Foreign Language Week

Topics:

A. How to Find When It Is and What The Year’s Theme Is
B. Short background on the founding of FL Week
C. Things We Do in FL Class to Observe the Week

A. How to Find When It Is and What The Year’s Theme Is
 

Every winter many FL teachers seem to get this vague reminiscence that there is something called Foreign Language Week somewhere in the first quarter of the new year. FLTeach fills with queries. In 1995 Sandra Briones had all the necessary information (except that it’s not necessary to observe FL Week at the designated time).

95/12 From-> Sandra Briones <sbriones@minerva.athenet.net>
Subject: Re: Foreign Language Week

National Foreign Language Week as sponsored by Alpha Mu Gamma is
scheduled for March 3-9. The theme is "Life can seem like a jungle
without learning another language." Posters with or without dates are
available from Alpha Mu Gamma, Dept. of Foreign Languages, Los Angeles
City College, 855 Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 60026 or Illinois
Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, P.O. box 5633,
Springfield, IL62705. The cost is $5.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling
(1-5 posters).

Sandra Briones

======================
 

Past Themes:

 1995: Make Your World Your Oyster: Learn a Foreign Language
 1996: Life can seem like a jungle without learning another language
 1997: Foreign Languages--Stepping Stones to World Understanding
 1998: Don’t  Let It Be Hieroglyphics -- Master a Foreign Language!

B. Short background on the founding of FL Week (Info exerpted from AMG website cited below.)
 
 

Background To and Essential Info About Foreign Language Week

National Foreign Language Week was inaugurated in the Spring of 1957 by Alpha Mu Gamma. Sister Eloise Therese, the National President of Alpha Mu Gamma, discovered that such a week had never been officially celebrated in the United States as a whole and began to formulate plans to make the United States aware of the need for and importance of foreign language study through the celebration of NFLW. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a telegram endorsing the celebration, and each succeeding president has added his support. The first celebration was set for a week early that year. Each year since then the National Executive Council of AMG has set a week for this event. In recent years it has become the practice to have NFLW during the first full week of March.

See http://citywww.lacc.cc.ca.us/amg/NFLW.htm for additional information.

C. Things We Do in FL Class to Observe the Week
 

95/02 From-> Jo Benn <BENNJ@TEN-NASH.TEN.K12.TN.US>
Subject: Re: FL Week Celebration

Bonjour! At our school we celebrate Foreign language week early due to
our calendar. It usually coincides with Mardi Gras, which it good since
so many countries have a carnival celebration. A few activities we do:

Lunch in the cafeteria each day is a different cuisine. The cooks are
very good at trying different recipes--Swedish, Greek, French, Thai, for
example in addition to the usual Chinese, Mexican, Italian.

Foreign language Tee-shirt day. This is popular with our students since
they usually are wearing uniforms.

Foreign language assembly. Previous years have included language club
officers arriving in the JCL's real chariot and throwing Mardi Gras
beads to the students; students of various ethnic backgrounds describing
springtime holidays they celebrate, Foreign exchange students and hosts
speaking. This year we will have guests from Germany, Hungary, and Spain
speaking about living in a foreign culture (ours.)

Croissants and hot chocolate sold before school for breakfast. Flags of
different countries decorating the tables in the cafeteria--our middle
schoolers make these.

Contest to guess the languages on a poster one of the teachers has made
(using many languages.)
Our major activity is a food festival held in the evening. We have three
language clubs and each runs booths with food from three countries. This
year the Spanish club is doing food from Spain, Mexico and Cuba; French
club from France, West Africa and Cajun food; Latin from Italy, Greece
and one other that I don't remember right now.
I'd love to hear other ideas as well.

Jo Benn

======================

95/02 From-> Kendall Mellem <kmellem@hobbs.leesummit.k12.mo.us>
Subject: Re: FL Week Celebration

Among other activities for Foreign Language Week, we have polled our
staff and run a contest based on the info...

Which teacher has lived on four continents? Which teacher speaks three
foreign languages? Which staff member was an exchange student to
Switzerland? etc.

The staff learned much about each other and the kids enjoyed it as well!

I might mention that we also had our foreign exchange students give a
well-known quotation each day in their native language (during the
announcements). That was also well received.

