AATF-WA/AK/BC/AB

WA State French Job Announcements

2012-02-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

Merci à Susan Redd pour ces annonces!

Job announcement: North Seattle French School is a new elementary school dedicated to bilingual education through excellent academics, creative learning and outdoor activities while promoting a rich multicultural environment.

NSFS will open its doors in Fall 2012 and is looking for a qualified teacher to welcome the first K-1 class. Bilingual French-English curriculum with majority in French
Full time Teacher for K-1 class in North Seattle area

Hours: 8:30 - 3pm with possibility of After School Program
Must be a Native French Speaker or Equivalent
Must be accredited by WA State
Salary depending on experience.
Please contact northseattlefrenchschool@gmail.com

Job announcement for Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington: This position is a full-time faculty appointment for the 2012-13 academic year. This position will teach

three sections of Middle School and one section of Upper School French. Application Process: Interested candidates should send a letter of interest (that includes where you

learned about this opportunity) and resume to: humanresources@charleswright.org

Autour de la gastronomie - Les différents pliages des crêpes/La Chandeleur

2012-01-28T20:13:00.000-08:00

J'aime bien montrer ces photos à mes élèves pour qu'ils comprennent que les crêpes ne sont point des burritos! Visitez le blog «Autour de la gastronomie» pour visionner d'autres.

Le 2 février, c'est la fête de la Chandeleur. Comme d'habitude, je ferai 5 gallons de pâte et notre Club français la fêtera en style!

Selon la tradition, chaque participant met un pièces dans sa main en retournant sa crêpe. Si la crêpe ne tombe pas par terre, celui-là aura du bonheur jusqu'à la Chandeleur prochaine!

La Chandeleur est toujours un «must» au lycée Mount Vernon. Voici la vidéo de notre fête de 2007. Il y avait 55 participants! J'ai cuisiné la plupart des crêpes, mais les élèves se sont vraiment amusés. Comment est-ce que vous la fêtez à votre école?

Pour terminer ce bulletin, je vous laisse avec quelques vidéos pratiques au sujet des crêpes et de la Chandeleur.

Bonne fête et bon appétit!

Lisez la transcription de cette vidéo.

Un coup de coeur au lycée Mount Vernon!
«La Migration Bigoudenn»

$1000 Scholarships to study French available from Seattle-Nantes Dollars for Scholars.

2012-01-24T16:33:00.000-08:00

Facebook page for Seattle-Nantes

The mission of Seattle-Nantes Dollars for Scholars is to facilitate access to appropriate education for students in the state of Washington who have a passion for French language and culture, specifically by providing scholarships to students pursuing studies in those fields in an institution of higher education in the state of Washington.

Students do not need to major in French, but the study of French language or culture must be an important part of their studies. The primary selection criteria are a passion for French and the ability to complete their proposed course of studies. Students should be encouraged to apply even if they have done so in previous years, as many of our scholarships are awarded to previous applicants.

Students can download our scholarship application from our web site www.seattle-nantesscholars.org.

Applications are also available at www.washboard.org and www.scholarshipamerica.org. From these two sites students can apply for many other scholarships.

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Bennett at tom@seattle-nantes.org.

Concours international des 10 mots de la francophonie

2012-01-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

Site Web du Concours

Du 1er janvier au 20 mars 2012, si vous avez entre 18 et 25 ans ou si vous êtes bibliothécaire, participez au Concours international des 10 mots de la francophonie.

La consigne : raconter un souvenir de vacances en 25 lignes maximum (2000 caractères) et en utilisant les 10 mots choisis par la Délégation générale à la langue française et aux langues de France dans le cadre de l’opération « Dis-moi dix mots » : âme, autrement, caractère, chez, confier, histoire, naturel, penchant, songe, transports.

Notre jury, composé de nombreuses personnalités (journalistes, écrivains…), désignera, pour chaque catégorie, les lauréats du concours, qui recevront les nombreux lots offerts par nos partenaires.

À vos crayons pour que résonne la langue française !

Gauguin & Polynésie : Un Paradis insaisissable - Musée d'Art de Seattle - du 9 février au 29 avril 2012.

2012-01-20T12:50:00.000-08:00

Gauguin & Polynésie : Un Paradis insaisissable

Gardez la date ! Le Musée d’Art de Seattle présentera du 9 février au 29 avril 2012, une exposition de 60 œuvres (tableaux et sculptures) de Paul Gauguin. Il y a de bonnes réductions pour les visites scolaires et si votre école remplit les conditions d'un taux de 40% « Free-and-reduced lunch », vous pourrez profiter d’un bon jusqu’à $300 pour le transport au musée.

Chez nous, les examens de l’État débutent en mars et finissent en avril. Le printemps est un moment idéal pour prendre une pause artistique, surtout avec les couleurs vives de Gauguin. Vous pourriez également ajouter des leçons de géographie et d’histoire afin d’enrichir vos plans.

Le congrès de la WAFLT était un succès pour les professeurs de français et j’aimerais continuer cette tradition de collaboration. Je suis constamment à la quête des idées intéressantes et utiles pour afficher ici. Cependant, le blog nous sert mieux quand nous partageons nos idées, nos ressources et nos projets. Si jamais vous (ou vos élèves !) préparez une leçon au sujet des artistes impressionnistes, comme Gauguin, pensez nous l’envoyer. Je l’afficherai sur notre site Web et ici pour que tout le monde puisse en profiter !

Pour terminer ce bulletin, je voudrais vous demander de vous inscrire au blog. Il y a actuellement 10 adhérents qui reçoivent les nouvelles lorsque je publie un message. Il serait formidable si on en avait 20 avant la fin de novembre. Il faut simplement cliquer sur le bouton « S’inscrire à ce site » à gauche sous la rubrique « Membres. » En vous inscrivant, vous recevrez un courriel chaque fois qu’il y a un nouveau bulletin. Cela me soulage un peu si je sais qu’il y a quelqu’un qui lit ce petit travail de moyens modestes !

Je vous remercie et je vous souhaite une très bonne semaine !

La dernière trouvaille de Jill Capozzoli: Radio Neige Folle de Belgique

2011-12-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

*** NEIGEFOLLE ***

Vous recherchez d’autres chansons que Petit Papa Noël pour les fêtes ? Je vous partage une de mes trouvailles : RADIO NEIGE FOLLE ! Que vous aimez la variété française, les cantiques classiques ou le kitsch, écoutez Neige Folle. Il s’agit de « la toute première radio Internet dédiée à la musique de Noël francophone.» On y retrouve de la musique de 1915 jusqu'à aujourd'hui. Le nom *Neige-Folle* vient du titre d'une rare chanson de Noël de 1944 interprétée par André Lamarre.

