Advocacy for World Languages

Advocacy forWorld Languages

Lynn Fulton-ArcherWorld Language Specialist, Rock Hill

Schoolslfulton@rock-hill.k12.sc.us

What do these have in common? Strong Curriculum Organization Effective Planning Enthusiasm Up-to-date Information

BUILDING BLOCKS OF ADVOCACY

“Where” does Advocacy occur? In your own classrooms

Build strong programs that show results In your community

Create opportunities for students to use the language outside the classroom

In the legislatureContact representatives to support foreign language initiatives

“Who” are the Advocates?

Students Parents Community Members Businesses Native Speakers YOU!!!

“What” can you do?

Be proactive, not reactive!Don’t wait for budget cuts to act

Establish relationships with everyone at all levels!Administration, teachers, parents

Get parents involved!Committees, volunteers, e-mail

“When” should you advocate?

At the beginning of the yearSend letters to parents with program goals, meet with administrators and colleagues about the upcoming year

In the middle of the yearSponsor festivals to highlight students

At the end of the yearCreate opportunities to highlight student achievement

“How” can you advocate?

Create a strong, standards-based program that produces results!

Sponsor festivals and other events that highlight your language program.

Contact the media with positive events within your programs.

Create newsletters and flyers about languages in your school.

Recent Congressional Initiatives

• STUDY Abroad Foundation Act: $80 million to send students abroad

• SMART grants: Federally funded grants of $1.445 billion dollars each year

• TEACH grants to provide loan forgiveness upon teaching in high need areas

• COMPETE legislation increasing numbers of IB and AP programs in critical areas

What’s the message?

We have power!But how do we use it?We need a roadmap!

Our Advocacy Roadmap

The Goal Areas of the National Standards Communication Culture Connections Comparisons Community

Communication

Interpersonal Talk with everyone! Have an “elevator speech” about languages

Interpretive Visit www.languagepolicy.org Do your homework!

Presentational Informal notes, thank you’s Formal letters, information for the news

Culture

Products Legislation Studies, Research and Reports

Practices Grade Level, PTO, School Board Meetings Get involved!

Perspectives Put yourself in others’ shoes Learn what drives decisions

Connections

Knowledge Information we have Information others need

Viewpoints Our perceptions of decision-makers Decision-maker perceptions of educators

Comparisons

Language “School” language “Local” language “National” language

Culture “School” culture “Local” culture “National” culture

Community

Within the School Student-created materials Video, print publications

Beyond the School Festivals and Special Programs Outreach to business, community

Lifelong Learning Panels of former students Careers with languages

Local Resources

Rotary Clubs Sister Cities Organizations Trade and Tourism Boards

National Resources

http://www.languagepolicy.org

National Resources

http://www.languagepolicy.orgLobby organization for foreign

languagesSpecial pages devoted exclusively

to foreign language advocacy Links to Congressional and Senate

Web pages, funding sources and grants

National Resources

http://www.nnell.org

National Resources

http://www.nnell.org

Information specifically about early language learningContact information to obtain the

NNELL Advocacy PacketLinks to journal articles and Web

sites concerning early language learning issues

National Resources

http://www.mla.org

National Resources

http://www.mla.org

MLA Language Map2000 Census information that can be

accessed quickly and easily showing numbers of languages spoken broken down into city, county, state, region

Additional Resources

Flyers & BrochuresModern Language Associationhttp://www.adfl.org/resources/index.htm

Web SitesForeign Language Association of Georgiahttp://www.flageorgia.org

VideosAsia Societyhttp://www.asiasociety.org

Discover Languages Ideas

Mailbox Banners“Home of a French student”Discover Languages logo

Language TreeShowing languages spokenby students, teachers

Alumni ForumStudents return to discusshow they use language

Advocacy Building Blocks

Create a strong, standards-based program that produces results!

Sponsor festivals and other events that highlight your language program.

Contact the media with positive events within your programs.

Create newsletters and flyers about languages in your school.