August 2012

PRE-CONFERENCE ISSUE.
PLAN YOUR TRIP!
DETAILS, LINKS TO
SCHEDULES INSIDE,
PAGES 2-5
F LA VA B UL LE T I N
Volume 69,
Number 4
August 2012
President’s letter
Dear Colleagues and Friends
of the FLAVA Community,
The momentum this summer
has been mind-bogglingly
FAST FORWARD>> toward
realizing our 2012 Conference, October 4-6, 2012, at
the Crowne Plaza Hotel and
Conference Center, Williamsburg, VA. Our community
should appreciate the enormous amounts of time and
energy that Isi Kessel and the
FLAVA Conference Committee
have dedicated to making this
the best, most inclusive, and
exciting convention yet: your
participation is the one last
key element to make it truly
memorable! Membership
dues and conference registration can be found on the FLAVAWEB site (please note, if
you are only registering for
the conference OR only paying dues, the button is at the
bottom of this ABC sign-up
page). Hotel reservations can
be made through this link:
Crowne-Plaza Fort Magruder
or through their regular reservation link using FLA as the
code for our special $77.00/
night rate for the conference
(really? Williamsburg? only
$77? Bring family or friends!).
This year there are several
highlights and a number of
new initiatives. First is our new
site, the Crowne Plaza Hotel
and Conference Center, Fort
Magruder, Williamsburg, VA,
which is entirely ours to enjoy
from Wednesday evening
through Sunday. Please note
that there is free wifi in all
spaces. Besides the wealth of
history and tradition that the
Center affords us, its management and staff are dedicated
to serving us. Do not hesitate
to ask for what you need and,
please, remember to recognize their hospitality. Second
is our extended venue, begin-
ning on Thursday with the
DOE sponsored MOPI trainings, a full day French Embassy workshop, and several
afternoon workshops, not the
least of which that of Dr.
Terrell Morgan, a nationally
renowned linguist and true
FLAVA friend, who hails all
the way from Ohio State
University. Presentations continue through until Saturday
evening. You are going to
get a resounding bang for
your buck this year! Did I
mention that we have special
discounts for you at the outlets and tourist sites?
FLAVA is very proud to have
the ACTFL Teacher of the
Year, Yo Azama, as our keynote speaker and special
guest. He is most graciously
including FLAVA in his whirlwind year of touring the
Continued on page 7
Inside this issue:
FLAVA Conference 2012
- keynote speaker
- links to help you plan
- register now
- hotel room $77
- French immersion workshop, limited space
- Jamestown exhibit
2-5
Nominate a Colleague
for a FLAVA Award:
DEADLINE EXTENDED
6
Calendar
10
Virginia’s Community
College Instructors
— a detailed survey
12
CLTA-VA Report
15
Arabic, Classical teachers
16
Advocacy Report
20
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The FLAVA Mission
PROMOTE
ENCOURAGE
RECOGNIZE
PARTICIPATE
To promote and enhance
the study, teaching and
learning, use and appreciation of foreign languages,
cultures, and literatures
To encourage among members the exchange of ideas
which clarify the place of
foreign languages in their
schools and lives.
To recognize and publicize
excellence in foreign language teaching and learning.
To encourage participation in national, regional,
and state language associations
1
145 Sessions
More than 15 Languages
Immersion sessions, cultural lessons, online resources
INSPIRATION
Friends, Colleagues, leaders
Prizes, Shopping, Sight-seeing
News you need to know
400 Years of American History
DON’T MISS IT!
FLAVA Conference 2012
Languages: Fast Forward >>
October 4-6, 2012
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Williamsburg, VA
Featuring National
Language Teacher of the Year
Yo Azama
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Make the most of your conference:
Check out these links for schedules,
sessions, lists of presenters & contests:
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Register for the conference and FLAVA membership—
click here.
Creative Project Contest — Entries are due at the conference. Submit individual or group student work. For
details click here: contest, entry form.
Thursday schedule—click here.
Friday schedule— click here.
Saturday schedule—click here.
Conference information and overview—click here.
Directions to Crowne Plaza — click here.
Room reservations (remember to use FLA as your rate
code for the special FLAVA rate of $77) - click here
Conference preview—click here.
TOP 10 REASONS TO Reserve a Spot NOW
for FLAVA’s 2012 Conference
1. Move FAST FORWARD – meet hundreds of colleagues, presenters and exhibitors who care as much
as you do.
2. Feel like a student – find out how immersion teaching feels by trying out a new language, like Estonian,
Vietnamese, American Sign Language and many others.
3. See Williamsburg at an unbeatable price – The
Crowne Plaza Hotel has given FLAVA the unmatchable
rate of $77 (the state allowance!), so reserve a room
NOW! Look for discounts at Williamsburg’s outlet
stores.
4. Learn something you can use right away – this
year FLAVA will have 145 sessions, more than ever.
5. Be inspired – Hear Yo Azama, ACTFL’s amazing
2012 National Language Teacher of the Year, who
after 15 years of teaching says today’s students are
the most willing to learn new languages and cultures.
6. Hear it from the source –At least 40% of a teacher's evaluation must be based on student performance
— in effect for 2012-13. Hear about it from two
presenters who were in on the recommendation
FLAVA’S Keynote Speaker:
National Language
Teacher of the Year
7. Have lunch… with everyone! – A Mexican buffet
Friday and Italian buffet Saturday give colleagues
across all languages a chance to mingle ($12 plus tax
and tip).
Yo Azama
8. Tune your ears –Those 145 sessions offer plenty of
chance to hear speakers in your target language, plus
a few new ones.