Radio Neige Folle est diffusée de la Belgique du 21 novembre au 26 décembre.

http://www.neigefolle.com/

Bonne écoute et bonnes fêtes,

Jill Capozzoli

Seattle

6 December 2011: Memorandum of Understanding: Académie de Nantes/Washington State meeting

2011-12-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

Lisez le document en français (PDF)

Convention de partenariat entre le recteur de l’Académie de Nantes, France et l’Office du Superintendant de l’Instruction publique de l’Etat de Washington, Etats-Unis.

Meeting: Tuesday December 6, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

MOU between Académie de Nantes and Washington State

Meeting for all teachers already participating and potential participants

Northeast Branch Library, 6801 35th Avenue NE – SEATTLE

(Wedgewood area, close to University Village)

Come and meet Laurence Emile Besse, Jean-Paul Pacaud from the DAREIC of Nantes and representatives from Washington State.

- Share with your colleagues your experience in the partnership with the French schools.

- Bring your plans/ideas for 2012.

- Any pictures or documents that you would like to share?

L'ouverture des inscriptions au Grand Concours/National French Test 2012

2011-12-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

Chères et chers collègues,

Nous voici encore une fois:

C'est l'ouverture des inscriptions au Grand Concours! Puisqu'il y a des parents qui s'intéressent à cet examen qui ne parlent pas français, je continuerai en anglais!

My name is Catherine Ousselin and I am the vice-president of the AATF-Northwest and coordinator for the National French Contest (Le Grand Concours) that is offered by the American Association of Teachers of French.

You do not have to be a member of the AATF to participate in this contest, but rates are discounted for members. If you are interested in becoming a member, perhaps you would like to know that new members for 2012 will receive 10 free tests and 1 CD at the listed national price! ($23.00 max).

Local test prices will be: AATF members - $5/test - $5/CD.

Non-members: $6/test - $6/CD.

These rates include test and CD prices and shipment to your school and our wonderful awards offered to participants. Last year, we were able to offer every student an award for participation. Students ranking in the top 30% of our region received beautiful books, DVDs, calendars, pins, medals, and many other prizes. The comments on the awards were quite high from both teachers and students.

Important dates: Registration for the test - 4 December 2011 through 27 January 2012.

FLES testing dates: 15 February- 28 February 2012

Levels 01-5: 1 March-28 March 2012.

I have never participated in this before. Why should I now? Catherine's story!

The Grand Concours is an excellent option for your students to demonstrate their knowledge and pride in French. It is also a way to show your community (and administrators!) that French is a valid, important, and academic part of a well-educated student's life. It is a 1 hour test that includes listening, reading, and grammar questions. There is a separate exam for FLES (elementary 1-6) The test does not follow a textbook, but it uses criteria based on levels. I was myself hesitant to have my students participate. I do not use a text, I design my curriculum, and my school is on a block schedule. I was certain that my students would not be able to perform as well at their assigned level, but I offered it to all classes last year and was amazed by the results. Great teaching, as we all know, leads to confident students. They may not have covered every topic listed on the test, but due to solid and sustained exposure to the language through music, comptines, and stories, the students were able to use their skills to mediate those questions. Several of the students at MVHS ranked in top levels of the state. At our awards ceremony, the students expressed their pride and honor of being recognized as highly capable French learners. It was a boost to our program and to the students' self-confidence!

Je m'y intéresse, mais j'ai des questions!

Please visit our local chapter's Web site to learn about registration, level requirements, payment options, test prep, and more about your very active local AATF region! The AATF-Northwest won the award for "Strongest recruitment" for large chapters at the national conference in Montréal. Being a member of the AATF has truly changed my outlook as a professional. I am more involved with language education more than I had ever imagined I would be. If you wish to discuss the test or experiences with other teachers, please contact me and I will pair you with an experienced teacher.

In closing, this test is not the HSPE! I did no test prep for my students. They saw the test as a unique and fun(!) way to evaluate themselves on a national level. The National French Test's slogan is "Nous sommes tous des gagnants!" We are all winners!

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Bien à vous et bonne continuation!

Catherine Ousselin - M.A. French

French teacher - Mount Vernon High

AATF Social Media Manager, Web/Blog Master, Tech Geek

Our sites:

www.aatf-northwest.org / www.aatf-northwest.blogspot.com

La Semaine du français: Du 8 au 14 novembre 2011

2011-11-06T17:48:00.000-08:00

La Semaine du français commence ce mardi ! Pour vous donner quelques outils pour le premier thème, la cuisine, j’ai créé une Playlist (une compilation) de 80 vidéos au sujet de la nourriture et de la cuisine dans les pays francophones. Les dernières 15 sont excellentes puisqu’elles sont archi- courtes (1mn30)et culturellement informatives. C’est une série de vidéos crées par Casino (le supermarché français) avec des recettes rapides pour les plats typiques de plusieurs pays francophones. Cliquez sur la flèche à droite pour voir la vidéo suivante. Si elle ne marche pas, cliquez ici!

Quels sont vos idées pour la semaine ? Quelles activités avez-vous planifiées ? Moi, je compte le faire en décembre avec un marché de Noël préparé par les élèves.

Les thèmes : Il ne faut pas que vous prépariez une activité pour chaque jour. Le principe, c'est de vous amuser avec les thèmes comme il vous semble bon! Contactez-nous si vous cherchez une idée ou si vous avez une activité à partager et je l'afficherai ici!

Jour 1 – La cuisine

Jour 2 – Les sciences, la technologie et les métiers

Jour 3 – L’art et l’artisanat

Week-end – Les activités pour le public

Jour 6 – Les sports, les jeux et les traditions

Jour 7 – La musique et la danse

Du 17 au 20 novembre, je serai à Denver pour le congrès de l'ACTFL. J'y présenterai les iPods et mes idées pédagogiques pour leur usage en cours de français. Si vous vous y intéressez, veuillez bien m'écrire. J'ai une tonne d'idées, comme d'habitude!

Bien à vous!

Merci à Susan Redd pour ce dessin mignon!

Linfield College's Competitive Scholarship Day

2011-11-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

La section française de Linfield College offre deux spécialisations, ou B.A., en études francaises (trois programmes en France) et en études ouest-africaines (deux programmes au Sénégal).