(Mrs.) Kendall Mellem

======================

95/02 From-> Karen Hope Singer <ksinger@pen.k12.va.us>
Subject: Re: National Foreign language Week

The theme this year is "Make Your World Your Oyster: Learn a Foreign
Language." We spent almost our entire dept. mtg. today discussing the
theme. Tomorrow we launch our annual poster contest. It will be
interesting to see students' interpretations!

 We decided on a high visibility, low stress (for tchrs) approach this
year. Just launched poster contest. Also crossword puzzle contest
(thanks to GWATFL);FL club tee shirt day (or colors of flag of
country);daily trivia contest relating to the different countries &/or
languages; articles in school newspaper. May also do faculty poll, as
suggested recently by someone on this List.

Karen Hope Singer

======================

95/03 From-> Louise Giordano <nkdmt020@llwsbe.wsbe.org>
Subject: FLWeek activities

These activities may not be totally original, but they were effective.
All were done in small groups; every activity had points attached; a
grade for the week was derived from the total points accumulated by each
group.

1) Labeling - around the room or around the school. Groups developed a
list of 20 items they wanted to label. Words were translated into L2,
checked by me. Only when all were correct could they begin creating
their labels and hanging them. Only one person per group was allowed out
of the room at a time with a special "permit".

2) Scavenger Hunt - 7th grade list confined them to room (as above); 8th
graders could leave (as above). But first, each group had to "discover"
the items sought by translating each clue. These included a wooden ruler
from math class, a test tube from science, a Band-Aid from the clinic,
school letterhead, the principal's signature, etc. Again, they could not
leave until the entire list was completed (20 items) they were to draw
any item too large or too valuable to be placed in the lunch bag I
provided. Teams were disqualified if they didn't include the lists in
their bag, didn't write their names on the list AND on the bag, or if
there were more than one person per group out on one pass. They loved
it!

3) Poetry - Students had to write 2 poems about a season, choosing among
cinquaine, haiku, and tanka. They were already familiar with these types
from their language arts classes, but I explained each one with examples
from the overhead. After their poems were checked, they were given
paper, markers, crayons, etc. with which to illustrate their poems and
rewrite them. Since this was a cooperative effort, they were encouraged
to utilize the talents of each group member. Wonderful results! There's
more, but I'm out of time for now. Watch for the next installment soon.
Enjoy! Louise

Louise Giordano

======================

95/03 From-> "Marilyn V.J. Barrueta" <mbarruet@pen.k12.va.us>
Subject: FL Week

To add to Louise's items for FL Week:
In the past, we have had poster contests and mobile contests. Last year
and this year we had an info contest -- very successful last year, a
little less so this, for reasons that we don't quite know.

Our department has a showcase at the end of our FL hall. We all
submitted questions for each language, and items to be put in the
showcase that either answered the question or gave hints as to the
answer. Each day (M-Th) 5 questions were read over the PA and in
classes; students picked up answer slips, and submitted them to their
teacher by the end of the teacher day (to allow some time after school).
They were given 1 point for each correct answer. The student with the
most points at the end of the day Thursday won dinner for 2 at an ethnic
restaurant appropriate to his/her language, and was announced on Friday.
Last year the librarian happily reported all kinds of library use during
these days. Students could find info anywhere, but could not ask for
info from any FL teacher. (The 5 questions reflected 1 each from 4
languages, with 2 from one of the languages each day.) Sample questions:

What opera by a French composer set in Spain will be here soon in
Washington, starring a native of Washington; what is the star's name?
(Clue in showcase: doll similar to Carmen and a bull)
What site of prehistoric cave paintings was recently discovered? Also,
name 2 other well-known sites. (Clue in showcase: repros of pictures
from Altamira, etc.)
You get the idea.

Marilyn V.J. Barrueta

======================

95/03 From-> Louise Giordano <nkdmt020@llwsbe.wsbe.org>
Subject: Re: FL Week

Great idea, Marilyn! The students themselves can probably provide clues
as to the lesser success of this idea this year. Let us know what
feedback they gave.

My last installment of FL Week activities:

1) Proverbs - I provided each group with a list of 20 proverbs in
French. They had to work together to "translate" them into English or
find a reasonable facsimile. Then they had to choose one to illustrate.
These were then hung up in my room.