The 2012 ACTFL National Language
Teacher of the Year is a graduate of
California State University in Monterey
Bay, California. He has a multiplesubject teaching credential from the
New College of California and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Showa Academia Musicae in Kanagawa, Japan.
From 1996 to 1999, he taught Japanese at Clarendon Elementary
School in San Francisco, and from 1999 to 2000, he taught Japanese,
English Literature and a cultural exploratory class at Gaviian View Middle School in Salinas. Since 2000, he has taught Japanese at all levels
at North Salinas High School. He has published widely in the field of
language education and culture. He has received many awards since
beginning his teaching career 15 years ago.
In his essay of application, Yo Azama wrote, “My experience as a language teacher convinces me that today’s students are ready and more
than willing to learn other languages and cultures, and prepare themselves to join a world that has no borders and offers them unlimited
opportunities if they have the linguistic and cultural competency. Language connects us and as a result it binds us to the global family that
we are.” A special session strand with Mr. Azama will take place after
lunch.
9. Make new friends – This year Arabic teachers and
teachers from Virginia Community Colleges join FLAVA, not to mention WHRO public radio with help for
your lessons.
10. Plan your future – Why settle for professional
development that’s all over the map? Learn how a
new program from Virginia’s DOE will let you figure
out what training you need and where to get it.—for
ALL teachers, pre-K to Ph.D.
Reserve your room
NOW for only $77
Click here for the Crowne Plaza Hotel
reservation page. Use “FLA” as your rate code
to get the $77 rate promised to FLAVA
members.
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FLAVA 2012 Conference
LANGUAGES: FAST FORWARD >>
Jamestown and Beyond: The World
of 1607
Presented in the FLAVA 2012 Conference Exhibits Hall:
General McClellan’s Redoubt, General Hill’s Redoubt
This fascinating educational exhibition examines how the
new colony in Virginia fit into the cultural, historical, and geographical context of the day — and how the story of Jamestown has continued to inspire American artists. Twelve reproductions of images from VMFA's collection combine with
explanatory text and an introductory panel to illustrate the
connections between the struggling colony and the world of
1607.
Fuji rising above the Musashino plain.
This Virginia SOL-related
exhibition also reveals how
the legacy of Jamestown
has continued to affect art
and culture in the last four
hundred years through paintings by John Gadsby Chapman,
At the dawn of the 17th century, exchanges of plants and ani- Richard Norris Brooke, Thomas Hart Benton, and a sculpture
mals were changing the diet of both of the world’s hemiby Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
spheres. New diseases and technologies were crossing the
Jamestown and Beyond: The World of 1607 is one of many
Atlantic. Political and religious ideas and concepts were
transforming societies. Economic fluctuations had worldwide Educational Exhibitions organized by the Virginia Museum of
Fine Arts for statewide travel and is supported by Jamestown
effects, vast populations were relocated, and the first truly
international wars were fought. These critical developments 2007. For additional information on VMFA and its statewide
resources, phone 804.204.2681 or e-mail edpartare accentuated through images as diverse as a glittering
ner@vmfa.museum; or check on the museum website.
Spanish ewer and basin, portraits of Sir Thomas Dale and
Queen Anne of Denmark, and the haunting image of Mount
FRENCH EMBASSY OFFERS WORKSHOP
The French Embassy has agreed to offer a fullimmersion workshop “Pathways Through Assessing,
Learning and Teaching the CEFR” entirely in French
during the FLAVA 2012 Conference, Thursday, October 4, 9:30-3 p.m. (exact length to depend on attendance). Participants work through innovative materials that lead teachers to reflect on the many dimensions of assessment, learning and teaching along
guidelines from the CEFR (Europe's ACTFL). Participants leave with a full Pathways guide and kit to
support integrating these newly acquired educational
strategies. Participants must pre-register. Space is
very limited. Contact Isidoro Kessel immediately to
reserve a place: kesseli@tncc.edu
Support FLAVA’s Advertisers: Tell them you saw it here.
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FLAVA NEEDS YOUR HELP!
If you are planning to attend the FLAVA Conference in Williamsburg , October 4-6, 2012, FLAVA could use your
help. Volunteers are needed to help staff the Registration Desk on Friday and Saturday, and to act as facilitators for
sessions.
The Registration Desk is a one or two hour commitment, and session facilitator requires less than ten minutes. Registration staffers check in attendees and hand out materials. Facilitators introduce the session presenter and distribute
evaluation forms. They are both great ways to meet FLAVA colleagues and help our professional organization. If you
would be willing to help with either of these, please contact Doug Bowman , the FLAVA Local Committee Chair at
bowmanda@lcps.k12.va.us or (540) 406-1088. Thanks for your help in making the FLAVA 2012 Conference a success!
MOPI Workshop at FLAVA
Learn to rate oral proficiency
at novice & intermediate levels
Registration is limited, paid by DOE
Modified Oral Proficiency (MOPI) Institute - This institute is an introduction to the techniques of administering and rating the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) at the Novice and Intermediate levels. Certified
workshop leaders from the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) guide participants as they observe, rate and conduct live practice interviews. Participants will critique and discuss
interview elicitation, structure, and rating. Following the workshop, participants are eligible to apply to
become ACTFL certified Testers with Limited Certification.
The cost for the MOPI Institute will be paid by the Virginia Department of Education. Registration is limited to 50 teachers and the deadline for divisions to submit nominations is September 10, 2012. The
selection process will address regional representation and priority will be given to registering teachers
who teach in high poverty areas. Please note that successful submission of the registration form does not
guarantee acceptance into the institute. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status via email
on September 11, 2012.
