Photos from the FLAVA 2011 Conference

Dear FLAVA Members,

It is with great pride and joy that I announce Marty Abbott's appointment as 
Executive Director of ACTFL: this just days after she addressed us at our 
conference so thoughtfully and thought-provokingly.

I am sending this letter to Marty--originally meaning just to thank her for 
speaking to us and celebrating with us, but now also to congratulate her on 
this coup!

Onwards and upwards!
Kathryn
										

				
Subject: U.S.-China Teachers Exchange Program is Recruiting Now!
From: "Hu Di" hudi@ncuscr.org

Dear To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to introduce to you and the teachers who are affiliated with your 
organization a unique opportunity to teach in China and learn about Chinese 
language and culture through the U.S.-China Teachers Exchange Program.  Now 
in its sixteenth year, the program sends American K-12 teachers to China to 
teach English in Chinese secondary schools, and places Chinese secondary school 
teachers of English in American schools to teach Chinese language and culture, 
and where appropriate, English as a Second Language.

We seek experienced American K-12 teachers of any level and any subject who 
will return to the U.S. committed to improving teaching about China in American 
schools.  While in China, they teach English in Chinese secondary schools.  
The teachers leave the U.S. in late August for the school year that begins on 
September 1, and are generally finished with their teaching duties in late June.  
The Chinese school year runs through early July, but the students are reviewing 
for and then taking exams in which the American teachers have no role. 

The exchange program also brings Chinese secondary school teachers of English 
to the U.S.  They spend the school year teaching Chinese language, Chinese 
culture (history, literature, arts), and/or, where appropriate, English as a 
Second Language.  It is not required that every school or district both send 
and receive.  We are flexible, hoping to satisfy the needs and interests of 
individual teachers, their schools, and their districts. 

Following this message you will find an announcement about the Teachers Exchange 
Program.  We would appreciate it if you would disseminate information about the 
program through newsletters and online listservs, advising prospective applicants 
to write to e-mail tep@ncuscr.org for additional information and an application.  
They may also contact us by snail mail at:

Teachers Exchange Program, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations

71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1901, New York, NY 10010-4102

Interested teachers may also learn more about the program from our website: 
http://www.ncuscr.org/programs/tep. The application deadline for the 2012-2013 
academic year is March 1, 2012.

Thank you for your interest in the U.S.-China Teachers Exchange Program.  Please 
do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

Hu Di

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U.S.–CHINA RELATIONS
Celebrating 45 | Promoting Constructive Engagement Since 1966

Hu Di
Program Officer  

hudi@ncuscr.org | www.ncuscr.org  

212-645-9677 x14|212-645-1695 fax
71 W. 23 Street, Suite 1901, NYC 10010

*****

U.S.-China Teachers Exchange Program

The National Committee on the United States-China Relations is now seeking 
applications for an exchange program for teachers in American and Chinese schools.  
This is an unusual opportunity for schools and districts wishing to begin or to 
strengthen Chinese language and culture programs and for teachers wishing to live 
and teach in China.

Since the beginning of the program during the 1996-97 school year, we have had 
American teachers from across the country in key (selective) 
secondary schools throughout China--in Beijing; Chengdu (Sichuan); Dalian (Liaoning); 
Anqing, Hefei, Ma.$B!G.(Janshan, and Tongling (Anhui); Hohhot (Inner Mongolia); 
Luoyang (Henan); Shijiazhuang (Hebei); and Changzhou, Jiangdu, Nanjing, Suzhou, 
and Yangzhou (Jiangsu).  We anticipate continuing to work in some of these cities 
in 2012.

The American teachers in China teach English as a foreign language.  The Chinese 
teachers, all of whom teach English as a foreign language in China, may teach 
Chinese history, language, and culture, and/or English as a second language at 
participating American schools.

The National Committee sponsors orientation programs in the United States and in 
China during the summer before the exchange year.  For American teachers this 
covers "survival" Chinese, the teaching of English as a foreign 
language, and an introduction to China and its schools.  The orientation session 
for Chinese teachers covers the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language, 
instruction on American teaching methodology, and an introduction to the United 
States and its schools.

Those interested in the exchange should write to tep@ncuscr.org or send a 
letter to the 

Teachers Exchange Program, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations,

71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1901, New York, NY  10010

for more information and an application package.  The application deadline for 
the 2012-2013 school year will be March 1, 2012.
										

