Good News! Betsy Hudson will be your new webmaster. She is working on a brand new website that promises to be informative, easy to use, and good looking too! So, be on the lookout for her new page. I will continue to keep this site updated until hers is ready.  Ann Sullivan

Once again this June, FLAME and the Maine Department of Education will hold a summer institute for Maine world language teachers (as both regular participants and teacher leaders) during the week of June 24-28 at the University of Maine Farmington. This is the beginning of Phase II of the statewide initiative, World Languages in Maine Schools: Standards-based Instruction and Assessment

More information about the summer institute will be forthcoming by the end of next week. Below are a few details so far.

* Exact dates yet to be confirmed (but will not include Saturday, June 29)

* 2 ½-day institute for regular participants and 4-day institute for teacher leaders

* seeking 9 additional regional teacher leaders

* commuter and resident options available

* C.E.U. and/or contact hours available

* Graduate credit option available for teacher leaders

* focus on continued work with standards-based instruction and assessment in world language classrooms K-12

* content is not a repeat of last summer's institute or the regional workshops held this school year (although some aspects may be included as review or connections to the new content)

Please share this information with your world language teaching colleagues in your school and district.


Donald Reutershan
World Languages Specialist
Kennebec Valley Regional Representative
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
phone: 207.624.6826
fax: 207.624.6821
don.reutershan@maine.gov

Annual FLAME Conference

Foreign Language instructors, students and friends from all over the state attended the thirty-fourth annual convention: Meeting the Standards of World Language Education.  Our speaker was Paul Sandrock from the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). 

With an innovative approach to "getting students what they want" out of language instruction, ACTFL helped bring us Paul Sandrock to present the latest in teaching. FLAME received a most generous grant from ACTFL and, along with financial support from us, state-wide training took place last summer. Paul and those who were certified as instructors led many of the workshops sharing the latest in teaching strategies to those attending. There were also other exciting workshops bringing ideas on technology, resources, and fun in the classroom.

Betsy Hudson has prepared a marvelous overview of the conference events, participants, and organizers. Please check it out!

Diana Doiron of the Maine Department of Education made a presentation on standards-based education during the recent FLAME Conference: Creating the Conditions for Proficiency-Based, Deeper Learning. A number of participants requested a copy, and she has graciously made it available to us.

Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland will be hosting a FREE STARTALK Portuguese Summer Institute from June 24-28, 2013. Lodging, breakfast, and lunch are included for out of town participants.

                                         CARLA Summer Institutes 2013

The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota has sponsored a summer institute program for second language teachers since 1996. This internationally known program reflects CARLA's commitment to link research and theory with practical applications for the classroom. Each institute is highly interactive and includes discussion, theory-building, hands-on activities, and plenty of networking opportunities.

CARLA summer institute participants—more than 4,000 to date—have come from all over the world. They have included foreign language and ESL teachers at all levels of instruction, as well as program administrators, curriculum specialists, and language teacher educators.

The Council on International Educational Exchange in Maine is the only Maine based Foreign Exchange program. They have several students that will need host families in Maine this year. If you are interested, please contact Virginia Doss, the Regional Director, at:

CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange
120 Read Street
Portland, ME 04103 USA
Tel: +1.207-553-7812
Toll Free: 877-205-1828
Fax: +1.207-553-9412
Email: vdoss@ciee.org
Web: www.ciee.org

Attention French teachers! Are you looking for an exciting career development opportunity this summer? If so, the 2013 Institute for Teachers of French might be for you. This week long immersion experience will explore the Acadian Peninsula, traveling through Maine, New Brunswick and Québec while offering a unique combination of academic presentations and seminar level-discussions, as well as tailored briefings by site curators, historians and folklorists. Check out additional details or contact Danielle Beaupré for more information. Like us on Facebook.

Have you checked out the FLAME Facebook page? Fred Ravan  keeps the FLAME Facebook site updated as Foreign Language Association of Maine. He posts something every day and tries to put something about each language.

Check out this video created by L'École Française du Maine.  It outlines some of the reasons for students to start studying a new language at an early age.

In addition, you might take a look at FLAME's video; it too encourages parents, educators, and administrators to consider the importance of language study for our students.

Click here for Betsy Hudson's article about the Fall Conference of the García Lorca Chapter of AATSP which took place at the Senator Inn on October 19.

                     Webinar on Assessment: Reading
 
 Center for Advanced Language Proficiency Education and Research at Penn State University
 
 The Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC) at San Diego State University and the Center for Advanced Language Proficiency Education and Research (CALPER) at Penn State are pleased to announce the next webinar on assessment.
 