A Superintendents’ Memo will be sent to all divisions announcing the opening of the application window
on August 10, 2012. Teachers should contact their division level foreign language contact person to express interest in being one of the division’s nominees. For additional information about the Institute, contact Lisa Harris, specialist for foreign languages, at lisa.harris@doe.virginia.gov.
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FLAVA Awards Deadline Extended
Nominate a Colleague by September 15
By Nirva Vernet, FLAVA Recognitions and Awards Chair, awards@flavaweb.org
Recognize a terrific colleague or business that has supported foreign-language instruction.
Nominations are due September 15 for recognition at the October conference of the
Foreign Language Association of Virginia. The FLAVA Awards Committee will consider nominations for the following awards:
David
E. Cox Excellence in Teaching K-12 Award
The Helen Warriner-Burke FLAVA Distinguished Service
The Marshall Brannon FLAVA Excellence in Teaching Award, Post-Secondary
FLAVA Friend of Education Award
Please act now and send your nomination early. The deadline for submission is September
15. For additional information, contact awards@flavaweb.org. The Awards information can
be found on line here.
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FLAVA
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Executive Committee
President: Kathryn A. Murphy –Judy
(president@flavaweb.org)
President Elect: Annette Waggoner
(preselect@flavaweb.org)
Conference Coordinator: Isidoro
Kessel (conference@flavaweb.org)
Secretary: Jennifer Carson
(secretary@flavaweb.org)
Treasurer: Jackie Yau
(treasurer@flavaweb.org)
Past President: Norah L. Jones
(past_president@flavaweb.org)
Appointed Positions
Exhibits Chair: Becky McQueen
(exhibits@flavaweb.org)
Parliamentarian: Helen Small
(parliamentarian@flavaweb.org)
Bulletin Editor: Nancy Feigenbaum
(editor@flavaweb.org)
Webmaster: Josh Cockey
(webmaster@flavaweb.org)
Standing Committees
Nominations: Debbie Sommer
(nominations@flavaweb.org)
Recognition & Awards: Nirva Vernet
(awards@flavaweb.org)
Membership: Thomas Michael Wilcox
(membership@flavaweb.org)
Teacher Education & Professional
Development: Dick Kuettner
(profdevart@flavaweb.org)
Public Advocacy: Thomas Sones
(advocacy@flavaweb.org)
Local Committee: Doug Bowman
(localctte@flavaweb.org)
Affiliates
Virginia Department of Education:
Lisa Harris (vdoe@flavaweb.org)
VA FL Supervisors Association:
Suzette Wyhs (vflsa@flavaweb.org)
AATF: Amy deGraff
(aatf@flavaweb.org)
AATG: Dirk Johnson
(aatg@flavaweb.org)
AATSP: Patrick Wininger
(aatsp@flavaweb.org)
CAV: Margaret Hicks
(cav@flavaweb.org)
CLTA: Miao-fen Tseng
(mt3z@cms.mail.virginia.edu)
MAATJ: Sachiko Sakamaki
(maatj@flavaweb.org)
NNELL: Beatrix Pruesse-Burr
(nnell@flavaweb.org)
Community Colleges: Martha E. Davis
mdavis@nvcc.edu
President’s letter,
Continued from page 1
country, promoting good
language teaching and
learning. We have our colleagues in the Mid-Atlantic
Association of Teachers of
Japanese to thank for bringing Mr. Azama our way;
they reap the added benefit
of a Japanese workshop with
him on Saturday. Youkoso
irasshai mashita. Rigatou
gozaimasu! Welcome.
Thanks!
We also welcome the Foreign Language Peer Group
of the Virginia Community
College System into our
midst. The VCCS is a national
leader in language education and faculty professional
development. Many of its
faculty are longtime FLAVA
members and several have
won prestigious FLAVA
Awards, most recently, Dr.
Laura Franklin and Takako
Shigehisa. We especially
recognize the hard work of
Dr. Martha E. Davis, chair of
the Peer Group and VCCS
Representative to the FLAVA
Board, who is organizing its
program this year and
whose participation on the
Conference Committee and
the Board has been exemplary.
With great honor and anticipation, FLAVA is hosting the
emerging state association of
teachers of Arabic in our
midst. Thanks to the efforts
of Mr. Sherief Elias, Dr.
Ghassan Husseinali, and Mr.
Sami Belhoula, Arabic educators will be able to assemble in a shared community of
practice and to make their
voice present at FLAVA. We
cannot wait to seat the first
elected representative of
Arabic to FLAVA. Salaam!
Marhaban! [And, don’t forget to wish our Muslim
friends and colleagues
“Ramandan Mubarak!” this
whole month.]
Of particular note this year
is the Virginia Foreign Languages Professional Development Framework, elaborated by the Virginia Department of Education Foreign Language Specialist, Dr.
Lisa Harris. This amazing
document guides all of us,
Pre-K to Ph.D., to assess our
teaching proficiencies and
subsequently helps us design
a coherent, sustainable program of performance improvement. School systems
may provide special training
in August and September.
You will note in the Conference Program that sessions
are annotated with the TELL
correlations: to learn more
about the VAFLPD Framework and TELL, come to Dr.
Harris’ sessions, visit its flavaweb.org location (coming
soon), and/or visit the TELLProject.com site. We are so
very lucky to have this!
The Friday night reception is
going to be awesome. Not
only will we have some really big prizes for the giveaway, but we’ll also have a
raffle for a select set of exquisite offerings. That evening, too, will be a celebration. Some of our best friends
and colleagues are retiring
(albeit not shy!). Not only do
we want to recognize their
years of professional service
and collegiality, but we also
need their wisdom and experience to keep infusing our
profession. Let us raise a
glass to the sage retirees of
FLAVA at the Friday night
reception and encourage
them to stick with us. Later,
various language groups will
be hosting fun events for one
and all. Don’t miss Friday
evening at FLAVA!