Linfield's Competitive Scholarship Day will take place on Sunday, February19, 2012 and will offer three prizes for French ranging from $10,000-$16,000 over four years. The competition for these exams includes both a written exam and an oral exam. The exam is open to seniors who have applied to Linfield and have completed the Competitive Scholarship Day section of the Common Application Supplement before December 1. For more information, contact Thierry R. Durand at tdurand@linfield.edu.

Dans l’attente de votre réponse, je vous prie d’accepter mes salutations sincères.

Thierry R. Durand, Professor of French Studies
Department of Modern Languages
Linfield College
McMinnville, OR 97128-6894

WAFLT 2011 - Pasco, WA

2011-10-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

Le congrès de la WAFLT 2011 a eu lieu du 14 au 15 octobre 2011 à l’hôtel Red Lion à Pasco, WA. L’assistance des professeurs de français a été prodigieuse et les présentations ont été formidables !

L’AATF a organisé une réunion vendredi après-midi et un déjeuner samedi. Lors du déjeuner, Sarah Hulburt, professeur à Whitman College à Walla Walla, Washington nous a présenté l’usage des courts métrages afin d’entamer des discussions dirigées et culturelles dans les cours. Les courts métrages nous ont fait rire et perdre le souffle avec leurs conclusions inattendues.

Ce qui est agréable avec les courts métrages, c’est la brièveté et le niveau de langue. Pour la plupart, ces films sont très courts (de trois minutes ou moins !) et faciles à comprendre à tous les niveaux. En utilisant un court métrage, il ne faut pas que l’enseignant prépare une leçon complexe ou une explication détaillée d’un extrait d’un film à long métrage.

Je vous signale que je viens d’afficher une playlist sur la chaine YouTube del’AATF avec des courts métrages suggérés par la présentatrice. Professeur Hulburt a également montré «Scènes de ménages», une émission de M6. Il vaut mieux les visionner avant de les montrer en classe afin d’assurer que le film soit d’un niveau approprié pour vos apprenants.

Pourrions-nous collaborer sur des questions de discussion pour ces courts métrages ? Si jamais vous en utilisez un, veuillez m’envoyer vos questions, votre plan ou vos suggestions ? Je les afficherai au site Web et ici.

Je remercie infiniment Sarah Hulburt. Sa présentation m’a donné tant d’idées que j’ai passé tout le week-end à rechercher des exemples pour ce bulletin. Regardez ci-dessus et vous verrez mes coups de cœur!

N’oubliez pas de penser au Grand Concours ! Je vous enverrai tous les détails vers le 15 novembre. Nos élèves ont vraiment du talent dans ce domaine – il faut y participer !

Bonne rentrée (un peu tardive !) et bonne continuation !

Catherine Ousselin

«Cui-Cui»

«Les petits sablés»

Bien mangé, bien discuté! Day 3 of N'Djamena

2011-10-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Bonjour encore une fois ! Hello again !

As I have made very long posts about the first few days of my voyage, I will be providing an abbreviated capsule of today’s adventures.

Today began with a short training on Facebook for the local staff of the Embassy. The staff member and I worked on the Embassy’s French Facebook page. Anyone who knows me understands that tech training is my second passion. I enjoyed the linguistic workout as I have never explained Facebook pages in French. I guided the staffer through the new parameters and offered a few ideas for future posts.

At 11h00, I met with two members of the FAWE (Forum of Women Educationalists) organization. This organization is highly proficient in providing training to teachers and students about healthy living, school attendance, and family life. We discussed for nearly one and half hours our respective philosophies on retaining students. Additionally, we shared videos of our students. This perhaps will be one of the strongest contacts that I have made during the trip. Although we wish to remain in contact, the “directrices” of FAWE use a USB modem for their laptop. At midday, it was nearly impossible to load my basic home page. Fiber optics has arrived in the country, thanks to companies like Exxon and others, but due to the lack of electricity, computers become a challenge. The Catholic school that I visited yesterday has installed solar panels to run their computers, but there are no computers in the lab. If the school had inexpensive tablets, refurbished iPod Touches, or the $100 computer, perhaps the connectivity situation would be less of an issue. Regrettably, the predominance of generators in the poorer neighborhoods cause noise and air pollution. Wood is still a common energy source and N’Djamena is cutting down trees to fuel its needs. Perhaps you have ever heard of the cardboard/aluminum foil solar ovens that are used in Afghanistan. These ovens provide enough heat to cook meals and decrease the amount of wood needed. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, women are less obliged to leave their villages to search for wood, therefore reducing the exposure to physical harm and rape. Why these ovens are not used or known in N’Djamena is to be investigated.

Sharon and I enjoyed a delectable lunch at “Le Bistrot” on the Rue Charles de Gaulle. This restaurant/deli offers French cuisine (their version) and products of all delicacies, including the finer choices of alcohol!

I had a “salade landaise” with lardons (salt pork) instead of duck and creamy dressing instead of the traditional dressing – basically, it wasn’t a real salade landaise, but it was appetizing. My plat principal was tournedos (beef) with a Roquefort (cheese) sauce.

Ridiculously well-fed, I prepared for the next visit to the ISCAM (Institut Supérieur de Commerce et d’Administration des Affaires et de Management). This school is for students who have completed their Baccalauréat diploma. It is housed in a three level building in a favorable area of N’Djamena. I met with the Secretaire general who informed me that classes did not begin until the 15^th of October. My heart skipped a beat. Perhaps this was to be the case for many appointments – lack of students. However, after waiting for a half hour, the director led me into a large room with about twenty students. The director provided me with an Orange Fanta and a bottle of water – we were ready!

My talk centered around the similarities between Mount Vernon and N’Djamena. These include absenteeism, early pregnancy, and dropout rates. My presentation was short, but to the point – females must be supported and treated as equals at school, at home, and in the professional environment. A good discussion followed with a few difficult questions that I, as a high school teacher, could not answer. The students and I agreed that to demonstrate the potential of women to the Chadian culture, they must provide concrete examples of their intentions and projects. Whereas ideas are plentiful, money and time is often wasted due to a lack of organization on the receiving end. The women that I have met in the past two days have proven that they can impose positive influence and impact in their communities with little support. With directed guidance and support, these women will lead their country toward a more democratic and organized society. And I was part of that discussion! A truly memorable day.

Dinner was a chicken club sandwich.

Catherine Ousselin au Tchad! L'aventure continue!

