COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 172

August 17, 2007

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Professional Development Opportunities for Foreign Language Teachers

The Department of Education is pleased to announce several professional development opportunities for foreign language teachers. The Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) will hold its annual statewide conference on October 12-13, 2007, at the Holiday Inn Select Koger South Conference Center in Richmond, Virginia. Conference highlights will include a keynote address, exhibits, and over 60 sessions. Detailed information and registration forms are available at http://www.flavaweb.org/flava_conference_2007.php.

Additionally, the Department of Education will offer professional development institutes for Virginias K-12 teachers of French, German, Latin, and Spanish. The objective is to offer foreign language teachers the opportunity to improve language skills and cultural competence through participation in 30 hours of high quality professional development, with some pre- and post-institute activities. The Department of Education will cover all costs for lodging in double rooms, meals, and workshop activities. Local school divisions are encouraged to reimburse mileage expenses. Workshop dates, locations, and registration deadlines are below:

Latin: September 14-16, 2007

Holiday Inn Select Koger South Conference Center

10800 Midlothian Turnpike

Richmond, Virginia

Registration deadline: August 31

French: September 21-23, 2007

Doubletree Hotel Historic Richmond

301 West Franklin Street

Richmond, Virginia

Registration deadline: September 7

German: September 28-30, 2007

Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar, Virginia

Registration deadline: September 14

Spanish: November 2-4, 2007

Sheraton Park South Hotel

9901 Midlothian Turnpike

Richmond, Virginia

Registration Period: September 4-28

The Virginia Department of Education has collaborated with leaders from Virginia chapters of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG), and the American Association of teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP), as well as the Classical Association of Virginia (CAV) and the Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) to design unique programs for each language group, focusing on improving teaching skills and cultural knowledge. Teachers of French, German, and Spanish will benefit further from a full language immersion, with all activities and communication conducted in the target languages. A limited number of native or heritage speakers may participate. Tentative workshop schedules are available online from the Department of Education Foreign Language Web page at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Language/.

Teachers may register electronically online at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/fliw/. A PDF version of the registration form that can be mailed or faxed is also available from the website above. Registration is limited to one workshop per teacher and one teacher per school. Attendance is limited to a maximum of 30 German, 40 French, 40 Latin, and 50 Spanish teachers. Priority will be given to registering teachers who were on the waiting list last year and/or to foreign language teachers who did not participate last year. Please note that successful submission of the registration form does not guarantee acceptance into the institute. Participants will be notified of their status at the close of the registration period for each institute.

For further information, please contact Helen Small, specialist for foreign languages, by e-mail at Helen.Small@doe.virginia.gov, or by telephone at 804-225-3666.

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