The Supts. Memo announcing the 2012 Governor’s Foreign Language Academies (GFLA) was distributed on Friday, October 7, 2011. The memo is available on the Web at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2011/281-11.shtml

Information regarding the GFLAs has been updated to the VDOE Website and can be accessed at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/foreign_language/language_academies/index.shtml

FLAVA/FLTWS workshops registration site

FLAVA 2011 Professional Group Luncheon Information is online

FLAVA 2011 Conference Session Descriptions are online

Conference Exhibitor list is online

Preconference Workshop information now available

Conference at a Glance Updated

FLAVA Fall 2011 Bulletin is online

FLAVA 2011 Conference Sessions at a Glance (pdf)

Announcing the Professional Development Network - free PD - time sensitive information - FLAVA Professional Development Opportunities (pdf)

FLAVA 2011 Conference registration is online

The FLAVA 2011 Executive Committee election will be conducted online beginning September 1st. Candidate submitted biographies are available here.

The conference session proposal submission deadline has been extended to May 31, 2011.

NECTFL is right in our backyard for 2012!
Session and workshop proposals for NECTFL in Baltimore are due June 3.
For information and forms, go to www.nectfl.org

FLAVA Spring 2011 Bulletin is online

Workshop 3
Synchronous and Asynchronous Tools: Language Learning's Evolving Pedagogy 
Speaker: Joyce Dittrich
March 17, 2011 
Refreshments at 3:30. Workshop 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Lynchburg College
Modern Language Resource Center
Schewel 366
Lynchburg, Virginia

Joyce Dittrich, a former NBCT in World Languages, has taught Spanish for more than 
thirty years.  An advocate for 21st century educational reform, her interests include 
utilizing the best that the Internet and software have to offer language instruction 
today. As more and more online language courses come on the academic scene, she 
wonders if these environments can achieve the same proficiency levels that 
traditional programs have demonstrated.  How instructors adapt to the online 
environment is crucial.   



Workshop 4
FLIPping the Language Coin: Increasing Speaking Proficiency Through the Use of 
Technology Speakers: Patricia Hardin and Ivelise Faundez-Reitsma 
April 7, 2011 
Refreshments at 3:30. Workshop 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Virginia Military Institute
401 Scott Schipp Hall
Lexington, Virginia 

This workshop with Professors Patricia Hardin and Dr. Ivelise Faundez-Reitsma will 
discuss the benefits of FLIP cameras (and other compact digital movie cameras) as 
a novel technological tool available to instructors teaching language courses with 
twelve or more students who wish to increase opportunities for their students to 
practice their speaking skills outside the classroom.  The workshop will showcase 
the results of using the FLIP camera in three over-enrolled sections of intermediate 
Spanish, and relate the technical and pedagogical aspects of this project.

Go to http://www.wlu.edu/x33602.xml to register and find out more about the workshop 
series.

These workshops are sponsored by the Foreign Language Teachers Workshop Series (FLTWS), 
the Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA), and Washington & Lee University.  

Questions should be directed to Dr. Dick Kuettner, Workshop Series organizer at 
kuettnerd@wlu.edu or (540) 458-8995.
										

NECTFL 2011 Conference Information, April 1-4, 2011, Baltimore

FLAVA Needs You!!! Volunteer Application Form

The 2011 FLAVA Conference Session Proposal Submission form is available for download

February 2011 VDOE Report

National Foreign Language Week. March 7-13, 2011

Dear FLAVA Member,
 
Do you know anyone who is worthy of being named a SANS, Inc./MEAD Leadership 
Fellow?  This person would have to be foreign language teacher from Virginia 
who has demonstrated leadership potential at his or her institution and/or in 
a professional organization at the local, state, regional or national level.  

Per additional information found on the NECTFL website, the SANS, Inc./Mead 
Leadership Program supports individuals in the development of a project that 
contributes to the foreign language teaching profession and advances quality 
language instruction.  The Mead Program was created to develop future leaders 
for the profession at the state, regional, and national levels.  

The instructions for applying (whether for yourself or for someone you 
recommend) can be found on the FLAVA site at http://flavaweb.org/index.php 
using the link titled SANS, Inc./MEAD Leadership Program.  