FLAVA has begun a Retiree
Committee with a Board
representative to serve the
needs of this special sector
of our community (and for
those starting to think about
“life after”). Please let us
know if you want to be
counted in its midst or send
me names of your FLAVA
friends who have recently or
will soon be stepping down.
FLAVA is where you seek
new friends, but keep the
old: one is silver and the
other gold.
This year, we are also
launching the Speed Date a
New Language series, a set
of twelve concurrent sessions
in less commonly offered
languages and ASL, at least
one of which you’ve probably always wanted to experience. Through this linguistic
treat, we will be able to
sample other languages,
partake of new strategies
for that all important first
day, and get a taste of
what it’s like once again to
be novice learners. What a
chance to review, renew
and move fast forward with
tongues untied!
FLAVA is delighted to welcome its new friend, WHRO,
the PBS/NPR station of
Hampton Roads, to the conference. They will be sharing their resources with us to
add new dimensions to language education and professional development. We
welcome back the Virginia
Museum of Fine Arts
(VMFA), last year’s Friend
of FLAVA Award recipient.
It is bringing an exciting,
relevant art exhibit to share
with us right in our own Exhibit Hall! At key junctures
in our conference, Turning
Technologies will be affording us the use of classroom/
audience response systems
so that we can give feedback during the Business
Meeting at in other key
sessions. At their booth,
you’ll be able to explore
even more these easy, high
tech ways to engage and
assess students. Other new
and returning exhibitors and
friends of FLAVA will be
offering us an array of
technologies and media to
support language learning
Continued on page 8
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A Sampling of FLAVA 2012 Conference sessions:
The Imperfect (and Preterite) Crime!, Presenter: Doug Bowman, Louisa County High School
A murder mystery is the vehicle through which students practice the preterit and imperfect aspects of the past tense in Spanish
while enhancing their speaking and listening skills. This activity helps students build their impromptu speaking skills that are vital in
the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam. Attendees will receive handouts and instructions for taking this activity directly to
their classrooms on Monday!
Les Hommes, les Femmes, et les Origines des Jeux Olympiques, Presenter: Wade Edwards, Longwood University
En dépit des rôles importants joués par les femmes aux Jeux Olympiques modernes, il est peut-être étonnant d’apprendre que
Pierre de Coubertain, le fondateur des JO â Paris en 1894, a essayé toute sa vie d’empêcher les femmes d’y participer. Découvrez les origines spectaculaires et misogynes des Jeux Olympiques.
Moving Students from ACTFL Intermediate to Advanced in the College Classroom, Presenters: Charlene Kalinoski, Roanoke College
José Bañuelos-Montes, Roanoke College
Consolidating students’ speaking, listening, reading, and writing proficiency at ACTFL Intermediate and moving them to the Advanced level is a challenge for the college classroom, particularly for language majors, whose skills are assessed prior to graduation. The presenters will share practices for promoting advanced skills in upper-level Spanish classes.
Integrating Technology to Learn Chinese Characters, Presenters: Yan Gao, J.R. Tucker High School; Yuk-King Chung, George
Moody Middle School
As a logographic language, Chinese has its unique writing system. The pictographic and semantic-based Chinese writing system
makes it difficult for American students to learn to write the Chinese characters. Rote learning makes students lose interest or frustrates them. This session will introduce a new strategy to teach this skill: integrating technology in order to teach Chinese characters.
It is HOT (High Order Thinking), Presenter: Meriem Bacha, Beech Tree Elementary School
This session is designed for K-16 teachers who want to engage 21st century language learners and take them to a higher level of
thinking. The presenter will demonstrate practical ways to incorporate higher order thinking into a lesson using activities such as
odd one out, concept maps, images, graphs, and mystery solving.
President’s letter,
continued from page 7
seinali, Lisa Harris, Denise Creasman, Angie Gurley, and the staff of the Crowne
Plaza. And, of course, many thanks to the
and cultural exchanges.
presenters, panelists, exhibitors, volunteers, and you, the dedicated FLAVA
This conference is not possible without the membership. The 2012 FLAVA Conference
hard work of many people, first and fore- promises to be the major language educamost, Isi Kessel, the Conference Coordina- tion event of the 2012-2013 school year:
tor, and his amazing team: Annette Wag- all we need is you to keep Virginia movgoner, Doug Bowman, Jackie Yau, Jennifer ing FAST FORWARD!
Carson, Becky McQueen, Ghassan Hus-
One last note: If you have anything that
you think the officers and the Board need
to address, especially if it requires action
before the Conference in October, do not
hesitate to contact me or any of the elected officers: Annette Waggoner, Norah
Jones, Isi Kessel, Jackie Yau, or Jennifer
Carson. FLAVA belongs to all of us.
(president@flavaweb.org)
Volunteering at FLAVA conference is
a great way to meet colleagues!
Interested in facilitating a session or working at the registration desk during the FLAVA
conference in October? Contact Doug Bowman, Committee Chair,
bowmanda@lcps.k12.va.us. Conference registration for teacher volunteers is required.
The Conference is being held at the Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at Fort Magruder,
October 4-6, 2012. http://www.flavaweb.org/flava_conference_2012.php
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9
Calendar
Send your items to editor@flavaweb.org
September— New teacher Webinar by NECTFL (exact date and time TBA), contact
gifford@languagehead.com .
September 10 — Deadline for Virginia school divisions to nominate attendees for MOPI training at FLAVA
Conference.
September 15—Deadline for submitting award nominations to FLAVA. Recommend a colleague! Click here
for details.