2011-10-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

Bonjour ! Today is Tuesday, 4 October 2011 and I am in N’Djamena, Chad. I am using the AATF-Northwest blog to recount my experience as a “conferencière” (speaker) for the Department of State’s US Specialist and Speaker Program. In my first post, I described how I was awarded this honor and how I arrived in N’Djamena, the capitol of Chad. In this bulletin, I will describe the Embassy and the schools that I visited today.

Sharon Blaine, the Public Affaires Officer with whom I am working, brought me to the Embassy Monday morning for a security briefing and to introduce me to the staff. This was my first embassy visit and I was impressed by the amount of security that protects our soil in foreign countries. Upon each arrival, cars pass through special gates and are searched for explosives or tampering. It is a detailed routine that I have come to appreciate each time I enter the grounds. The Marine who provided me with the security information is a congenial man with a solemn position. I shared with him that my grandfather was a Marine in World War II in Italy and acknowledge my gratitude for his service. After the security briefing, Félix (a Chadian who works for the Embassy’s Public Affaires office) presented me with an updated schedule of the schools that I am to visit. Six school visits in four days plus the ISCAM (business school) and a meeting with female teachers who belong to a local women’s group make for an eventful schedule.

Monday night, I had the pleasure of attending the German National Day celebration at the German embassy, staffed by two Germans! I met the German ambassador by chance. He was speaking French and I asked him if he knew anyone at the party. With great humor in his voice, he informed me that he was the ambassador and that it was his party, so he knew everyone! Sharon presented me to the American ambassador, an amiable person. Diplomatic introductions aside, I reveled in the heat of the night, the lightning storm, and the copious amounts of meats and sauerkraut. Smechlich! It was an educational, but overwhelming, day and I looked forward to a good rest that night.

My travels around the city and to various functions are conducted by the embassy carpool. The gentleman (All Chadians) who brave the outrageous streets of N’Djamena are pure geniuses! There is a “code de route” here, but no one, except the embassy drivers, follows it. The few paved streets are completely overrun by motorcycles, trucks, SUVs, and people. I will ask the drivers if I may take their pictures. However, I imagine that they wish to keep a low profile, considering their connection to the embassy.

Tuesday! Mardi merveilleux! Although I had wanted to begin the day well rested, I stayed up late working on the blog, my lesson plans, and chatting with friends. At 2:3o Tuesday morning, I finally closed the laptop and my eyes! My alarm at 7:45 rang too early for my tired mind, but I can function quite well on adrenaline!

At the embassy, I prepared the gifts for the students at the “Lycée Assomption,” a private Catholic school for girls. The ride to the school was longer than expected. We left the paved roads and typical city dwellings and entered an environment that I have never experienced. The residences were beyond modest… Trash heaps abounded throughout the streets and young children were out in the heat of midday.

Bricks and other building materials littered the area. The dirt road to the school was riddled with potholes that rival Québec!

Upon arrival at the school, Sharon, Ali (the photographer), Féix and I were met by Soeur Marthe (Sister Martha). Her contagious and charming beam reassured me that the voyage to the school was worth the tailbone shattering. As I entered the school, dozens of students crowded around me; each girl with a shy smile and a friendly handshake. As it became apparent that there was a visitor, the group swelled into a hundred students. Sister Marthe lead us into the community room where I was to present. It was a humble room with chairs, a stage, a blackboard, a microphone! The microphone was most appreciated! As Sister Marthe calmed the students down, a remarkable rush of emotion came over me.

Looking at the 200 students gathered in the room, I grasped the reality of the situation. These students had come to see me, Catherine Ousselin, French teacher from the Midwest and Northwest. I could have never imagined that my life story would lead me to this moment. This feeling compared in no way to the numerous presentations that I had given in the past. Although they were important and meaningful learning experiences, this moment put those presentations into a powerful perspective. The students that I teach in Mount Vernon are students of lower social-economic status. They yearn to raise themselves and their communities through education. However, none of my students live in the situations from which these girls come. There is no comparison to the poverty that faces these students in the United States. Whereas my students enjoy my quirky teaching style and, at times, take their education for granted, these young women appreciate the smallest of luxuries such as electricity in the classroom and the small gifts that I brought them. Tears welled in my eyes and I had to turn momentarily from the group. My joy and anticipation had come to a pinnacle. It was time to begin!

Sharon Blaine introduced me to the students in beautiful French. Her well chosen words calmed my nerves and invigorated my enthusiasm. Perhaps the minimal stage and workshop experience that I have prepares me for this moment. All eyes fix on the stage, anticipating the first words of the speaker. I took the microphone and greeted the students who replied in perfect unison. (Hint to my students: Watch the video! This is how to reply to the teacher when he/she greets you.)

My presentation was to engage the students in TPR commands in English. My theme was animals and their actions. It was a powerful feeling as I went through the body parts with the girls. They giggled loudly when I directed them to touch their ears and wiggle them. The giggles lead to raucous laughter as we swayed our hips. They must have thought that I was rather silly, the American teacher who tried to shake gracefully. Our lesson continued with drawings, vocabulary, recitations, gestures, and songs. I rewarded each student who drew the board or who wrote out the vocabulary words with the donated gifts. Remarkably, the participation rate soared! Our session ended with a few rounds of, “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes” and Charades with animals. I was soaked with sweat; my voice was raw, but radiant with joy. The students and I discussed the importance of imagination and creation at school and the necessity to finish a diploma. One student offered me a sweet farewell saying, “Please don’t forget us.” I reassured them that there was no danger of this. We exchanged addresses and smiles.

Exhausted and with dripping hair, I returned to the embassy to meet the Chargé d’affaires, the second in command at the embassy. He hails from Michigan, a kindred Midwest spirit. I feel a bit culpable for leaving a sweat mark on his chair. However, I feel that it’s a sign that I had worked hard.

After my visit, I returned to the hotel for restorative purposes: shower, nap, clothing change, and lunch! My second visit was organized with the “Lycée Hérédité,” a private, non-religious school of nearly 1900 students. The driver took the same route as the morning. I managed to snap a few quick pictures of the neighborhood, but I understood that the residents of the area did not wish to be used a tourist fodder. The arrival at this school was a bit unnerving. There were no students in the courtyard and the local seemed closed for the day. Baye, another office employee, inquired about our visit. We were directed to the Provisoire (school headmaster) who seemed somewhat surprised to see us. He informed me that the students had left for the day, but that he hoped that they would return for the presentation! Understandably, I was disappointed. I had built up my energy to share a similar presentation as the morning. We waited for nearly an hour for the students to return, but no one did. The head master offered me a fizzy drink and some excuses, but it seems as though he was not explaining the entire situation. After a half an hour, the “directeur fondateur” entered and stated that the embassy was to have sent an official letter stating my visit and its purposes. The sweltering heat and lack of fresh air dampened my spirits.

