COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 195

August 22, 2008

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 31-November 1, 2008, at the Holiday Inn Select Koger South Conference Center in Richmond, Virginia. Conference highlights will include a keynote address, exhibits, and over 60 sessions centered on the theme of The 21st Century Toolbox: What you Need to Teach Today. Detailed information and registration forms are available at http://www.flavaweb.org/flava_conference_2008.php.

 

Additionally, the Department of Education will offer professional development institutes for Virginia's 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 and locations are below:

 

Workshop	Place	Dates
Latin	Crowne Plaza Richmond West 6531 West Broad Street Richmond, Virginia	October 17-19
French	Doubletree Hotel Historic Richmond 301 West Franklin Street Richmond, Virginia	October 3-5
German	Sweet Briar College 134 Chapel Road Sweet Briar, Virginia	September 19-21
Spanish	Sheraton Park South Hotel 9901 Midlothian Turnpike Richmond, Virginia	October 3-5

 

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), the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP), and the Classical Association of Virginia (CAV) to design unique programs for each language group, focusing on improving teaching skills and expanding 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. Tentative workshop schedules will be posted to the Department of Education Foreign Language Web page at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Language/ as they become available.

 

Teachers may register electronically online at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/fliw/ by September 19, 2008. 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, 30 Latin, and 50 Spanish teachers. Priority will be given to registering teachers who have not yet met the standard of being highly qualified as defined by No Child Left Behind (NCLB), teach in high poverty areas, and/or were on the waiting list during previous years but have not attended a workshop. A limited number of native or heritage speakers may participate. Please note that successful submission of the registration form does not guarantee acceptance into the institute. Participants will be notified of their status by September 26, 2008.

 

For further information, please contact Helen Small, specialist for foreign languages, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Helen.Small@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 225-3666.

 

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