à Karen Bettis (krbettis@gmail.com) AVANT le 2 septembre. Donc inscrivez-vous tout de suite ! L’atelier est gratuit pour les membres de l’AATF, et il coûte $10 pour les non-adhérents.
· Le dimanche 5 octobre. Spectacle d’André Nerman sur Guillaume Apollinaire en 1914, soldat et amoureux, 17h30, Priory High School, $12.00. Réservations: Eventbrite sur l’Internet ($12.00 PLUS $1.65 de frais).
· FORMATION pour les enseignants de français. Le Centre francophone de Webster University invite tous les professeurs à trois ateliers qui auront lieu le vendredi 26 septembre (livre-jeunesse), le lundi 20 octobre (didactique du FLE), et le mardi 18 novembre (utilisation de la bande dessinée). Détails à suivre.
· La semaine du français va se dérouler du 5 au 11 novembre, et nous vous encourageons à organiser quelques activités avec vos élèves ou étudiants. Consultez le site national de notre AATF pour des idées et suggestions : http://www.frenchteachers.org/nfw/
- Venez TIRER LES ROIS le samedi 10 janvier 2015 à La Bonne Bouchée de 9h00 à 11h00.
Je vous rappelle que votre cotisation à l’AATF est payée directement au siège national et est valable de janvier à janvier.
RENOUVELEZ VOTRE ADHÉSION, S’IL VOUS PLAÎT.
Si vous avez des collègues qui ne sont pas membres encouragez-les à adhérer à notre organisation (www.frenchteachers.org) ou bien tout simplement invitez-les à l’un de nos ateliers.
N’hésitez pas à me contacter si vous avez des questions ou des suggestions à propos des activités que nous pourrions organiser pour vous. Nous cherchons toujours des idées et des sujets susceptibles d’intéresser nos enseignants.
Je vous souhaite une bonne rentrée et j’espère vous revoir très bientôt.
Amitiés,
Anna Amelung
Présidente
AATF Greater Saint Louis Chapter
annaamelung51@gmail.com
Here are two of the chapter officers with the two teachers who prepared the materials based on the French artworks in the St. Louis Art Museum as part of an ongoing project sponsored by the Service Culturel in Chicago.
The MN executive council met at the end of the summer to review the previous year's activities and plan for 2014-2015. They are organizing a winter workshop that will focus in part on the work of the Haitien-Quebecois, Dany Laferrière in February and are planning a reception to welcome all French teachers who will be attending the Central State Conference March 12-14 in Minneapolis. The chapter has used this event as an opportunity to network with Vistas in Education who will co-sponsor the CSC reception. The executive council also discussed co-sponsoring events with the Alliance Française of Minneapolis-St Paul. While at the conference of the Fédération des Alliances Françaises this past weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting the Director of the AF de Minneapolis who appreciates greatly and respects the role that the AATF plays in the state of Minnesota.
Franco-Fête, an event that celebrates the French heritage of Minnesota and North Dakota, is planning an 2015 event and the AATF of MN is ready to be a part of that celebration. I can't wait. The 2012 event in Minneapolis was very inspiring!
The chapter's three-times-a-year newsletter, "Reflets de l'Étoile du Nord", will now become entirely electronic, as is now the newsletter of the Chicago Chapter, and is available on the their website at http://mnaatf.org. A chapter newsletter is also available on the website of the Wisconsin Chapter. Still to come for Minnesota are the Concours Oral, "À Vous la Parole", that had 1107 entries in six categories last year, the Grand Concours Awards Breakfast in May and the annual dinner in April.
Here are two of the chapter officers with the two teachers who prepared the materials based on the French artworks in the St. Louis Art Museum as part of an ongoing project sponsored by the Service Culturel in Chicago.
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Secretary, Karen Bettis; President Anna Amelung; presenters, Jeanne Zarucchi & Anne-Sophie Blank
le 6 septembre
Lionel Cuillé from Webster College talking about Guillaume Apollinaire
CHICAGO/NORTHERN IL
The Chicago/Northern Illinois Chapter President, Martha Behlow let the members know about the events for the upcoming school year with the following Calendar.
Here are some of the members enjoying the Fall program at the Art Institute included a guided tour in French of several French artworks of several periods and a self-guided tour of the special Magritte exhibit.
 DOWNSTATE ILLINOIS
The Downstate Illinois Chapter started out
 
GREATER KANSAS CITY
At their Fall meeting at the Louisiana Jazz Kitchen, Kansas City presented their three new officers: Susie Hennessy, Vice-President/President-Elect; Brandi Puente, Treasurer; and Michael Foster, Secretary. The chapter also voted to change their constitution to say that the Vice-President is also President-Elect and that the chapter will charge dues of $5.00 per member.
At the AATF convention in New Orleans, KC President Katie Madigan voiced her interest in the concept of "president-elect" as it is practiced in some other chapters such as, in our region, the Wisconsin chapter, as a way to provide continuity for the chapter and for those taking leadership roles. They will be gathering in December for their holiday dinner and are planning another Immersion Day for teachers in the Spring.
WISCONSIN
The Wisconsin chapter met in August to plan their strategy for the upcoming year including their
Chapter President SuAnn Schroeder was there at the Assemblée Générale when our national president, Sr. Mary Helen Kashuba challenged each chapter to set a concrete goal for increasing membership and now SuAnn reports that the Wisconsin chapter ALREADY HAS 15 new members! This was their pitch in the electronic chapter newsletter.
Am looking forward to attending the Chapter Business Meeting at the conference of the Wisconsin Association of Foreign Language teachers on Nov 7-8 where the chapter is presenting a session for French teachers to showcase the advantages of AATF membership as well as the ways that teachers can also participate in other professional organizations.
French Connections: Our Network for Wisconsin Educators
Friday evening, the Chapter will also offer French teachers a night cap and appetizers in the "Clubhouse" for a French Immersion experience.
IOWA
Just two weeks ago, it was great fun to travel to Des Moines, Iowa for the Iowa World Languages Association and to meet Chapter President, Kristine Sieren, for the first time in person and to see Secretary-Treasurer, Marianne Sandberg and National French Contest Administrator, Tammy Andrews again after meeting them this past summer in New Orleans where Tammy also participated in the Future Leaders Program. At the chapter business meeting and reception for French teachers attending the conference, Marianne was elected to serve another term as Secretary-Treasurer. They are planning next Spring to meet again at the annual Tête à Tête for world language teachers at The University of Iowa in Iowa City.
Fulbright student; Tamara Andrews NFC Administrator; President, Kristine Sieren; and Members, Maria Snyder and Michele Raasch
Iowa World Languages Association
Iowa AATF Calendar
MINNESOTA
I had the pleasure of seeing Chapter Leader, Joëlle Vitiello, in New Orleans where it was announced the the NFC Administrator for MN, Carolyn Fisk, was awarded the Outstanding NFC Administrator of the Year!
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Franco-Fête, an event that celebrates the French heritage of Minnesota and North Dakota, is planning an 2015 event and the AATF of MN is ready to be a part of that celebration. I can't wait. The 2012 event in Minneapolis was very inspiring!
The chapter's three-times-a-year newsletter, "Reflets de l'Étoile du Nord", will now become entirely electronic, as is now the newsletter of the Chicago Chapter, and is available on the their website at http://mnaatf.org. A chapter newsletter is also available on the website of the Wisconsin Chapter. Still to come for Minnesota are the Concours Oral, "À Vous la Parole", that had 1107 entries in six categories last year, the Grand Concours Awards Breakfast in May and the annual dinner in April.
Bravo à tous et Bonne Continuation!
Amusez-vous pendant la Semaine du Français!