October 4 – Modified Oral Proficiency Workshop, FLAVA Conference, Crowne Plaza Hotel at Fort Magruder, Williamsburg. Contact your foreign language supervisor.
October 4-6 – FLAVA’s 101st Conference: Languages: Fast Forward, in conjunction with meeting of VACC
Peer Group in World Languages, Crowne Plaza Hotel at Fort Magruder, Williamsburg.
October 5—Creative Project Contest, FLAVA 2012 Conference
October 6—FLAVA Business meeting, at conference, members vote on fee issue. See page 2 of April bulletin
for details. Click here for bulletin.
October 15—Application deadline for Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program, an international
exchange during 2013-2014 (December 15, 2012 for Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching), http://
fulbrightteacherexchange.org/
November 16-18 – American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Annual Convention
and World Languages Expo, Philadelphia, PA
January 11, 2013—Applications due for Virginia Department of Education Foreign Language Academies.
February 2013—Discovery Languages Month, see page on ACTFL website.
March 7-10, 2013 — Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL), Baltimore,
Md.
Coming soon: Room share and ride share
to the FLAVA Conference. See flavaweb.org soon for link.
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11
Meet the Foreign Language Peer Group
of the Virginia Community College System
By Martha Davis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Spanish, Northern Virginia Community College & VCCS Foreign
Languages Peer Group Chair , mdavis@nvcc.edu
As foreign language instructors from Virginia’s community colleges prepare to meet for our biennial meeting during FLAVA’s
2012 conference, I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. The Virginia Community College System (VCCS)
Web site describes a peer group as “a natural association
of twelve or more faculty by discipline, position, or special interest.” Its purpose is to “encourage intra/interdisciplinary collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, planning, networking and discuss substantive issues related to discipline updates, instructional
innovations, curriculum revision and the integration of technology.”
There are 12 peer groups currently active in the VCCS, such as
business, global studies, science and music. They are eligible to
meet every two years with full funding by the VCCS.
ty colleges for more than 20 years (10%).
Similarly, respondents possess a wide range of experience teaching world languages at different levels, from preschool (7%) to
four-year colleges (32%). In fact, all respondents indicated that
they have taught outside the community college. The second mostcited level was high school (30%), followed by middle (16%) and
elementary school (13%).
Although the respondents’ community college instruction primarily
occurs face-to-face (58%), other forms of course content delivery
are popular. Twenty-three percent indicated that they teach hybrid courses and 20% teach online.
When asked “What do you like most about teaching at a community college?” many respondents cited their relationships with students (15%), teaching students who want to learn (13%) and
teaching adults (10%). One peer group member wrote, “I love
the relationship that we, as faculty, build with our students and
knowing the value of what we teach them. Whether or not my
students use [the] Spanish language daily, their respect for the
task of learning language their ability to coexist with a diverse
In order to gain a more detailed portrait of who our members
are, I distributed a 13-question online survey to the Foreign Lan- population will be positively affected by having studied a world
guage Peer Group. Forty respondents completed the survey, rep- language.”
resenting an approximately 13% response rate.
Fifteen percent indicated that the emphasis on teaching was what
they like most. “Community
The majority of respondcolleges are more focused
ents indicated that they
on teaching than research,
teach Spanish (71%), folwhich enables instructors to
lowed by French (17%),
spend more time assisting
German (7%), Arabic
students’ individual needs,”
(2%) and Italian (2%).
stated one respondent.
Additional languages
Many others repeated this
spoken by the respondsentiment.
ents, other than those
listed above, include CatThe most common response
alan and Portuguese. As
to the question about what
the chart to the right illusthey like most about teachtrates, respondents’ years
ing at a community college
of service within the VCCS
was related to student
system vary greatly, from
diversity (40%). One rethe newly hired (7%) to
spondent wrote, “I love
those who have taught at
that I have a diverse
one of Virginia’s communiThe Foreign Language Peer Group is made up of approximately
300 members, which include full-time and adjunct faculty of Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. This year will be the first time our peer group convenes during FLAVA’s conference.
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group of students. I can have an 80-year-old sitting next to an
changed to a two-year college. This was my experience
18-year-old, which creates an absolutely wonderful class dynamwhen I went back to school later in life. It was exciting
ic. I also enjoy watching my students grow as individuals, discovto have such well educated models to follow.”
ering who they are and what their real interests are.” Another
“The savings are exponential by finishing the first two years
stated, “I like the diversity of the student body best. By ‘diversity’
of college at a community college, and the benefits are
I mean the varied backgrounds they bring to the classroom in
far reaching (guaranteed admission to various schools,
terms of how they learned the language – from heritage speakdiscounts for having earned an associate’s degree, etc.).”
ers to those who have lived in the target culture (military or business backgrounds).” A third wrote that “the diversity (age, race,
“Our college is the best place I have ever worked. Our leadexperience, ability) of the students adds another dimension to
ership functions on the theory of ‘Servant Leadership’
learning a second language. Some are more prepared than othand everyone, EVERYONE, works to make our college
ers for taking a college-level course. There seems to be less comwhat it is.”
petition at the community college than at a four-year college.
Thus, students seem to learn cooperatively, the stronger ones
When asked, “What are you looking forward to most about the
helping the weaker ones during peer practice.”
start of the new academic year in August?” respondents most
often mentioned meeting new students (40%). The instructor who
A question that elicited particularly enthusiastic and lengthy responses was, “What would you like more people to know about wrote, “I always feel like everyone (students and faculty alike)
community colleges in general or your community college in par- are ‘fresh’ in the fall and full of hope for the new academic year.
