Central States Report 2006

by Trish Syring

Language Communities: Integrating Perspectives, March 9-11, Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL

The Delegate Assembly was a three hour session; so much important information is presented, that it is difficult to summarize. I would like to present two action items that I would like IWLA members to consider, followed by summaries of the main topics.

The Minnesota representative reported that the NEA, the state teachers union, and school administrators worked together to create a common time each fall for teacher in-service in all departments. This solves the difficulty of allowing teachers to attend their state conventions as professional paid development. A Thursday and Friday are taken each year while the students are on fall break. In Minnesota, the NEA presents a Thursday morning session, and then the teachers move to separate buildings for their conferences in Foreign Languages, Math, English, Math, Science, etc. Attendance is mandatory. This would rejuvenate the membership level and conference attendance in Iowa, where we have heard that more and more teachers either are not allowed to take any sort of leave, or have to pay all of their own expenses, including a substitute teacher. I suggest that we ask the teachers’ union to help us approach teachers and administrators.

Another state had success with drawing attention to the importance of learning a world language with a public radio interview. IWLA could prepare information and contact Iowa Public Radio to ask them if they would consider airing a program. The following paragraphs will demonstrate how much we have to convey. We could apply for a CSC grant to help us offset the costs of both of these projects.

Paul Sandrock, ACTFL President, opened the session with three challenges: 1) Global awareness of the importance of understanding world languages and cultures in the post-9/11 world demands even higher expectations from us. More languages will be required on the world scene, and we must be careful to work together rather than to be in competition with each other; 2) When we implement real-world, alternative assessments, we cannot continue to teach with outdated methods; and 3) We will want to use the 2006 “Discover Languages” national campaign to advocate three important issues: earlier language learning, multiple language offerings, and smaller class sizes. Paul also stressed that teachers must consider what they are doing to reach a technically-oriented student body, which is the topic of our CSC 2007 in Kansas City. The 2006 theme “Discover Languages”, which replaces “The Year of Languages”, offers many programs, videos, and products to support your local advocacy efforts. Products, which can also be used for fund-raising, can be ordered through the ACTFL website. You can download the official “Discover Languages” logo and you can post pictures of local successes to the website. Be sure to publish any local accomplishments or projects in the local media to increase public awareness. Outreach programs can include displays at the local mall.

On the national scene, J. David Edwards of JNCL-NCLIS noted that the U.S. Government is becoming increasingly supportive of the teaching of world languages and that the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Commission are calling for language competency. Federal financial support will be significant in the near future. Again it was stressed that we must begin language studies earlier if the DOD and IC expect any type of fluency. Businesses are also calling for employees who can help them sell products in the customer’s language, or least with an understanding of the customer’s cultural background. For more information, check out: www.languagepolicy.org

Also check out the NSLI website to find things like Secretary of State Condi Rice’s speeches promoting the study of world languages.

Pell Grants are now available for foreign language majors, since that is now a high needs academic subject area. Study abroad funds are also increasing, due to fluency requests.

The session also allowed time for “table talk” during which some valuable suggestions by various state representatives were made:

It was reported that Laura Terrill had research information indicating that thirty minutes of instruction in a world languages class is more productive than separate remedial reading sessions for students. This is important news in a time in which we are all being asked to use our classroom time to improve basic skills tests in reading , math and science due to pressures from the No Child Left Behind legislation.
After every advisory and officers board meeting, take down a list of “emergency leaders” suggested by those who were in attendance to be able to recruit new leadership.
Use advertising to help finance newsletters still sent per regular mail. Send intermittent email announcements per list-serve to keep members more informed during the year.
Convince school districts to provide professional developments days for all teachers per the suggestion in paragraph 2.
Move the high points of the state conference to Saturday to allow more teachers to attend if they cannot get Friday off.
Arrange for college or continuing education credits for the conference.
The study of a foreign language improves students’ cognitive thinking abilities. A recent pamphlet sent out by ISU stated that the average verbal SAT score is 504, but that students who have studied a foreign language can score up to 150 points higher (broken down by languages).
Stephen Brock, a director from Omaha, NE, has advocacy information, including sample letters to legislators and brochures: stephen.brock@ops.org