Completed applications should be sent electronically (.doc/.pdf) to Dick 
Kuettner 
Professional Issues Committee Chair.  kuettnerd@wlu.edu 
The Executive Committee of the FLAVA Board will select one individual to 
represent our state organization in this competition.  Dick must receive 
the completed applications by 9 PM EST, on 5 January 2011.  The Executive 
Committee will in-turn select FLAVA’s representative and submit that 
person’s name to NECTFL by close of business on 7 January 2011. Thank you 
all for you continued support as we, as an organization, continue to grow 
professionally.

Most sincerely,

Norah Jones, President
FLAVA
										

Please encourage your teachers of all languages to add rich examples to the ACTFL 
21st Century Skills Map for Languages. The deadline is rapidly approaching, but 
perhaps the winter break will be an ideal time to do this. Details and a link are 
in the ACTFL SmartBrief blurb below. As a reminder to those who may not be used 
to working with Wikis, one must click the “Edit” tab at the top before one can 
type into a page. 

Add your examples to the ACTFL 21st Century Skills Map for Languages 
K-16 language teachers -- How are you integrating 21st Century Skills into your
language instruction? Share your knowledge in communication, collaboration, 
critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, innovation, information literacy, 
media literacy, technology literacy, flexibility, adaptability, initiative, self 
direction, social and cross cultural skills, productivity, accountability, 
leadership and responsibility. See what others are doing and add your examples 
directly to the ACTFL 21st Century Skills Map for Languages. 
 
The deadline is Dec. 30.
										

Subject: New Series of EU Lesson Plans for Secondary Schools

Dear Colleagues,

The EU Delegation is pleased to announce a new series of free online lesson plans 
about the European Union designed by educators to support History and Social Sciences 
curricula in the United States at the secondary school level, primarily high school.
Each lesson is accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation and can be used as a 
stand-alone lesson or in combination with others.

Please find attached a promotional flyer that can be downloaded and printed. You 
may also want to check out our newly designed web pages under the Academic 
Resources tab: 1) EU Educational Resources and 2) Delegation Grant Programs 
at: http://www.eurunion.org

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. 

Best regards,

Sandi Auman
Cultural Affairs Officer
Press and Public Diplomacy
Delegation of the European Union
2175 K Street NW
Washington DC 20037
T: 202-862-9541
F: 202-429-1766
sandi.auman@ec.europa.eu

teacheurope_Teachers.doc 										
										

From: J. David Edwards jde@languagepolicy.org
Subject: FW: More Information on the Dec. 8 Foreign Language Summit

Here are links to additional information about the Foreign Language 
Summit last week that was sponsored by the CIA and the Center for the 
Advanced Study of Languages (CASL) at the University of Maryland.  The 
International Business Times story quotes a number of our colleagues 
who are JNCL/NCLIS members.

=========================================
Secretary Duncan's Remarks
http://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/education-and-language-gap-secretary-arne-duncans-remarks-foreign-language-summit

CIA Press Release
https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/press-release-2010/foreign-language-summit.html

International Business Times
By Joseph Picard | Thursday, December 9, 2010 4:32 PM U.S. falls behind
in foreign languages 
http://hken.ibtimes.com/articles/90684/20101209/.htm
										

SANS, Inc./Mead Leadership Fellows Program Applications due January 7!!!

Title:	Impacting Today's Curriculum with Evidence-Centered Teaching
When:	November 4, 2010 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where:	Language Resource Center, Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia
Register:	Here
Contact:	Dr. Dick Kuettner

Wow, it's hard to believe that the annual conference is only a few short weeks away! As the new Exhibits Chair, I am amazed at how I seemed to blink and now it's suddenly time to get all our wonderful vendors set up! We have quite an extensive list this year, with a number of new exhibits that I know will offer added variety to an already great selection of innovative ideas we need to motivate our kids to learn. If you have never attended the FLAVA Conference, you need to make it a priority. It is an awesome opportunity to meet other colleagues and come away refreshed and armed with the tools to breathe new life into your teaching. If you have attended before, but haven't registered yet, what are you waiting for? I am very much looking forward to renewing old friendships and making lots of new ones! And be sure to take advantage of the special room rates for FLAVA members when you stay at the Koger Center! You can register on line at http://www.flavaweb.org/flava_conference_2010.php

See you soon,
Becky McQueen
FLAVA Exhibits Chair

FLAVA 2010 PreConference Friday Workshops

Foreign Language Teachers Workshop Series - Fall 2010 (pdf)

FLAVA Fall 2010 Bulletin is online

FLAVA 2010 Conference Registration is online

FLAVA Spring 2010 Bulletin is online