It is always when I feel most energetic and full of new ideas
ticular?” The characteristics most commonly mentioned were
about how to better run my
“affordability” or
classes and engage my
“value”, “high quality of
students. I look forward to
education” and “courses
that every year!” echoed
that are as rigorous as
the sentiment of many.
those at a four-year college,” with each earnI also asked the peer group
ing25% of responses.
members to name one goal
Others mentioned that
they have for the fall secommunity colleges serve
mester. Most commonly
the community’s needs
cited was “integrating new
(15%) and/or cited the
or more technology into my
high qualifications and
courses” (18%), followed
motivation of faculty
by “improving oral commu(15%). One respondent
nication in class” (13%).
described how community
One member’s unique goal
colleges “are among the
is to “start a music group
country’s greatest assets
that sings in Spanish, but not
in terms of democratizing
limited to a Mariachi band,
access to education.”
or start some kind of a Glee program.”
Additional statements representative of this question’s responses
“Professional development opportunities” appeared among the
include:
answers for several of the survey questions, whether as goals or
as something that community college instructors liked most about
“The quality of education at our community college [is] outstanding. Instructors know their content and how to share their jobs. Convening during the 2012 FLAVA Conference is an
it with others. They care about students and doing what is especially exciting opportunity for the VCCS Foreign Language
best for them. It is such a positive environment for work- Peer Group. We look forward to making more personal introductions in October!
ing and learning!”
“Many students who were underachievers in high school flourish in the rich and safe community college environment.”
“We are as high quality as any other institution, with professors who have taught at four-year universities and
Have news to share with your colleagues? Send us calendar
events, congratulations & tips at editor@flavaweb.org.
13
14
2012 CLTA-VA Chinese Pedagogy Workshops
By Miao-fen Tseng, mt3z@cms.mail.virginia.edu
2012 Spring Workshop: CLTA-VA Chinese pedagogy workshop on the teaching of Chinese characters
and extended intensive reading
The CLTA-VA held its spring pedagogy workshop at Woodberry Forest School on Saturday, April 16, 2012. The one-day workshop
included the morning session entitled “The Component-Oriented Net-Weaving Approach to Character Teaching” and the afternoon
session entitled “Extended Intensive Reading in Chinese Curriculum” by Dr. Chengzhi Chu. Three material-sharing sessions arranged
according to levels of instruction followed after the conclusion of the well-received workshop. Over 50 teacher participants attended
the workshop. Approximately 25 teachers stayed at the end of the workshop to participate in a campus tour led by students learning
Chinese at Woodberry Forest School. Participants were truly impressed by the legacy and rich traditions of the school, high-quality
onsite facility, the beauty of the campus, and the wonderful combination of western and Chinese food and refreshments. The photo
above was taken right after the morning session at the beautiful campus of Woodberry Forest School in central Virginia.
2012 Fall Workshop : CLTA-VA Chinese pedagogy workshop on delivering pedagogical grammar
in the teacher-centered and student-centered instruction
The one-day workshop will be held at the South Meeting room in the Newcomb Hall of the University of Virginia on Saturday, October 13. The workshop concurs with UVa’s Homecoming Day. Workshop attendees are on the President’s Guest List and enjoy free
parking at the Culbreth Road Garage. In addition to participating in workshops, they will also have opportunities to experience the
vitality and diversity of homecoming celebration activities on UVa campus. The morning workshop will be presented by Professor
Jianhua Bai on the topics, “From Pedagogical Grammar to Grammar Instruction,” involving teachers’ elicitation techniques. The afternoon workshops will be presented by Professor Hsin-hsin Liang and Professor Miao-fen Tseng on teaching grammar through studentcentered communicative tasks.
The workshop is free for members and $25 for non-members. Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be served. For detailed information, please view the CLTA-VA website at http://www.clta-va.org.
15
An open letter
to Teachers of Arabic:
Three co-coordinators of a FLAVA-supported initiative to form an association of teachers of Arabic in
Virginia — Mr. Sherief Elias, Arabic linguist and
translator; Dr. Ghassan Husseinali, the Director of
Arabic Program at George Mason University, and
Mr. Sami Belhoula, Arabic language teacher in
Fairfax County — held a first meeting and workshop for Arabic educators in the Commonwealth on
Saturday, June 23, 2012, at George Mason University. There were several sessions, one of which
was presented by Dr. Marjorie Haley, director of
its Foreign Language and Teacher Licensure Program. As President of FLAVA, I would like thank all
the organizers, presenters and participants and
George Mason University for making this first important step possible.
Please mark your calendar for the FLAVA Conference, October 5-6, 2012, at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel and Conference Center in Williamsburg,
Virginia, to inaugurate the Virginia association of
teachers of Arabic. Your input in naming the association, creating its by-laws, selecting its leaders,
and setting its mission and goals is critical. Moreover, the co-coordinators have already
identified needs and arranged professional development in areas such as: the new national standards for teaching and learning Arabic; media resources and technologies for teachers; testing and
assessment, especially in oral proficiency (MOPI/
SOPI/OPI, &c.); Arabic and Arabs in the world in
light of ACTFL standards of Connections and Communities; forming local networks for teachers of
Arabic; service learning for Arabic classes. In fact,
teachers of Arabic will enjoy a full strand at this
year’s FLAVA Conference! At the meeting to form
the association, Saturday, October 6, together,
you will realize this critical initiative. Then, the
“real” work will begin!
