American Association of Teachers of French NATIONAL BULLETIN VOLUME 29 NO. 4 APRIL 2004 FROM THE PRESIDENT this communication, she didn’t wait for us want to try something new, and to learn someone else or some structural entity to about resources for us as professionals assume that task. She also provided a and for our students. Many ideas spring reminder that teachers need to work from our informal encounters with together and can be even more satisfied colleagues over lunch or during and after with their professional life if they do extend sessions and at special events during the their collegiality beyond their own building conference. or district. This year’s conference will have a truly After we have gone to a professional international flavor, thanks to our joint meeting or a state, regional, or national meeting with the Fédération internationale conference, we are infused with a level of des professeurs de français. The possi- energy and enthusiasm that buoys us for bilities to learn about French in a worldwide several days or even weeks. What we really context and to interact with colleagues who want is to find a way to perpetuate and share with us our enthusiasm for the French sustain that feeling of “I can do this, too.” language and for the cultures of the French- Margot M. Steinhart, President Let me make a suggestion: build a collegial speaking world are just the spark that could Building a Collegial Network network. This may start at a session or make next school year even more As spring becomes more evident, this conference where you meet others who are stimulating for you, your students, and your is the moment to take stock of the tools and open to future dialogue or collaboration. colleagues. Where else could you expect resources we need to turn over that new With e-mail contacts so readily available, to have within close proximity the leaf. In this case, we are not talking about time does not have to be spent in travel or Francophone world represented by such house cleaning and beautifying our coordinating schedules. This is important diversity and in such numbers as at this surroundings; rather, let us reflect on what even in schools and institutions with more conference? Are you ready to get on board? professional aspects we can renew and than one French teacher, for connecting with which ones we want to change. It is the hint colleagues who have classrooms or offices of dissatisfaction or even ennui that provides in the same building has its own set of the impetus to try something new or to seek constraints. In addition, one does not need Margot M. Steinhart ways to re-invigorate what we are doing. to limit collegiality to one’s own geographic President Teaching students, no matter the age or region. We can be inspired, challenged, [[email protected]] proficiency level, is like being on a roller and motivated by ideas, projects, and coaster. There are days that put us as programs that are similar as well as teachers at the crest and others that make dissimilar. The observation that one cannot Inside this issue Page us feel as though we have hit bottom, times duplicate exactly what is successful in a National French Week Grants ................ 3 we leave our schools and institutions with single location is undoubtedly correct, but it AATF Executive Council ......................... 4 a bounce in our step, and other days, when is precisely the adaptation or the selection Convention Highlights ............................ 5 the bags we carry home seem laden with of project components developed by Regional Reports ................................... 6 more than papers to correct and books to another colleague with a different student Chapter News ................................... 7-10 study. In addition to our own personal population that makes the effort interesting Atlanta Preliminary Program ........... 11-12 challenges, we are subject to the and eventually one’s own. Members’ Notes ................................... 15 vicissitudes of life experienced by our If our image of ourselves is one portrayed In Memoriam: Howard Nostrand ......... 15 students and our colleagues. While la by the Energizer bunny, whose batteries just Classroom Activity ................................ 16 condition humaine may not change, there don’t seem to run down, then, we have to Partial List of Sessions for Atlanta ... 17-19 are perhaps other ways to respond to the find ways to make these connections for Academic Credit for Convention .......... 20 ups and downs of our professional life. ourselves, to be truly branché. As we start AATF Commissions .............................. 22 Attending an AATF chapter meeting, I was or continue to make these collegial Convention Registration Supplement .. 