 
 Diagnosing Strengths and Weaknesses of Foreign/Second Language Readers
 
 Dr. Cindy Brantmeier
 Washington University, St. Louis
 
 Foreign/Second language (FL) reading is an outward manifestation of an inward process that cannot be observed, and it is also an ability that some language programs take for granted. This presentation will begin with a brief review of models that treat FL reading, and it will highlight the research that determines specific cognitive, linguistic, and affective contributions to FL reading capabilities. With this foundation, the presentation will move to a discussion about the assessment of FL reading. To date, research has not revealed the perfect test to measure reading comprehension, and consequently a variety of assessment tasks (recall, sentence completion, multiple choice, etc.) are utilized in order to capture a true depiction of the reading process. An explanation of the research on the merits and shortcomings of different assessment tests frequently used to measure reading skills and comprehension will be offered with corresponding suggestions for instructional practice. The presentation will conclude with findings and practical implications of two different studies that utilize self-assessment inventories and metacognitive questionnaires to diagnose strengths and weaknesses of individual readers.
 
 Date and Time: Tuesday --- October 23, 2012 at 2:00 – 3:30 pm ET (Although the webinar has now already taken place, you may still view it. Check out the Webinar Information Page highlighted below.)
 
 Registration
 
 This webinar is free for educators. Go to the Webinar Information Page at LARC for information about registering. Once registered you will receive login information and relevant updates.

Check out these resources (Powerpoints and a resource list) from the February NECTFL Conference. They are especially intended for new and student teachers.

Scholarship Fund for National Board Teacher Certification

Maine state law has established a new National Board Certification Scholarship Fund to encourage teachers to apply to and enroll in the certification program offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or its successor organization. Information and eligibility requirements are available at http://www.maine.gov/education/forms/misteam/nationalboard/natboardscholarship.htm .

Franco-American Studies Resource Guide

Resolve, Chapter 17, LD 77 passed by the 125th Maine State Legislature directed the Department of Education to create a resource guide in cooperation with Franco-American Specialists from the University of Maine System.  The guide has been designed to assist K-12 teachers and students in locating available Franco-American resources about Maine and New England.  The new sortable guide organizes resources for your consideration by discipline, grade level, source type, time period, and location. To view the guide and links to other online repositories with numerous resources, visit http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/ss/franco-american/index.html.

Proficiency-based Diploma

 Public Law Chapter 669, which was enacted in May 2012, requires that beginning in January 2017 a high school graduation diploma must be based on student demonstration of proficiency in meeting state standards in all content areas of the system of Learning Results.  See the attached file for this section of the law.  Also included in the attached file are four questions on which I would appreciate receiving your feedback as the Department works to provide clarification and interpretation of this new legislation.  Please send me your comments by October 12.

Also included in this new law is the section below.  Because transition grants are not available for the current school year (due to the fact that funds were not included in this year’s MDOE budget prior to the passing of this legislation), the implementation date is extended one year (2018).

Grants; contingent extension of full implementation.

During the period of transition to proficiency-based graduation in accordance with this section, the department, if funds are available, shall make annual transition grants to each school administrative unit equal to 1/10 of 1% of the school administrative unit's total cost of education calculated under section 15688, subsection 1 to be used in the manner determined by the school administrative unit to fund the costs of the transition not otherwise subsidized by the State. The date for implementation of the awarding of diplomas based on student demonstration of proficiency as described in this section is extended one year for each year for which transition grants are not made available to a school administrative unit or for which levels of general purpose aid for local schools fall below school year 2012-2013 levels.

ACTFL’S FALL 2012 WEBINARS

ACTFL is proud to announce the fifth series of interactive webinars designed especially for language educators at all levels. Taught by a faculty of leading experts, the webinars deliver new insights and proven techniques that you can use right away in your classroom. These webinars have been archived. Click here for information about how to access them.

Earn Professional Development Points:

• Earn one (1) Professional Development Point (CEU) for every webinar in which you participate
• Groups at one location may participate, but you must register and pay the fee to receive a CEU
• Individual registrants will receive a certificate of completion for each webinar to use for certification renewal
• Webinars are available for on-demand viewing so you will never miss a webinar and the CEU credit

SERIES I - Linking the Common Core Standards and World Languages

Session 1: Understanding the Common Core State Standards: Defining a Role for World Languages
Thursday, September 13, 2012; 3:30pm – 4:30pm ET
This first webinar of the series provides an overview to the purpose and design of the Common Core State Standards, highlighting key shifts in emphasis from previous standards and the resulting changes for classroom instruction.  Learn to make the case for the strong role that language learning plays in developing the literacy described in the Common Core.
Presenters: Margaret Reed Millar, Council of Chief State School Officers, and Paul Sandrock, ACTFL Director of Education