I would like to conclude by reminding Arabic educators that language, culture and literature faculty
lay the groundwork for the enormous economic and
social benefits of a media literate, multilingual
society today. Our work as language educators is
essential. Please work with your colleagues,
Ghassan, Sami, and Sherief, and FLAVA to further
global 21st-century education in Virginia, making
sure that Arabic takes its rightful place at the
world language table.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Kathryn Murphy-Judy
FLAVA President
Classical Association of VA
The Classical Association of Virginia holds its fall
meeting on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the
University of Virginia’s Newcomb Hall, South
Meeting Room. Guest presenters will include
Christopher Francese of Dickinson College
speaking on "Digital Commentary on Classical
Texts: Problems and Prospects," and John Miller of
UVa addressing members on “Some Apolline
Moments in Virgil's Aeneid.” Membership in the
CAV is open to all who are interested in ancient
Greek and Roman languages and culture. For
more information, visit the CAV website at http://
cavclassics.org or send an email to
margaretdhicks@comcast.net.
FLAVA/FLTWS
Professional Development Workshops 2012-2013
The Foreign Language Teachers Workshop Series (FLTWS) continues
to expand across the Commonwealth in an effort to provide useful,
professional development opportunities to as many Virginia foreign
language educators as possible. The FLTWS is partnered with the
Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) through its Professional Development Network (PDN).
Beginning in September 2012, the Series will institute five or more
workshops whose topics will be determined from results of Virginia
teachers' self-assessments conducted through the Teacher Effectiveness for Language Learning (TELL) Project, which is being integrated
as a part of the Virginia Foreign Language Professional Development Framework for 2012-2013.
All workshops will originate at Washington-Lee University (WLU) in
Lexington and will be broadcasted live via the Internet to numerous
host schools and divisions across the Commonwealth.
After August 25, 2012, check back at this site, or go directly to the
registration site http://www.wlu.edu/x33602.xml to learn of workshop topics, presenters, dates, times, and host locations. As in the
past, the FLAVA/FLTWS workshops can be used for receiving points
toward teacher certification renewal at the discretion of the local
school division.
— Dick Kuettner, chair, FLAVA Teacher Education & Professional Development (profdevart@flavaweb)
16
17
LIFETIME MEMBERS
By Jackie Yau, FLAVA Treasurer, treasurer@flavaweb.org
Martha Abbott
Lucy Amarillo
Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
Jane Baskerville
Kellie Bourne
Paula Bowen
Kathryn Braaten
Frank Caruso
Laura C. Chuquin
Sheila W. Cockey
Michael Compton
Faye Conway
Raymond J. Cormier
Patricia A. Curtis-Lique
Lauri Dabbieri
Judith Daniel LePera
Cathy Daugherty
Greg Daugherty
Alice di Fazio
Martin Fameni
Nancy Feigenbaum
Cheryl Gerhart
Vicki N. Gottlob
Heide H. Hackworth
Deborah Houghton
Karen Howard
Martha Bien Hunsucker
Zachary James
Travis Jiménez
Evaline Jones
Norah L. Jones
Patricia Jordahl
Cynthia Kelly
Allison Koste
Susan F. Lee
Ainslie A. McLees
Leonard Mick
Terrell Morgan
Kathryn Murphy-Judy
Sally A. Nathan
Nora Newell
Mindy Peskin
Sue Robertson
Monica Sasscer
Thelma Simpson
Helen Small
Thomas Sones
Carolyn Spencer
Edwina Spodark
Mary Lou Stocky
Wynne Stuart
Bobbie Sutton
Linda Szwabowski
Lynn Talbot
Francine ter Weele
Ann Thorsen
Griselda Tilly-Lubbs
Jean Triolo
Kendra Turner
Tadao Uchisawa
Annette Waggoner
Sarah Wendt
Patrick Wininger
Jackie Yau
Virginia Tech Honors Judith Shrum
Interest high,
funds low?
FLAVA wants to
help you get to
the conference.
See our ride
share, room
share and a free
night for 10
newcomers —
flavaweb.org
Judith Shrum, professor of foreign languages and literatures and teaching
and learning in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, has been
conferred the “professor emerita” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. A member of the university community for 30 years, Shrum brought
international visibility to the university through her work on the national
standards for teaching foreign languages and in teacher preparation for
the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). During her tenure, Shrum co-authored numerous articles and leading textbooks
on Spanish language and the teaching of languages. She presented more
than 100 workshops, paper sessions, and speeches to local, regional, and
national professional groups. Additionally, Shrum held leadership positions
in professional organizations such as the Northeast Conference on the
Teaching of Foreign Languages, ACTFL, and the National Council on the
Accreditation of Teacher Education. Other contributions included directing
18 doctoral and more than 30 master’s students. Among Shrum’s numerous
professional honors and awards are the William E. Wine Award for Excellence in Teaching at Virginia Tech, the Excellence in Service Award from
the Foreign Language Association of Virginia, and the Anthony A. Papalia
Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from ACTFL. She received her
bachelor’s degree from Clarion University, a master’s degree from Indiana
University, and her Ph.D. from Ohio State University. This story can be
found on the Virginia Tech News website:
http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2012/06/061312-clahsemeritashrum.html
18
WEBSITES OF INTEREST
For membership in professional organizations, check the Virginia website first
Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) http://www.flavaweb.org
American Association of Teachers of Arabic (AATA) http://www.wm.edu/aata/
American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) National: http://frenchteachers.org/
Virginia: http://www.fll.vt.edu/aatf-va/
American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) National: http://www.aatg.org
Virginia: http://www.german.sbc.edu/aatgvirginia/aatgvirginia.html
American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) http://www.aati-online.org/
American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages (AATSEEL)
http://aatseel.org
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese d (AATSP)- National: www.aatsp.org; Virginia: www.aatspva.org
American Classical League (ACL) http://
www.aclclassics.org/
The Classical Association of Virginia (CAV) http://www.cavclassics.org/
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) www.actfl.org
American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) http://www.aslta.org/
Northeast Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL) http://www.nectfl.org
Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese (MAATJ) National: http://www.ncjlt.net
The National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL) http://www.nnell.org/
Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) http://www.scolt.org
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) http://www.tesol.org/index.html
Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) http://www.cal.org
Center for the Liberal Arts, University of Virginia (CLA) http://www.virginia.edu/cla/
Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and
International Studies (NCLIS) http://www.languagepolicy.org/
Modern Language Association of America (MLA) http://www.mla.org
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) http://www.nbpts.org/
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) http://www.ncate.org/
National Capital Language Resource Center (NCLRC) http://www.nclrc.org/
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) http://www.schev.edu/
Virginia Department of Education, Foreign Language (VDOE) http://www.doe.virginia.gov/
19
Report on Joint National Committee for Languages
National Council for Language and International Studies
By Thomas Sones, FLAVA Advocacy Chair, August 2012, advocacy@flavaweb.org
In May I served as FLAVA’s official delegate to the JNCL-NCLIS Annual Delegate
Assembly and Legislative Day. In addition,
several FLAVA members were in attendance as delegates of other organizations.
