Bonjour mes collègues,

SUBMISSION EXTENSION!

The deadline for submitting a proposal for a session at our national convention in Austin, TX, July 3-6, 2016 has been extended to December 31, 2016.   Chapter leaders are probably the best positioned to know who might have a topic to share with colleagues. Perhaps you're aware of a teacher who has given a session at your state World Language conference.  Is there someone in your chapter who is particularly adept at using technology or authentic resources?  Asking an individual directly tends to work well.  Let me know if there is someone that you would like me to contact.   

NATIONAL FRENCH CONTEST EXTENSION!

This is an exciting time for the new National French Contest format.  The changes will bring wonderful new opportunities for many teachers but the changes may also be challenging for others.   The deadline for ordering the paper and pencil tests has been extended from December 15 to December 22.  Teachers and even your state administrators who work so hard to make this excellent promotional event possible might benefit from some extra support and reassurance.

                                                      SOCIALIZING AND SHARING

                                       

Here's a photo of Greater Kansas City members at their traditional Christmas dinner where they exchange gifts.  Each member brings a French related gift and the members pass them from one to the other around the table until the president, Katie Madigan, with a "clink" to a glass on the table gives the signal to hold onto the one that you have, open it up, and discover what you've received!

Katie is the second on the left and you may recognize former national president, 
Ann Sunderland, to her left.

Here is one of the 2015 Future Leaders, Rebecca Léal, Vice-President in charge of Programs at the  Chicago/N IL chapter's December meeting of the Executive Council that included a break to enjoy the traditional Bûche de Noël. 

In January, the AATF of Greater St Louis will gather at "La Bonne Bouchée" as they do each year to enjoy a "galette" and find out who will be the king or the queen.  We hope to have photos.  

St Louis, the site of the 2017 AATF National Convention

Here is a photo of the AATF of Minnesota's Fall Dinner on the campus of Macalester College at which they honored their Teacher of the Year and enjoyed Lebanese cuisine along with the camaraderie of their colleagues. 

Some of you will recognize, center foreground, Caroline Little who received the Ludwig Award at our convention in Saguenay and to her right Carolyn Crane-Fisk the MN Grand Concours Administrator and the 2014 winner of the Outstanding Chapter Leader Award.

                                     

                                                        TEACHER RESOURCES

Many of you may already subscribe to the online "Bulletin Educatif du Midwest" created by the Service Culturel in the French Consulate in Chicago.  The AATF of Minnesota Chapter's webmaster and media director recently sent out several announcements to their members from the December issue of the "Bulletin." 

                http://fcnl.frenchculture.org/sent/show/e4cf8833dc5d6b3c7991db3eb2d8893e

One of the items is a "Webinaire" on the teaching of culture by Anne Lair, a professor of French at the University of Utah who earlier taught at the University of Northern Iowa.  These events cost $10 each and are a great opportunity to show our members that there are many resources available to them not only in the AATF but beyond.  Many of the the resources in the December 2015 issue are designed specifically for teachers at the post-secondary level. 

Others, like the Teaching Assistant in France program, are topics that high school teachers can discuss with their students to show them opportunities that lie ahead.

TEACHER ENRICHMENT

The AATF of Greater Kansas City has chosen a date in February 2016 for their annual Teacher Immersion Day on the campus of Rockhurst University.  After lunch at André’s Confiserie Suisse, the program will include an "exposé" and discussion of "“La régionalisation en France” and an introduction to and discussion of the film “La petite Jérusalem."

STUDENT EVENTS



AATF of Iowa has decided to begin planning the return of their chapter's Concours Oral as discussed at their meeting this last Fall at the IWLA conference.

ADVOCACY / PROMOTION

Here's a promotional Infographic from Martha Behlow, president of the Chicago/N IL chapter, that goes along with the topic of their Fall program and the chapter's efforts to promote the study of French as a continuum along which students continue to have much to look forward to, e.g. acquiring 21st century skills that will them get a job, internships, study abroad, service learning, etc.     

                     

The AATF of Wisconsin has started collecting info on French programs in colleges/universities in their state.  The first to be featured on their chapter website is the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  

                           

http://thefrenchhouse.cmail2.com/t/ViewEmail/r/E592FB7EF414BD492540EF23F30FEDED/F86252344D4FA2C44FB5D4CAE8F50064

The Chicago/N IL Chapter has just ordered pins with the AATF logo that will be given out to members who attend their meetings.  The goal is for teachers to put the pins on their badges when they attend World Language or other conferences as a way to promote French and make French teachers and the AATF visible.   Spotting an AATF pin can be a practical way to find and connect with colleagues at events, especially when French teachers are not the majority.

COMMUNICATION

Thank you for the support that you are offering the members of your chapter AND for your willingness to share with each other.  Some of you are including each other in your chapter email groups.  Those of you who have electronic newsletters can perhaps do the same.  The Chapter President Facebook page (AATF Chapter Presidents Network) that WI Chapter President Andrea Behn created with fellow Future Leader, Lucas Hoffman, Ohio Chapter President, is available to you and is not limited to Region VI.