Bonjour mes collègues!
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| Iowa President Sheila Conrad with her certificate as a Future Leader in Saguenay |
IOWAThe AATF of Iowa has a new president elected at their recent business meeting at IWLA. Welcome to
Sheila Conrad, new president of AATF of Iowa as well as Maria
Snyder, new vice president!
ILLINOIS
Congratulations to Chicago/N IL Chapter President, Martha Behlow on being chosen as Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages this past October. This means that Martha will be representing ICTFL at the Central States Conference next March. If you will be there, be sure to applaud loudly when she goes up on stage!
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| Martha Behlow receiving her Teacher of the Year Award at the ICTFL Conference |
Also at the ICTFL conference, Martha and Downstate IL Chapter President, Lynda Lopez, together offered a session specifically for French teachers "A French Teacher's Journey toward Professional Success." The teachers were eager to share where they were in their careers and to offer resources and guidance to each other while Lynda and Martha also highlighted how the AATF can offer them support. When the time allotted for the session ended, there was disappointment at having to stop the discussion! One lucky teacher, not pictured here, won the tombola and went home with a bottle of St Hilaire sparkling white wine. That was a concept "borrowed" from the Wisconsin chapter whose tombola at their annual meeting at WAFLT includes several bottles of French wines. See a mention below.
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| Lynda is on the far left and Martha is looking out from the back row in the center. Debbie Mann, Secretary-Treasurer of the Downstate IL Chapter is on the far right. |
WISCONSIN
The AATF of Wisconsin is offering some very attractive "swag" for their members. This is not a fundraiser but is done in cooperation with "Café Press" who does all the ordering, collecting of money, and delivery. This address includes lanyards and magnets as well as the "ouisconsin" items: at http://www.aatfwi.org/#!ouisconsin-swag/koanm and http://www.cafepress.com/frenchinwisconsin. "Café Press" even offers cellphone cases with this logo provided by the chapter!
At WAFLT, the WI chapter again used the professionally manufactured table top display, purchased last year, that rolls up and fits into a carrying case.
At left is Jennie Bolen, NFContest Administrator and Chapter President, Andrea Behn.
At the AATF Business Meeting at WAFLT, WI Co-President, Justin Charles, was awarded a "Prix de Reconnaissance" in recognition of the major contributions he has and continues to make to the chapter. When, last year, the President SuAnn Schroeder, was tapped to be President-Elect of WAFLT, Justin then Immediate Past President, generously consented to be co-president with Andrea. Due to a cancelled flight on her way home from France with students, Andrea was not able to get to Saguenay in time for the convention to accept the Exemplary French Program Award with Distinction for her school, Parker High School, in Janesville, WI. Here she is with her award.
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| Andrea and Justin |
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| Andrea with Eileen and her Exemplary French Program Award with Distinction |
The traditional "Tombola Terrible" at the WAFLT conference as mentioned above took place as usual and included multiple copy sets of several Tintin "albums" as prizes as well as bottles of French wine!
Le 15 décembre
Deadline to submit a session proposal
1) How about doing a session at the AATF national convention in Austin this summer?
2) Who do you know in your chapter who has done a session at a state conference?
3) Who in your chapter might have a topic/activity to share?
CONVENTION IN AUSTIN, JULY 3-6
KANSAS CITY
Members in Kansas City gathered this past October at the Louisiana Jazz Kitchen where members who had attended the 2015 AATF Convention brought the "spirit of Saguenay" back to KC.
ACTFL in San Diego
Linda Quinn-Allen, member of the AATF of Iowa and professor at Iowa State University, received the ACTFL Papalia Award for excellence in teacher preparation.
Pam Wesely, professor at the University of Iowa did a workshop on teaching social justice.
Brian Wopat, Secretary-Treasurer-Webmaster for the AATF of WI gave a presentation on "Authentically Cultural Bellringers".
NATIONAL FRENCH WEEK
Here's a short video showing whatChicago/N IL chapter president Martha Behlow's
students did for National French Week:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IHtqzJhEFk
AATF of WI created a "scavenger hunt" using Instagram or Twitter. Students take photos related to the word for the day and post them on Instagram or Twitter.
Lionel Cuillé, professor at Webster University in St. Louis was the presenter at a recent program for the AATF of Greater St Louis on the Theater of the Absurd that focused on Ionesco and contributed to preparing the members and by extension their students for their attendance at an AATF sponsored performance of "La Leçon" for area students and teachers.
In light of the multiple attacks in and near Paris, the AATF of Greater St Louis is particularly proud to be offering a double workshop on the French poet Andrée Chedid (mother of singer Louis Chedid
and grandmother of singer Matthieu Chedid, known as"M" ) and also "Le défi de l'intégration culturel" by Pascale Perraudin, professor at St Louis University in February.
Having France thrust into the spotlight in such a horrifying way has, no doubt, been stressful for you and for the members of your chapter. Though perhaps difficult, the discussions that you have been having with your students will no doubt show them the value of understanding the history, language, and culture of other countries as we try to work together for world peace and progress on our planet. THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO!
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR CHAPTERS SO THAT YOUR IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES CAN BE SHARED!
MILLE FOIS MERCI!