1) Restoration of Foreign Language Assistance Program as an independent competitive grant program.
2) Restore previous funding level of Title
VI of the HEA and Fulbright-Hays Language Flagships Program
DELEGATE ASSEMBLY
3) Provide increased funding to expand
the STARTALK Program
Delegates heard presentations by govern- 4) Increase the funding for National Secumental agencies and programs with ties to rity Language Initiative for Youth and the
world languages and international educa- Critical Language Scholarship Programs
tion, including briefings from STARTALK,
Title VI/Fulbright-Hays, the National Secu- LEGISLATIVE DAY
rity Language Initiative for Youth, and the
Language Flagship. The Delegates hon The morning of Legislative Day was
ored J. David Edwards’s retirement after
devoted to presentations about the
31 years of service as the Executive Direccurrent status of world languages and
tor of JNCL-NCLIS. He will be rememinternational education in the 112th
bered for his effective advocacy for the
Congress. Recurring themes in the
creation of FLAP. New Executive Director
presentations were the recent cuts to
William P. Rivers was chosen in a national
foreign language programs and the
search and comes to the organization with
difficulty finding support for foreign
substantial expertise in language research
language funding in the challenging
and policy. Dr. Rivers has more than 15
fiscal climate of the 112th Congress.
years of research, development, policy
The afternoon was spent visiting conand program evaluation, and managegressional offices and conducting a
ment experience in culture and language
Senate hearing. In the evening JNCLfor economic and national development.
NCLIS held a reception honoring SenThe Delegate Assembly ended with reports
ator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), long-time
by the chairs of the Finance and Nominatfriend and supporter of foreign laning Committees.
guages and international education,
who will retire at the end of 2012.
The results of the elections for the 20122014 Officers were announced:
SENATE HEARING
President – Dr. Ray Clifford, Brigham
ON FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES
Young University
The focal point of Legislative Day was the
Vice President - Martha G. Abbott, Ameri- Senate Hearing on “A National Security
can Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Crisis: Foreign Language Capabilities in
Languages
the Federal Government” before the SenSecretary: Dr. Antonia Schleicher, National ate Committee on Homeland Security GovCouncil of Less Commonly Taught Lanernmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Overguages
sight of Government Management,
Treasurer: Dr. Peter Krawutsche, American Chaired by Senator Daniel K. Akaka (DTranslators Association
HI), three panels of witnesses, organized
At Large (2): Dr. Jayne Abrate, American by JNCL-NCLIS and several of its memAssociation of Teachers of French; and
bers, testified on the importance of lanDr. Dan Davidson, American Councils for
guage learning for national security and
International Education
the global economy, the shortage of foreign language professionals in the military
The focus for the advocacy of JNCL-NCLIS and government agencies, and the need to
within the 112th Congress is the following: increase funding for the array of federal
programs that constitute the vital pipeline
for foreign language at all levels. To view
the entire Hearing or download testimony,
visit www.hsgac.senate.gov/
subcommittees/oversight-of-governmentmanagement/hearings/a-national-security
-crisis-foreign-language-capabilities-in-the
-federal-government.
JNCL-NCIS Update Since Delegate Assembly and Legislative Day
JNCL-NCLIS welcomes new Policy Analyst,
Ms. Crystal Goldie. She brings enthusiasm
for language and public policy to JNCLNCLIS in addition to her language and
international experience.
JNCL-NCLIS staff regularly visits Capitol
Hill and has clear signals that there is support for foreign language on both sides of
the aisle, and in both houses of Congress.
That being said, the budgetary climate
means that securing increases in funding
will continue to be a challenge; moreover,
given the upcoming election, we have been
told that there will be a continuing resolution (CR) holding all funding steady at
Fiscal Year 2012 levels, for the first six
months of FY13. This makes additional
changes to current funding unlikely until the
spring.
JNCL-NCLIS has joined the ACTFL Coalition
Letter to President Obama on the Fiscal
Year 2014 Budget. The letter, still in draft,
urges the president to restore funding that
has been cut for FLAP and Title VI/
Fulbright-Hays, and to increase funding for
other vital programs, such as the Language
Flagship and STARTALK. ACTFL is leading
a coalition of associations in this effort, in
order to ensure that funding is included in
the President’s requested budget for
2014.
For more information about JNCL-NCLIS,
its activities, or any of the programs discusses, please contact FLAVA Advocacy
Chair, Thomas Sones at Advocacy@flavaweb.org or see
www.languagepolicy.org.
20