AATF OHIO NEWS

Mary Townsend, AATF Ohio Vice President
Kettering Fairmont High School

SINK OR SWIM!

The 2015 OFLA Conference was held in April at Kalahari Resort in northern Ohio. What a fun, informative and relaxing conference! It was a great opportunity to see old friends and make new French connections. The breadth and scope of French workshops and seminars was top-notch, with local and regional teachers and professors sharing their expertise. Many thanks to OFLA leadership for providing another incredible conference for Ohio world language professionals.
MEMBERSHIP REMINDER

As your academic year winds down, don’t forget to join your fellow colleagues as a member of American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). Simply click on the link below – be sure to check the Ohio box so we can count you among the Buckeyes!

https://www.frenchteachers.org/hq/membership.htm

Benefits include the ability to sponsor a Société Honoraire de Français (French NHS) at your school, participate in the National French Contest Grand Concours, National French Week essay and video contests, and scholarship opportunities for teachers and students, to name just a few!

WSU JOURNEE D’IMMERSION

It’s not too soon to think about National French Week activities! In southwest Ohio, a highlight of this special week is Wright State University’s Journée d’Immersion for upper-level high school French students. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, November 10. Check out the link below for more information.

http://liberal-arts.wright.edu/modern-lang…/…/immersion-days

GRAND CONCOURS – OHIO WINS BIG!

Each year, the AATF hosts the National French Contest, Le Grand Concours. Ohio had 52 participating schools this year. Our Buckeye chapter awarded 4 Platinum, 80 Gold, 211 Silver, 229 Bronze, and 590 Mention d’honneur awards from National. In addition to National awards, the Ohio chapter awarded prizes to 100 students who ranked in the chapter top 5. Félicitations à vous et à vos élèves!!

Merci to Samantha Stewart, who organized last year’s National French GC. Unfortunately, Samantha must give up this position and AATF Ohio is currently looking for a volunteer to coordinate this test. Please consider accepting this important position that recognizes student excellence. Interested individuals should contact AATF Ohio President Lucas Hoffman.

AATF EXEMPLARY WITH HONORS

The American Association of Teachers of French has conferred its award of Exemplary with Honors on Kettering Fairmont High School in April of 2015. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding quality of the French program. Fairmont High School is one of ten in the nation to receive this newly instituted award. Thanks to its excellent program, Fairmont has increased its enrollment in French throughout the past four years. It offers language learning in middle school, and advanced courses, including Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes. The program makes use of innovative and creative methods in teaching, gives standards-based assessments, and offers numerous cultural activities beyond the classroom, including opportunities for international travel and credit flex.

The school participates in the AATF National French Contest and inducts students into the National French Honor Society, with many honorees annually. The teachers show excellent preparation, steady commitment to professional development, and enthusiastic dedication to their work. Administrators are consistently committed to the teaching of French and to preparing their students for the challenges of living in our global world. Administrators, parents, students, and graduates have all praised the program and its teachers in glowing terms. Graduates have continued to use French and the skills they acquired in college and in their careers, such as teaching, international business, the arts and government.

Félicitations to the Fairmont High School French Department on this prestigious designation!

CONGRES NATIONAL

Several Ohio members will be in attendance at the AATF National Conference, July 8-11 in Saguenay, Quebec. This year’s theme is Le Français: Langue à Multiples Visages. Dozens of sessions and workshops on best practices, technology, music, la vie québécoise and more will be presented by national and international experts, tailor-made for the French teacher from elementary through AP, IB and university levels.

WEEKEND D’IMMERSION

Make plans now to attend the AATF Ohio annual retreat at Mohican State Park, September 11-13. This special immersion weekend tout en français is a great chance to network with other French teachers from around the state, enjoy nature, cuisine and camaraderie à la française, including hiking, a pétanque tournament, French films and more! All in the comfort of a lovely lodge nestled in a verdant campground. For further information and registration, go to the Ohio AATF page at

https://aatfohio.wordpress.com/

Faites vos reservations maintenant pour un weekend inoubliable!

L’Equipe-Ohio AATF – Lucas Hoffman, Mary Townsend, et Karine Ould-Daddah
– vous souhaite un bon été!