Baye and I decided that it was best to leave. It was suggested that I make time in my schedule to visit again. I offered a vague promise to consider the idea, but in reality, I have no extra time on this visit. The school knew that I was coming and yet dismissed the students early for the day. As my chauffeur and I agreed, the results of the day were 50%. However, I would weigh the morning’s visit much stronger, therefore balancing the results to a fantastic 90% perfect day!

Questions pour moi? Questions pour les élèves ou professeurs à qui je présente? Ecrivez-moi un message ici, sur Twitter (@catherineku1972) ou par courriel : catherineku72@gmail.com

Merci encore de m’avoir suivie ! Je vous promets un nouveau bulletin demain !

Catherine Ousselin au Tchad! Days 1&2

2011-10-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

Bienvenue au Tchad, Catherine!

Through a grant from the Department of State’s “US Speakers and Specialist Program,” I have been sent to N’Djamena, Chad to speak to women about empowerment through education. Jayne Abrate, Executive Director of the American Association of Teachers of French, recommended me to a representative of the Department of State. Michael Bandler contacted me three days before the beginning of school and asked if I was interested in participating in the program. After requesting and receiving leave from my district, I was able to accept the offer. My previous travel experience to the African continent was in Marrakech, Morocco. The fact that I had been chosen to represent my country in an area so far from Mount Vernon, Washington, USA greatly honored me.

Upon announcing the news to my colleagues and students, their amazement and accolades invigorated my anticipation for the voyage. After completing the Yellow Fever vaccination and renewing my passport, and finding guest teachers to replace me in a remarkably short time, I was on the plane! My first flight from Bellingham to Seattle took 25 minutes! The flight from Seattle to Paris on Air France took nine hours. I had an eight hour layover in Paris, so I spent the time at the Sheraton at Charles de Gaulle. It was worth the price! A hot bath and a great nap in a comfortable bed refreshed me for the last leg of the trip.

I boarded Air France flight 558 to N’Djamena with people speaking in many languages. For a linguist like me, it was heaven to hear the strains of conversations in languages that I had never heard. The flight went by fairly quickly and I had the chance to watch “Case Départ,” a French-Antillais film about two brothers living in Paris who visit their dying father in Martinique. Due to their lack of sympathy for their Antillaise heritage, an aunt sends them back to the year 1760 so that they may experience the hardships of the sugar cane plantations. My second film was a truly difficult story to watch. “Omar m’a tuer” (sic) is based on a true event of a Moroccan gardener accused of killing his employee. He is sent to prison on non-existent evidence. In the spirit of “True Blood,” by Truman Capote, a writer takes up the case of Omar in order to find the true killer. Please consider either of these films for your 3^rd year and advanced classes. The demonstration of race relations and history in both reminded me that French teachers should use a variety of films from all Francophone backgrounds.

The food and service on both Air France flights was outstanding. True, I did fly business class! I was most impressed by the chairs in the AirBus A330. They folded out 180 degrees for a flat sleeping surface. The multiple meals were served in an appealing fashion and in courses. I took great care as not to consume too much alcohol for fear that I might not recover from the combined jetlag and after effects!

Arrival in N’Djamena! The airport was about as basic as it could possibly be. I stepped off the plane and was bombarded by thousands of grasshoppers that were swarming the bright lights of the airport building. The passport control room was an open room with bright lights as well. And thousands of bugs of all types flying into my hair, my face, everywhere. I did my best to keep my composure, but at one point, I tried to pull my sweater over my head. Luckily, I was met by an embassy employee who took me to the front of the line, completed my passport check, and fetched my one checked bag. Side note, the bag contains many gifts for the students at the schools I will be visiting. These gifts were donated by the teachers and students of Mount Vernon schools. Quelle gentillesse! So kind!

I was in my hotel room within 20 minutes. It is clean and comfortable at “Le Méridien Chari” (the river between Chad and Cameroun). The satellite television has great options for French and English speakers. France24 and Afrique24 are helpful linguistic resources. The breakfast buffet has been copious and delicious. After a hot shower and a few moments of relaxation, I was ready to sleep. However, I was met with a knock at the door. It was the Public Affaires Officer, Sharon Blaine. (Attachée aux Affaires Culturelles et de Presse). She has taken me under her knowledgeable wing and has offered me a thorough introduction to life in N’Djamena. Her prowess for driving in these uncontrolled circumstances is a marvel. I have now met her cats, seen her house, and had a linguistically appealing dinner at a great Lebanese restaurant with Sharon. She has offered me two incredible opportunities during my trip: The German embassy’s Oktoberfest and the Marine party on Friday night. More about the Marines later!

I will be blogging more each day as long as the WiFi holds out! Pictures may be rare until I get home, but I have posted a few on my Twitter stream: @catherineku1972. The other reason for rare photos: Photography is illegal in N'Djamena! Yes, the government has strict rules about photographing any public places. Security is an issue. I will be discreet and not take pictures in important areas.

Bon, je suis épuisée et je me coucherai bientôt! Merci d’avoir lu mes premières pensées. C’est un grand honneur d’être ici et je tâcherai de faire de mon mieux !

Bonne nuit!

Catherine

Catherine Ousselin au Tchad!

2011-10-03T00:45:00.000-07:00

Chers lectures et chères lectrices!
Bonjour du Tchad! Si vous ne le saviez pas, je suis actuellement au Tchad a N'Djamena. J’écrirai bientôt des bulletins avec mes aventures ici. Pour le moment, veuillez bien lire l'annonce de mon voyage ici.
Ou ici.
A très bientot!
Catherine Ousselin

WAFLT 2011 - October 14-15, 2011, Pasco, WA

2011-09-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

WAFLT Conference Information

View the Draft Conference Schedule here.
There will be several French-centered presentations offered this year. Additionally, the AATF will be hosting its celebrated "Idea Share" session! Please bring a mini-lesson, technology-enhanced plan, questions, success stories, or professional topic to discuss. The Idea Share works best when those who attend provide the topics!

Pasco Red Lion Conference Hotel - Register through this link for the conference price.

«Le Hérisson» au cinéma Landmark Egyptian - Seattle

2011-09-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Merci à Judy Davis pour cette annonce!