Session 2: Implementing the Common Core through State Language Initiatives 
Thursday, September 20, 2012; 3:30pm – 4:30pm ET
In the second webinar of the series, discover effective initiatives helping educators develop students’ literacy through learning languages.  Strategies include lesson templates based on identified assessments; emphasis on having students analyze, evaluate, and create through the target language; descriptions of developing language skills differentiated by mode of communication and by language; and the role of LinguaFolio.
Presenters: Helga Fasciano, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and Paul Sandrock, ACTFL Director of Education

Session 3: Connecting Local Language Programs with the Common Core
Thursday, September 27, 2012; 3:30pm – 4:30pm ET
In local schools and districts, educators are integrating the Common Core State Standards into instruction and assessment in all classrooms. Through discussions across disciplines, analyses of learning objectives, and sharing of effective teaching strategies, language educators are joining the implementation efforts.  In the third webinar of the series, analyze effective examples already being implemented through district-level efforts around literacy.
Presenters: Martin Smith, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, NJ, and Paul Sandrock, ACTFL Director of Education

SERIES II - Building Literacy via Communication Strategies (Interpretive, Interpersonal, Presentational)

The National Standards for Learning Languages outline the means for language educators to build literacy in all students.  Developing and assessing the three modes of communication helps learners acquire literacy skills through the communication strategies practiced in each mode. The Common Core State Standards describe the college- and career-ready student as having the following characteristics:

• Demonstrate independence
• Build strong content knowledge
• Respond to the varying demands of audience, task, purpose, and discipline
• Comprehend as well as critique
• Value evidence
• Use technology and digital media strategically and capably
• Come to understand other perspectives and cultures

Learn how to help students in world languages develop this essential literacy.

Session 1: Interpretive Communication
Tuesday, October 2, 2012; 3:30pm – 4:30pm ET
The focus of this webinar will be modeling and practicing effective strategies for comprehension and interpretation.
Presenter: Eileen Glisan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, co-author ofTeacher’s Handbook: Contextualized Language Instruction

Session 2: Interpersonal Communication
Tuesday, October 9, 2012; 3:30pm – 4:30pm ET
The focus of this webinar will be strategies to help students interact orally, including eliciting information and clarifying meaning.
Presenter: Eileen Glisan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, co-author ofTeacher’s Handbook: Contextualized Language Instruction

Session 3: Presentational Communication
Tuesday, October 16, 2012; 3:30pm – 4:30pm ET
The focus of this webinar will be teaching presentational writing and speaking as a process.
Presenter: Eileen Glisan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, co-author ofTeacher’s Handbook: Contextualized Language Instruction

The 2013 summer edition of The Spanish Language and/or Literature Programs for High School Students, in CEELE-accredited Schools in Spain, is available now at: http://ap-spanish.com/english/

The Spanish Language and Literature Programs for High School Students in CEELE-accredited Schools are organized by Eduespaña and sponsored by the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C.

Each registered student is awarded a partial scholarship of $400 (already deducted from program cost). The total price indicated is the net amount due to Eduespaña.

Participating schools and accompanying teachers receive additional benefits (http://ap-spanish.com/english/course/spanish-language-program/scholarships/

If you have any query, do not hesitate to contact us.

Mario de Antonio Franck
Coordinador de Programas Educativos
EDUESPAÑA
Ponzano 69, 6º, 18-20
28003 Madrid
Tel: +34- 91 308 40 96 Fax: +34- 91 391 53 24
mdeantonio@eduespa.org<mailto:mdeantonio@eduespa.org>
www.eduespa.org<http://www.eduespa.org>

North Yarmouth Academy is introducing a  new French Mastery Program starting this fall at. Click here for a full description of the program.

New Graduate Program for Language Educators

ACTFL and University of Maryland University College (UMUC) are excited to announce a new education alliance. ACTFL members will now have the opportunity to earn a specialized online graduate certificate in Instructional Technology Integration that is designed for individuals teaching languages on the K–12 level.

ACTFL members who wish to enroll in the certificate courses must apply for admission to UMUC and are eligible for a waiver of the application fee. For members who are not Maryland residents, UMUC will also offer a 25% tuition discount on out-of-state rates.

If you are not an ACTFL member, but wish to join to take advantage of this generous discount, please click here for more information on joining ACTFL.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has released the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 for Speaking, Writing, Listening, and Reading.

The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines have been revised for 2012 with updated descriptions of what individuals can do with language in terms of speaking, writing, listening and reading in real-world situations in a spontaneous and non-rehearsed context. The Guidelines website is a new and exciting feature that supports the text of the 2012 Guidelines with glossed terminology and annotated, multimedia samples of performance at each level for Speaking and Writing, and examples of oral and written texts and tasks associated with each level for Reading and Listening. To view the document and samples: http://actflproficiencyguidelines2012.org/

Read the press release for full details.

The New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers website has a series of podcasts (free) and webinars (that can be viewed after the purchase of a key).