2) Tongue Twisters - Each group was given a different tongue twister
which they had to practice together (5 minutes). Each group was then
given an opportunity to teach the class their tongue twister. Great
fun!

3) Careers and FL - I gave each group 2 different but related and
current articles about the use of FL in a variety of careers as both a
primary and secondary skill. They had to read the articles, compare and
contrast ideas. We then discussed this as a whole class.

4) I also used various puzzles in Spanish from Todas Ganan from the J.
Walton Walch (?) catalog. Particularly useful were Quien soy yo?, a set
of riddles, and Que necesita? And I used word puzzles, word searches,
graph paper scrabble, etc.

5) Food! Of course! And posters as extra credit.

Louise Giordano

======================

95/03 From-> "Marilyn V.J. Barrueta" <mbarruet@pen.k12.va.us>
Subject: Re: FL Week

According to Louise Giordano:

>Great idea, Marilyn! The students themselves can probably provide clues
>as to the lesser success of this idea this year. Let us know what feedback
>they gave.

Well, they said -- 1) questions too hard ; 2) no time; 3) some of them
got together in pairs or trios, pooled answers to one person's sheet,
hoping that person would win and take the others to dinner! Those who
said the questions were too hard wanted the complete, actual,
highly-visible answer to be displayed, not just clues. Ah, well --

Marilyn

======================

95/03 From-> "Robert D. Peckham" <bobp@UTM.Edu>
Subject: HS FL day

I need some help. I am in charge of the testing in our High School
Foreign Language Day French Language and Culture test. Students work in
teams of 3 on a test featuring appropriate elements of French language
and culture. Last year I used the Tennessee Foreign Language Curriculum
Guidelines and a word frequency list to guide me in making the test. The
winners answered correctly, I believe, 83 out of 92 questions, there
were a number of teams in the 60s and 70s, and some teachers complained
that I had geared the test to the "college students" I was used to. This
year I am going to use the ACTFL Articulation and Achievement framework
and a word frequency list, because the new Tennessee Guidelines are
notionally unspecific. I have checked for common topics in
state-approved textbooks, but I am afraid to use any for the test, lest
I create a more favorable situation for teams using a particular book.

What might I do to mitigate the frustration of some of the teachers?
They claim that students are used to relatively high percentage grades
and that 60 or 70 out of 94 doesn't cut it for them.

TennesseeBob

======================

95/09 From -> Denise Rainis     <drainis@IDEA.uml.edu>
Subject: Re: Suggestions for F.L. week?

Gary, our HS thoroughly enjoys FL week. As a department, we attempt to
re-evaluate and try new things...as well as keep the tried and tru

Our favorite (and most challenging day) of the week is our
"International Cafe". For 6-8 weeks prior to FL week, we organize groups
of kids for a cabaret style show. Our most successful acts have been
can-can dancers, Armenian, Greek, Indian and other ethnic dances, a rock
band, with 3-4 tunes well known to the students which are translated
into French, Spanish, and Latin ( "Soul Man" in Latin is always a crowd
pleaser.

We have also included a Merengue (sp) dance segment, sometimes a
cha-cha, and a variety of French/Spanish/ and other folk singers. The
talents of the students change the event each year.

We run the cafe each period for one day, and repeat it on the evening of
our international dinner for the parents to enjoy. The international
dinner is a buffet. The price of admission is an entree for 6 or a
dessert for 10 of a favorite family (preferably ethnic) dish. The dinner
is served buffet style, and we have students as waiters, waitresses and
buffet servers... and also as warmers and runners to and from the
cafeteria kitchen.

Other
FL week activities we have enjoyed have been small group interaction
with AFS and other exchange students,. We invite several from
surrounding towns and try to arrange for as intimate a conversation as
possible (vs a few kids answering questions in front of 100 students)

We also have a "Cultural Extravaganza"--which is rather like a
mega-trivial pursuit of bizarre questions about many cultures.

Sorry for the bizarre spacing of this message...the editor and its
respective server are goofing off tonight!

Denise Rainis

======================

95/09 From -> "Marilyn V.J. Barrueta" <mbarruet@pen.k12.va.us>
Subject: Re: FL week and/or curriculum (long)

This is one that could be for FL Week. We did it some years ago with
great success. We called it "Carnaval, Mardi Gras, Olympiad" -- well, it
was that time of year. It involved all of the FL students in the
building getting out of regular classes after lunch (a plus in their
minds), but you could do it after school or whenever.

