If you are aware of a French (foreign language) program at risk, or if you would like to increase support in your community/institution for your program, these are a few things to keep in mind.
- Make your classes as appealing and relevant as possible
- Reach out to students, their parents, and other local stakeholders outside your classroom
- Participate in local, regional, and national professional associations to develop your professional network, and potential allies, and to learn more about current trends and best practices.
The most important factor in effective advocacy for French or any foreign language is your conviction, your motivation, and your grasp of the available data.
Please feel free to contact me on FB @ https://www.facebook.com/AATFcommissiononadvocacy
or by email @ kathysteinsmith@gmail.com
Languages do matter!
In alphabetical order —
Selected Web Links
AATF — http://www.utm.edu/staff/globeg/advofr.shtml
https://frenchadvocacy.wikispaces.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AATFcommissiononadvocacy/;
ACTFL — https://www.actfl.org/advocacy
CSCTFL — http://www.csctfl.org/committees/advocacy/index.html
Commission on Language Learning. http://www.amacad.org/content/Research/researchproject.aspx?d=21896
Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in United States Institutions of Higher Education. https://www.mla.org/Resources/Research/Surveys-Reports-and-Other-Documents/Teaching-Enrollments-and-Programs/Enrollments-in-Languages-Other-Than-English-in-United-States-Institutions-of-Higher-Education
Foreign Language Enrollments in K-12 Public Schools. https://www.actfl.org/news/reports/foreign-language-enrollments-k-12-public-schools-are-students-ready-global-society
Foreign Languages and Higher Education: New Structures for a Changed World. https://www.mla.org/Resources/Research/Surveys-Reports-and-Other-Documents/Teaching-Enrollments-and-Programs/Foreign-Languages-and-Higher-Education-New-Structures-for-a-Changed-World
French: The Most Practical Foreign Language. http://www.faculty.fll.vt.edu/French/whyfrench.html
JNCL-NCLIS — http://www.languagepolicy.org/advocacy/member-advocacy-materials/
On the Importance of Knowing French. http://www.utm.edu/staff/globeg/profren.shtml
10 Good Reasons for Learning French. http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/francophony/promoting-french-around-the-world-7721/article/10-good-reasons-for-learning
Why French Matters. https://foreignlanguages.camden.rutgers.edu/french/why-french-matters/
Selected Articles
Building a Language Proficient Society: What Can You Do? http://www.ericdigests.org/2001-1/language.html
Why French? http://languagemagazine.com/?p=125752
Selected Videos
Are We Prepared for the Jobs of the Future? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwCEkleilNQ
Et en plus, je parle francais. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3y5p8y_et-en-plus-je-parle-francais_school
Lead with Languages. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxxBr4aKnRM
Why French Matters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiJlGa0BtjA
Language Matters 