22 recently impressed by the initiative taken by contacts, we need to remind ourselves that Fund for the Future ............................... 23 one of the attendees. She stood up and the opportunities to learn, to create, and to Outstanding Senior Award Form ......... 24 asked that attendees who taught at the share have endless possibilities, just like National French Week Contests ........... 25 middle-school/junior high level put their the Internet. One unique occasion happens National French Week Materials .......... 25 name and contact coordinates on a sheet this July in Atlanta: the AATF national Flat Stanley ........................................... 26 that she was circulating. She wanted to conference. The annual convention Summer Program in Belgium ............... 26 provide a venue of exchange for herself and provides an efficient and effective way to Membership Drive ................................ 26 for other colleagues who work with a similar meet the leaders of our French-teaching Mots Chassés ....................................... 29 age cohort. Not only did she feel a need for profession, to attend sessions that make Materials Center ................................... 34 AATF VICE-PRESIDENTIAL 50 AATF MEMBERS RECEIVE NOMINATIONS NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION The AATF Executive Council is seeking candidates to fill a position of Vice-President This year, the second year National Board Certification has been offered in world for a term of three years beginning on languages, a number of AATF members received certification in World Languages. The January 1, 2005 and ending on December results were announced in November, and we are pleased to congratulate the following 31, 2007. Individuals, Chapter Officers as AATF members. Please note that the name highlighted in bold was inadvertantly elimi- well as current members of the Executive nated from the January issue. Council are all welcome to nominate persons for this position. Individuals are also Sally Adkinson Nathan (VA) Andea La Combe (DE) welcome to nominate themselves. Lynn Aertker (LA) Christine Lindberg (CA) Prospective candidates are requested to Mitzi Bayne (GA) Sylvie Little (NC) limit their CV to a maximum of five pages Janice Biby (CA) Phyllis Loiacono (GA) double-spaced. The CV should focus on Elizabeth Bunting (IN) Sheila Mansier (FL) the following areas: Richard Chivers (SC) Gloria Marie Martineau (SC) 1. Name, address (home and Beverly Chivers (SC) Judith McDermott (FL) institution), telephone (home and Rebecca Christenberry (FL) Judy McFarlin Fritz (GA) work), fax, e-mail; Terri Coke (KY) Harvey Morrow (NC) 2. Degrees obtained and current Jacquelynn Collins (WI) Lisa Myhre (WI) position and length of time in this Linda Cotsford (SC) Nicole Naditz (CA) position as well as the total number Melissa Lynn David (MN) Paul Newhouse (MD) of years in foreign language teaching. Daniel Desmond (MD) Kathleen Rhodes (NC) In addition, a short list or statement Margaret Dolan (WV) Helene Robinson (SC) of the candidate’s expertise or relative Richard Dubois (NC) Laura Rogers (NC) interests that the candidate would Marjorie Duus (NY) Georgette Schmidt (NY) bring to the Executive Council; Julie Frost (IL) Paula Shewmake (WI) 3. AATF activities at local, state, regional William Gautreaux (LA) Bernadette Takano (OK) and/or national levels, as Anita Greenwood (LA) Lisa Tamiso (NY) appropriate; Jacob Henry (NC) Micki Taylor (OK) 4, Other foreign language-related Gail Hetler (CA) Manuelita Tietz (AL) activities at local, state, regional and/ Patricia Hodge (UT) Barbara Ward Knowles (NC) or national levels as appropriate; Sandrina Isebaert (LA) Kim Nadine Young (NC) 5. Awards, honors or grants relating to Anne Jensen (CA) Becky Youngman (FL) foreign language. Teri Knight (WI) Carol Zimmerman (NC) If additional information is needed during the nomination process, applicants will be contacted. A slate of two nominees and an alternate will be presented to the Executive Council Volume 29 Number 4 AATF NATIONAL BULLETIN April 2004 of the AATF at its annual meeting in Atlanta. Editor: Jane Black Goepper, Cincinnati, Ohio fice. Office of Publication: AATF, Mailcode Prospective candidates are asked to 4510, Southern Illinois University, Reading Committee: Therese C. Clarke, Dept. submit their documentation to the Chair of Carbondale, IL 62901-4510. the Nominating Committee, Jane Black of Modern and Classical Languages, Buffalo Goepper, 2324 Park Avenue, #34, State University, NY; S. Pascale Dewey, All items published in the National Bulletin are Cincinnati, OH 45206 or [[email protected]] by Kutztown University, PA; Gisèle Loriot- the property of the American Association of by no later than April 30, 2004. Raymer, Northern Kentucky University, High- Teachers of French.