We printed up "Passports" in the different languages which the students
in all of our classes had to fill in with the correct information,
including a "photo" of themselves which they had to draw in. We included
visa pages, and each language was of a different color. The day before
the "do" we completed the passports and "issued" them officially. Any
student without an official passport would not be admitted. We had
"aduaneros" at all doors to check passports. Students were given some
fake money appropriate to their country, which they would use to pay for
booths and food -- having, of course, to figure out the appropriate
exchange. (If you start early enough, you can make the students earn the
money by class participation, etc.)

Some time before the event we made a list of "events" -- some
competitive, some booth-type, some just fun -- like eating! Example of
the competitive -- we had a "Chariot Race"; chariots were tricycles
attached to a child's wagon, each manned (or womanned, whatever) on the
tricycle, each with a fair lady (stud?) in the wagon. Chariots were
decorated appropriate to the language they represented, and a course was
laid out around the cafeteria (which is where we held it). Prize for the
winning team was $10 for the Honors treasury.

Example of booth type: Have your photo taken in front of the Eiffel
Tower, as El Cid, etc. Students who ran this booth drew on posterboard
the ET, El Cid on his horse, and brought a camera -- best Polaroid.
Other students brought and "sold" food or typical crafts. We had a
strolling mariachi band, a performance by a tuna, some skits by
different language groups; a juggler, a magician .... You are only
limited by your imagination. Oh, yes, and all the participants came in
costume (my sponsoring partner in crime came as a bear, knowing his
reputation; the only way I could communicate with him was to go up close
and yell into one of the eye cavities), with prizes (fake money to buy
food) for the best cultural costume, most creative, etc. Each booth had
a stamp with which to stamp the passports on the "visa" pages. Students
surrendered their passports upon exiting at the end, and various
teachers recognized in some way the next day those who had visited the
most places (to discourage just standing around and chatting).

We required all transactions to be conducted in the FL -- so the Spanish
student buying croissants at the French booth had to figure out what the
person was saying. We had strolling gendarmes and guardias civiles to
check on this -- and several were "arrested" and taken to "jail" which
was in the corner, where they had to sit in silence for X minutes.
Anyone causing any trouble surrendered his/her passport immediately and
was either returned to class or sent to the appropriate person,
depending. No one did.

It all ended with a 10-15 minute dance party, with music from the
different cultures to dance to -- it's fascinating what current dances
can be done to flamenco music! Other than being dog-tired, our only
problem was getting them to go home when the final school bell rang!
Fond memories -- wish I had the strength still!

Marilyn

======================

95/09 From -> "Mary B. McGehee" <MaryMcGehe@aol.com>
Subject: Re: FL week and/or curriculum (long)

Here are several things we've done at our school for FL Week.

1. since we're on the LSU campus, we've taken our level III and IV
classes over to the university to visit FL classes there.

2. had speakers from the community or the university come to our school.

3. held our initiations for the FL honor societies during that week to
reinforce recognition of our outstanding upper level students at that
time.

4. since we're a K-12 school, the hs and elem school classes meet
together to play games during the elem. lunch period, read books
together during class time, etc.

5. label EVERYTHING in the school with the FL words.

6. decorate our cafeteria with posters from other countries.

7. have a party for the AFS (or other high school exchange program)
students.

8. school does the morning announcements in FL for the week!

9. have a cajun dance class.

10. show a movie in each language...an evening party for each FL club.

11. French Club and Spanish Club challenge each other to soccer game,
basketball game, or whatever each club's members play best.

12. have a "secret" club member for each language club. The 50th person
to say "Buenos dias" or "Bonjour" to those persons, wins $5.00.

Have fun!
Mary B. McGehee

======================

95/09 From -> Mitzi Bayne <MitziB486@aol.com>
Subject: FL Week Activities

Two years ago we started what's called the "Foreign Language (Publicity)
War." Each FL teacher's classes become a "country." For instance, we had
two Spanish teachers and one French teacher. Spanish teacher #1's
classes were known as Spain, Spanish teacher #2's classes became Mexico,
and the French teacher's classes were France. Each "country" must try to
claim as much "territory" in the school as possible. Ways in which
territory can be claimed included the following:

1. Monday afternoon, students decorate the upstairs hallway with posters
(containing publicity for and/or information about their country). They
have approximately 30 minutes after the bell to decorate, then three
teachers (not in the FL dept.) walk through the hallway and choose the
country with the best and most publicity. The country claiming this area
earns 5 territories.