«Le Hérisson» au cinéma Landmark Egyptian Theatre - Inspiré par le roman L’Élégance du hérisson par Murel Barbery

Synopsis: Wikipédia

Paloma est une jeune fille de 11 ans, très intelligente et néanmoins suicidaire qui, caméra en poche, va nous démontrer qu'elle a pris une grande décision pour son prochain anniversaire. Elle est consternée par la médiocrité d'esprit de ses parents (bien qu'elle semble respecter son père plus que sa mère) et de sa sœur et n'entend plus vivre dans un tel contexte ; sa seule solution : mettre fin à ses jours.

Madame Michel est une concierge de 54 ans, d'allure bourrue, qui vit recluse de la société dans l'immeuble où habitent Paloma et sa famille, cachant sa grande culture littéraire à ses employeurs co-propriétaires de cet immeuble très bourgeois qui ne voient en elle qu'une simple concierge sans intelligence ni talent.

Il y a également un vulgaire poisson rouge qui semble s'ennuyer dans son bocal, ce qui ne l'empêche pas de tenir farouchement à la vie, et enfin, un nouveau résident, veuf et d'origine japonaise, qui va tenter de mettre un peu de soleil dans cette grisaille...

Deux articles au sujet de l'apprentissage des langues étrangères

2011-08-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

The Pentagon's Foreign-Language Frustrations (Time.com)

"Learning the language will not only help one learn about that culture but be able to operate more effectively once immersed in it," writes Smiley, who now serves in Saudi Arabia, and has been a military adviser to both Afghan and Saudi security forces. "Improving our language skills may lead to more effective and efficient techniques for building the capacity of our current and future partners and reduce the need for deployments of robust US forces."

Back to School: Language Lessons (Sammamish Review.com)

Starting in middle school

"Both school districts offer accredited foreign language classes starting in eighth grade. Inglewood students can take Spanish or French starting in eighth grade. Students at every Issaquah School District middle school can take Spanish, but only those at Issaquah Middle School and Maywood Middle School have an option for French, according to Sara Niegowski, the district’s communications director."

Qu'en pensez-vous? Laissez-nous un commentaire et partagez vos opinions.

Bonne rentrée et bon surf!

Catherine Ousselin

"I am worried about my grade." Xtranormal!

"I want to speak to you about my grade." Xtranormal

Une école"charter" d'immersion à Portland, Oregon

2011-08-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

Merci à Judy Davis pour cet article intéressant d'OregonLive au sujet des parents qui soutiennent une école d'immersion publique (charter school) à Portland. On peut être fiers et reconnaissants des parents qui travaillent avec et pour l'enseignement en français. Visitez ce lien pour explorer l'école "Le Monde Immersion School."

"Le Monde Immersion, a non-profit organization and applicant for 501(c)3 status, was founded in 2008 by parents and educators for the purpose of creating a full-immersion, French language public charter school in the Portland Public School District."

Why Digital Learning will Liberate Teachers : Education Next

2011-08-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

Why Digital Learning will Liberate Teachers : Education Next

YouTube Playlist avec les métiers et professions

2011-08-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

S’il vous faut des clips vidéo avec les professions, consultez cette liste que j’ai préparée pour mes apprenants. J’y ai mis une trentaine de clips où on voit des métiers en contexte d’un film. Si jamais vous avez une suggestion pour cette liste, envoyez-moi le lien pour la vidéo et je l’y ajouterai !

Le petit Nicolas

2011-08-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

Pour ceux qui aiment utiliser les histoires du « Petit Nicolas, » je vous signale qu'il existe un blog d’un professeur espagnol qui enseigne le français. Il y a mis presque toutes les histoires avec des fichiers imprimés et auditifs. En plus, il a ajouté des questions (assez faciles) de compréhension. Amusez-vous bien avec ce blog mignon et utile !

NB : Le clip vidéo n’a rien avoir avec le blog, c’est uniquement pour donner un peu de contexte !

Visite de l’ambassadeur de France, François Delattre à Seattle le 17 et 18 octobre 2011

2011-08-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

October 17, 2011 Aerospace Conference:

Focus on France & the United States

Join Ambassador Delattre and industry leaders from France and the United States for a day of presentations and discussions on the current status of aerospace in Washington State, the future of airplane design and perspectives on the global supply chain and international collaboration. Heavy focus on aerospace sector networking.

October 17, 2011 French Gala Celebration with Special Guest Ambassador François Delattre

Celebrate Ambassador Delattre's official visit to Seattle with a gala reception and dinner. The Honorable Romain Serman, Consul General of France in San Francisco will also be in attendance. The gala will be a formal affair and will be open to all business sectors and the community creating the perfect environment for networking.

October 18, 2011 Ambassador's High Tech Visit

During his visit to Seattle, Ambassador Delattre will visit various local high tech companies. Participation in these visits will be by invitation.

More information and details on how to register for each of these events to follow. For questions, please contact Casey Marie Mochel at the French-American Chamber of Commerce at coordinator@faccpnw.org.

Cool tools for schools

2011-07-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Cool Tools for Schools

Ce site a été suggéré par Sheryl Meservey. On y trouve une bonne liste épatante d’outils pour la technologie. Je vais incorporer quelques liens dans mon site Web pour la technologie : www.catherine-ousselin.org/technology.htm

Bon surf!

Thinking about Syncing Technology Poll - Congrès de l’AATF à Montréal

2011-07-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ce sondage est uniquement pour les participants du congrès de l’AATF. Veuillez cliquer sur ce lien pour remplir le sondage.

Dvolver Moviemaker - Quel temps fait-il chez vous?

2011-07-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

Puisque l'été me manque... Voici une petite vidéo que j'ai faite avec Dvolver Moviemaker. C'est hyper pratique et facile à utiliser!

Literacy in Language Learning: DIY eReader - Importing PDF files and Mp3 files to an iDevice

2011-06-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

Users of this module will learn how to upload the PDF and Mp3 files from the “Il était une histoire…” Web site (or any similar site) to their iDevice.

Last week I learned of a fantastic site for French language learners and teachers from my Twitter PLN. The site is called “Il était une histoire...” http://www.iletaitunehistoire.com/

At first glance, I was excited to find an authentic audio site with text to post to my curricular Web site (www.catherine-meissner.org). Students in my classes are directed to use these sites as part of weekly homework or enrichment activities. They enjoy the option of listening to stories with pictures or videos outside the classroom environment. The site offers poems, fables, stories, and nursery rhymes for language development. It is a well-constructed and easy-to-use site, but unfortunately the audio files cannot be accessed directly on an Apple mobile device. I do not use the Android platform, therefore I do not know if it the files are accessible through these devices.