Each day of the week, a different area of the school is decorated to
claim 5 territories.

2. Classrooms may also be claimed. In order to claim a classroom, a
student must approach the teacher of that classroom and ask him/her to
include something in a lesson that week concerning the student's country
(it must tie in with the teacher's subject area). Most teachers know a
famous person in their subject area from one of these countries and can
incorporate into a lesson a quick 5 minute talk about this person. When
the teacher agrees, he/she must sign a form (counting as one territory
for the country) and the student places a flag (made of construction
paper by the student) on the classroom door.

3. Before the week begins, the librarians are asked to hide a flag from
each country in a book having to do with that country or a famous person
from that country. The first person to find his/her country's flag
claims the library by putting the flag on the library entrance door,
thus earning 5 territories for his/her country.

4. We have a concession stand in the cafeteria where we set up jars,
each with a country's name on it. Students put silver coins in the jars
to earn points for the country, and pennies to subtract points. The
country with the most concession stand points, claims the concession
stand as five territories.

The winning country is allowed to watch a movie and eat foreign food
(that they make themselves) during class the following Monday and
Tuesday. The students really get into the competition more than the
reward. The publicity all over the school really encourages others to
sign up for FL classes (in addition to seeing how much fun the FL
students are having). I have actually had students not enrolled in a FL
come to me and ask if they could make posters and participate. If you
have questions or are interested in more information e-mail me at
MitziB486@aol.com. I am willing to snail mail the complete list of rules
and guidelines and judges forms to anyone interested in trying it.

Mitzi Bayne

======================

95/09 From -> Jody A Krupski <jkrupski@creighton.edu>
Subject: Re: FL week

We teach Spanish, French and German at our high school. Each language
chose one day as their "special day". For example, music before school
and during passing periods was played over that P.A. in that language.
The usual daily greeting and prayer were given in that language. There
were trivia questions that the student body could answer during the day
that focused on that culture. During lunch, the students who took that
language made ethnic foods at home and sold the foods during their lunch
period. The profit made was used to purchase fun stuff, such as movies,
posters, etc.

The last day of FL week we had each language class prepare something for
the other language classed that met during the same period. We met in a
larger area and performed for each other. There were skits, songs, fairy
tales, games etc. We also had a competition one day where all language
students were supposed to speak that language that they were studying
during the day. They wore name tag that looked like the flag of
the country of the language they studied. They were to speak that
language to peers, not in other classes. Any other language student who
saw these students speaking English, could "capture" their flag.

At the end of the day the person with the most flags, (200) won a large
bag of candy. We had all language students bring one candy bar to school
to create the prize - we had no budget to work from. We have had poster
competitions in the past that reflected the theme of the national
foreign language week.

Jody A Krupski

======================

95/12 From-> Beverly Larson <BGLarson@eworld.com>
Subject: Foreign Language Week

Ana Suffredini asked about Foreign Language Week activities. We
celebrate the week to suit our local schedule, not during the state or
national week. Our goals are recruitment and awareness. Activities
depend on the level. Level I students make labels for classroom objects
in French and Spanish, then we label the "opposite" language rooms. (We
just added German in the Middle School, so we will have labels in 2
different languages there.) We also label the office, the library, the
hallways , the commons area, etc. in Fr/Sp. The cafeteria serves
"foreign" food (not just tacos, hopefully!)

Level I students also watch and discuss "The World Says Welcome" video.
Upper level students may do projects that week on famous Francophone or
Hispanic people. This year we are also having a poster contest, with
"connections" as the theme. All language students will make small
posters based on the theme. There will be prizes in various categories
(originality, creativity, best slogan, etc.) and posters will be
displayed in the halls--again, in hopes of recruiting and keeping
students in the program. We do a lot of discussion that week about
college foreign language requirements.

The French and Spanish Clubs will hold a combined meeting for the first
time: we plan to have a banquet, with food prepared by the students. I'd
love to hear what other schools are doing.

Beverly Larson

======================

95/12 From-> Denise Rainis-BedfordHS-French <drainis@IDEA.uml.edu>
Subject: flweek activities

Our favorite FLWEEK activities are:

1. The cabaret-8-10 song and dance acts performed each period for one
day. The dance acts often include merengue, polka, Israeli, Indian, cha
cha, and can can dances. The songers do traditional stuff, and it ends
with 3 rock songs, well known to the kids, which have been translated
into French, Spanish, and Latin...Soul Man in Latin is always a blast!

The cabaret is performed by the students and takes 4-6 weeks to organize
and PRACTICE!
 

2. Our International Dinner is held on Friday night and is actually a
buffet of ethnic foods prepared by the families who attend. The students
are waitpersons and kitchen helpers. We provide salad and beverages.

After dinner we go to the auditorium and the parents get to see the
cabaret show performed on stage. They love it!

These activities are lots of work but well worth the rewards. The
students look forward to it and it is great PR for our program.
 

P.S. The Conga line to the parking lot is always a great way to end the
show!!

Denise Rainis

======================

95/12 From-> Nikki Vafiades <Nik2@aol.com>
Subject: Re: foreign language week activities

For Foreign Language Week last year we did a variety of activities two
of which were new to me. These were:

  T-shirts & Buttons

It worked out with a little bit of preplanning. Students were encouraged
to bring in a plain t-shirt that could be painted on well in advance. I
allowed them to use old t-shirts to paint on either side which allowed
ALL to participate.

Next I got a great deal at a craft store and bought 300 bottles of puffy
fabric paints. They come in small bottles in lots of fun colors. I sold
them to the students a week ahead of time. They went crazy buying lots
of paints! When it came time to decorate IN SPANISH they couldn't wait!
Most students stuck to Hello, My name is... Some were more creative by
labeling drawings etc. It was fun.

You need to have somewhere to lay out the shirts. We did it by the
window.
They need to dry overnight. I do NOT have a room and used the perimeter
of a room I "use" for 3 classes. Teachers were very understanding and
supportive.

The buttons are a project that I had tried in the past but had more
materials to work with last year! My husband found me hundreds of old
buttons to use for materials!

I copied ideas from catalogs...expressions on buttons and t-shirts for
students to use. Of course I encouraged them to personalize them as much
as possible. We spent 1 period decorating oak tag circles and glued them
on top of the old buttons. Students were encouraged to wear them for
Foreign language week. We had button day and homerooms won points for
the most buttons. The winning homeroom for ALL of Foreign Language Week
activities received a doughnut and hot chocolate party.

Other activities:

Wear the colors of the Mexican or French Flag Day

Wear clothing with a Foreign Language/Symbol Day (on the outside)

Wear your t-shirt day

We also had daily trivia on the announcements for homerooms.

The FINAL points were for homeroom door decorations! Theme: Foreign
Language Week. This was worth a LOT of the points for the week.

Sorry so lengthy. It's all off the cuff. Hope it helps!

Nik2

======================

96/01 From-> roland a levy phys fac/staff <levyr@hertz.njit.edu>
Subject: Re: Dates/theme of FL week?

To Jeff,
Re. Foreign Language Week

This came up a couple months ago. Anyway the theme is "Life can seem
like a jungle without learning another language". - Dates March 3-9.
By the way, one of the activities I do during that week is make masks. I
buy the very simple basic face mask for Mardi-Gras; then I go to an art
store and buy all kinds of decorations, i.e. sprinkle, confetti, fancy
colored puffy pens, etc.., then students create their own masks. One of
my friends has also made African masks - all were amazing - It can be
done in one class period>
Bone chance.

Viviane Levy

======================

96/01 From-> "Daniel E. Meyers" <dmeyers@UOFT02.UTOLEDO.EDU>
Subject: FOREIGN LANGUAGE DAY help needed!

Hello all! After some debate within our department, we are planning to
implement a Foreign Language Day here on campus for the coming Spring
Quarter. We have had such a day with growing success in the past, and
for some reason the program was dropped for about seven years.

Our problem: In the past we have had to make enormous amounts of time in
judging many, many performances, plays, poetry readings, poster
contests, etc. from participants in more than 30+ high schools in the
area. Since each high school has different language levels (some only
two years of language, some up to four years) how can we judge many thing
quickly and fairly so that a fair award may be given.