As we have seen in the past few years, younger learners are accessing the Internet through smart devices rather than computers. The high school students I work with are uncomfortable using computers beyond Facebook and music management. It is important that I provide them with sites that are smartphone-friendly.

Fortunately, I came upon a most important discovery –There were downloadable Mp3 audio files and PDF files for nearly each story! I knew that I had found a key to connect my students to French audio and visual input in a simple and interactive fashion through a medium that best suits their digital preferences. There are many sites available in several languages that offer these same options. I am currently collecting a list of these sites. If you have a suggestion, please leave it in the comments or e-mail me directly.

Users of this module will learn how to upload the PDF and Mp3 files from the “Il était une histoire…” Web site (or any similar site) to their smart device.

Mode d’emploi – User directions for Apple iDevice
Users of iTunes and an iDevice are familiar with importing music from CDs or with purchasing apps, music, or movies through the iTunes store. This module will use the same skills needed to import a CD and to download an app from the iTunes store.

The required components of the module:

1. “Il était une histoire…” Web site.

2.iTunes account or Android Market

a. iBooks or Stanza (Apple)

b. PDF reader app (Android)

3.iDevice (iPod/Pad/Phone) or Android phone/Pad

Les étapes / Steps to transfer PDF/Mp3 files to

your Apple iDevice. After this initial setup of your

device, subsequent downloads will be less involved!

1. Navigate to the “Il était une histoire…” Web site. Click on "Contes et légendes" and choose a story. For this demonstration, I have chosen "Blanche Neige."

2. On the right side of the screen, look for “Les outils”(tools) and click on “Télécharger l’histoire en PDF.” (download the story.)

3. Save the file to your “Documents” folder. You may wish to make a subfolder labeled “PDF stories” (or name of your choice!) to help you find the file more easily.

Or open the PDF and save it under the “File – Save As” function.

4. Repeat this task for the Mp3 file. Both files may be saved in the same folder.

5. In the iTunes store or directly from the App store on the device, download either Stanza or iBooks (easier to manage). Both apps are free. If you used iTunes, be sure to update your iDevice by connecting it to your computer.

6. In iTunes (on your computer), choose “File – Add File to Library” or Control-O. Choose the PDF file and the Mp3 either separately or together by using “Control/Shift.” iTunes will import these files into your Music and Books libraries.

7. Open the “Books” library to see the PDF file.

8. Connect your iDevice to the computer and sync. The PDF and the Mp3 files will be transferred to your device.

9. Open the Music icon and the Mp3 file will be listed in the "Songs" file. Press "Play" to start the recording. You may listen to the story and read the PDF at the same time.

10. Open the iBooks app and you will see the downloaded story.

In 10 (hopefully) easy steps, you have harnessed the language tools available for free to the palm of your hand and the lobes of your ears! Please write me with ANY questions. I am here to guide and explain in non-tech language.

I will be using this idea to sync books and any Mp3 recordings that I find online to the 15 iPod Touches that I received through two grants. The students will also receive these instructions by e-mail and through this blog so that they may sync their own devices. After querying my advanced students, I learned that they did not know how to add PDF files to their devices. They will know in September!

I believe that it is essential that we, as educators, instruct students on how to use these powerful devices to extend their knowledge and access the outstanding tools that are available to them online. They have the power of a computer in their pockets. It’s up to us to show them the tools!

Please send me your suggestions for sites with Mp3 and PDF files with languages and I will post them both on this blog and my Technology for World Language teachers Web site: http://www.catherine-meissner.org/technology.htm

Bon surf et Bonnes vacances!

Passez un été téléchargé !

Catherine Ousselin

La Marche de l'empereur - Vidéo hilarante!

2011-06-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Moi, je travaille jusqu'au 22 juin. Il me faut quelque chose pour me faire rire. Je pense que je l'ai trouvée. Amusez-vous!

Liens et trouvailles suggérés pour nos membres

2011-06-11T17:48:00.000-07:00

Seattle Art Museum:
Gauguin and Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise
February 9–April 29, 2012

SAM Simonyi Special Exhibition Galleries

Voici des liens au sujet de l’apprentissage des langues étrangères suggérés par Susan Redd. Au cas où vous cherchiez des ressources pour plaidoyer l’apprentissage des langues, visitez ces liens.
1. The Higher Education Academy: Language Linguistics Area Studies
2. Ñandutí: Foreign Language Learning preK-8
3. The World Speaks French : Publicités et affiches téléchargeables.

Claude et ses amis: Jeux pour les enfants
Aimez-vous les devinettes ? Judy Davis nous envoie un site Web avec des devinettes pour les enfants. Quelle bonne façon à réviser les jeux de sons et de mots avec les apprenants. Elles ne sont pas trop compliquées, même pour les débutants ! Faites défiler vers le bas de la page pour les trouver.

2011 Portland’s Bastille Festival in the Pearl

2011-06-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

"The Portland Bastille Day Committee will present the 9th Annual Bastille Day Festival at Jamison Square Park on Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 12 noon to 8 p.m. The event is free, open to the public and for people of all ages. Bastille Day festivals – held in cities all around the world – celebrate the storming of the Bastille Prison on July 14, 1789, an event which is recognized as the start of the French Revolution. The 2010 event in Portland was among the largest such festivals on the West Coast, with over 8,000 visitors and was filmed in 2008 by PBS for a documentary that was shown nationally on TV. This year’s festival will feature a variety of vendors and organizations offering French wine, cuisine, music, art and sport."

Conte-moi la francophonie! Un site Web qui mérite un coup d'oeil!

2011-05-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Chers lecteurs et lectrices ! C’est bientôt les grandes vacances et j’ai hâte d’aller à Montréal pour le Congrès de l’AATF ! Je passerai un moi au Québec et j’afficherai mes photos, mes impressions et mes découvertes ici, au cas où vous auriez besoin de la lecture stimulante cet été !

Je viens de terminer les cartons des prix pour les participants du Grand Concours. Cette année a été une réussite incroyable pour nos (900 !) élèves et je suis très fière de ceux et celles qui ont participé ! J’ai envoyé les résultats aux écoles participantes, mais si vous vous y intéressez, envoyez-moi un petit mot et je vous les enverrai.

Trouvaille de la semaine : A court d’idées pour les dernières semaines qui restent ? Vous cherchez à présenter un peu plus de lecture et de culture authentique ? Visitez cet excellent site Web pour lire et pour écouter des légendes et des contes francophones. Il y a également des fiches pédagogiques pour chaque histoire. Les possibilités sont sidérantes !

Pour ceux qui aimeraient correspondre par Twitter, trouvez-moi ici : @catherineku1972. La question que je pose en ce moment : Quel était votre « edu-moment » de l’année ? Y-a-t'il une réussite que vous voulez partager ? Laissez un commentaire ici si vous n’utilisez pas Twitter.

Je vous souhaite tous et toutes de très bonnes vacances !
Votre blogueuse dévouée,
Catherine Ousselin

2011 Seattle International Film Festival du 19 mai au 12 juin 2011

2011-05-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Seattle International Film Festival (lien)

Du 19 mai au 12 juin 2011.

"Belle-Epine"

Explorez les films par pays :

Algérie

Cameroun

"Métaphore du manioc"

Programme Jules Verne

2011-05-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

Courriel envoyé par Juliette Tropato
Deputy cultural attaché, Educational and Linguistic Affairs
Consulate General of France
Accès aux formulaires pour le programme.

As you may know, the Programme Jules Verne is a teaching initiative sponsored by the French Ministry of Education and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, and which sends fully trained and certified teachers from France abroad to teach at the elementary and secondary levels in school systems across the world, for a full school year. All public schools in the United States are encouraged to apply to receive a teacher from the Programme Jules Verne.

The teacher’s full salary is provided by the French Ministry of Education. The host school district in the United States is responsible for the teacher’s visa and temporary certification process, plus two roundtrip plane tickets.

The application deadline for this year’s Jules Verne program was April 29th. However, any district or school willing to participate and reciprocate by sending an American teacher to France would get priority and is practically sure to be accepted in the program, so we would be grateful if you could please forward this message to any school, district, or teacher who you think might be interested in this truly exceptional opportunity.
Hoping you will be interested in participating in this very exciting educational initiative,
Best regards,
Juliette Tropato
Deputy cultural attaché, Educational and Linguistic Affairs
Consulate General of France
1 713 985 3273

Du site Web du Ministère de l’Education nationale :
« Le programme Jules Verne permet aux enseignants titulaires du premier et du second degré de l'enseignement public d’exercer dans un établissement étranger pendant une année scolaire. Il renforce les partenariats et projets internationaux des académies. Ce programme répond à l’une des priorités de la réforme du lycée, mise en place à la rentrée 2010 l’internationalisation du système éducatif. Il encourage les objectifs européens de diversité culturelle et de pluralité linguistique et complète les programmes de mobilité européens et français existants. »

Du site Web Frenchculture.org
Accès aux formulaires pour le programme.

The Jules Verne program is an exciting teaching initiative sponsored by the French Ministry of Education and the Cultural Services at the French Embassy.
Created in the spirit of the European Erasmus program which promotes cross-cultural exchanges for students of varying nationalities, the Jules Verne program allows fully trained and certified elementary and secondary school teachers from France to live and teach outside of France for a full school year, immersing themselves in the culture, language and civilization of the host country. Through this initiative, teachers can pursue their love of education by accomplishing pedagogical goals in a new professional environment. Through this program, our goal is to encourage international mobility for teachers while at the same time strengthening and developing international and cultural relations between France and the United States. Our hope is to develop reciprocal educational exchanges between school districts in France and in the United States so that American teachers can also have the opportunity to teach in France.
All public schools in the United States are highly encouraged to apply to receive a teacher from the Jules Verne program for the 2011–2012 academic year.

OnPoint Prize for Excellence: Sheryl Meservey

2011-04-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

Félicitations à un de nos membres, Sheryl Meservey, nommée finaliste pour le prix « OnPoint Prize for Excellence !» Si vous voulez aider Sheryl, visitez ce lien et votez pour elle. La date limite est le 30 avril, 2011. On souhaite bonne chance à Sheryl !

Circle of Excellence

Congratulations to the teachers who reached our Circle of Excellence! These ten teachers were deemed to be the “best of the best” by the OnPoint Prize Selection Committee. From this group, the Committee will select the Educator of the Year and three finalists. We’ll also be awarding a Community Choice winner based on your votes!
    Educator of the Year
    One individual will get his/her mortgage paid for one year, plus $5,000 to his/her school for resources and supplies.
    One teacher will be voted Community Choice Winner
    All Circle of Excellence teachers will have the opportunity to be voted on by the public, via www.onpointprize.com. The Circle of Excellence teacher with the most votes will win the Community Choice Award, and will receive a $1,500 cash award and $1,500 for his/her school for resources and supplies. If the Community Choice winner is also the Educator of the Year chosen by committee, the teacher receiving the second most community votes will become the Community Choice winner. Voting starts April 22.
    Three individuals will be selected as Finalists
    They win $1,500 cash award, plus $1,500 for his/her school for resources and supplies.
    Awards will be given to five semi-finalists
    $250 for classroom resources and supplies.
To choose your favorite teacher, simply click on their name from the list below. Go to their profile page and click on the “vote” button. You can place only vote for the teacher of your choice. Additionally, only one vote can be cast from a single IP address. All computers in business and school networks may be on the same IP address, so you may not be able to vote from more than one computer per network. A successful vote will receive a “Thank you for voting” message. In the event the Community Choice winner has been chosen by the Selection Committee as Educator of the Year, the Community Choice winner will be the teacher who received the next highest number of votes.

Deadline June 15th, 2011: Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC)

2011-04-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Teachers for GlobalClassrooms Program (TGC) (click for link)

Secondary Teachers! Start an Application Today! Deadline: June 15, 2011 at 11:59pm EDT The *Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC)* provides an opportunity for middle and high school teachers from the United States to participate in a professional development program aimed at globalizing U.S. classrooms.

Participants are selected through a national, open competition. TGC is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) administered by IREX.

Eligible applicants must be:
*Full-time secondary-level (middle or high school), teaching professionals with five or more years of classroom experience in disciplines including English as a Second Language, English Language or Literature, Social Studies, Mathematics, or Science
*U.S. citizens

Program activities include:
*An online course designed specifically for U.S. teachers aiming to globalize their classrooms;
*Two Global Education Symposiums in Washington, DC; and
*An international fellowship through a ten-day country visit upon successful completion of online course.
*Travel under this program will be to *one* of the following countries: Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, or Ukraine.