The biggest problem has been just trying to get everybody though the
judging procedure within a 6 hour time slot. And by then, the judges are
so whipped that they don't remember their own names. Has anyone had the
same experience and / or problems? If so, could you please share your
problem and solution?

The only thing we have been able to consider is to make the day
completely academic and have little or no judging of contests, which
would be limited to some sort of Jeopardy contest among participants in
the same language levels.

Daniel E. Meyers

======================

96/01 From-> NICKISCH_CRAIG <nickcrai@isuux.isu.edu>
Subject: Re: FOREIGN LANGUAGE DAY help needed!

When I came here (8 yrs ago, goodness!) I re-started the ISU FL Fair. It
is a *great* way to keep up interest, helps articulation, gives the HS
FL teachers some nice certificates to hand out at the Awards Assembly,
etc. Our faculty is not numerous, so we hafta spread the wealth. We
usually have well over a thousand HS students participate, and get great
responses from the region's FL teachers - proof of the pudding.

A. Guidance
1. Each faculty person is in charge of one event. That person gets
university students to assist as necessary.
2. Timing is important - latecomers are not accommodated. 3.
Participants cannot hope to participate in or attend all events. 4. HS
Teachers at times volunteer to be in charge of special topics, which
they organize and present. We furnish the room and maybe some equipment.
5. Participation in judged events is limited. Teachers submit the names
of prospective participants beforehand, and the participant list is
firmed up *before* the fair.
6. Get the media there (TV loves the talent skits!).

B. Events
1. Honors Tests (German, French, Spanish, Russian, Latin) Controlled
participation. Grading done afterwards. Certificates go out in the mail.
2. Foreign Films. Run continuously, no limits. 3. Language Lab Demo.
Continuous, no limits, 'cept for seating. 4. Computer Programs.
Continuous, limited to schools without much in the way of technology, so
far. That's becoming less common, happily.
5. Talent Contests (Individual separate from Group presentations) -
Languages as above.
6. Poster contests (individual separate from group again) Languages as
above, plus one "language non-specific" category.
7. Teachers' Lounge. Refreshments, group discussion, etc. Informal. 8.
Teachers' Luncheon. I usually find a speaker (Dean of the College of
Business, Idaho FL Teacher of the Year, etc), and find sponsors for the
cost. If a teacher has a hotshot play his/her kids wanna put on, we have
that as the luncheon event.
9. Nearby restaurants & fast-food-joints give us "freebee" certificates
for "One Free Something" which we have available for the kids' lunches.
10. Campus Service Organizations offer campus tours. (Not real popular,
but each year there is some interest.)
11. Special Events (done by one or the other HS teacher). Sometimes
limited, sometimes not, depending. Pinnata Workshop. German Cartoons.
Whatever.
12. A coupla more *neat* events, which I am not yet ready to publicize -
sorry! :) You can come up with some, for sure.

C. Avoid
1. Welcoming assemblies - the Dean will come to welcome everyone once,
and leave thinking that 1000 kids is a super-critical mass, and that
you're daft for doing what you're doing. :)
2. Presenting awards at the conclusion. Some leave early, etc. Better
done at the school's assembly, anyway.
3. Letting any of the teachers into the Honors Test areas.
4. Letting any of the Honors Tests disappear.
5. Other events/conflicts on campus
6. Students having to cross any high-traffic streets.
7. Letting non-university folks (volunteers) be in charge of anything.

- Best! - Craig Nickisch http://www.isu.edu/~nickcrai

======================

96/02 From-> Angela Thomas <angiejt@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: FOREIGN LANGUAGE WEEK help needed!

Hello All...

I am the sponsor of the International Club at our school, and we could
really use some help with some ideas for Foreign Language Week. BTW, can
someone please email me with the theme of FL Week...I seem to have
misplaced it somewhere on my hard drive (my students haven't used that
excuse yet, but I expect it any day...the dog ate my homework is no
longer popular). ALSO, anyone with suggestions for general ideas of
things to do in an International Club, please email me as well. I would
be very much interested in swapping ideas. Thanks....

The ideas we have come up with so far for FL Week are:

1) Poster contest featuring theme of FL week (used to decorate FL
hall)with cash prize (extra credit given to all who participate)

2) International Fashion Show ($1 admission, food sold as well), to
include dances done by Italian and Japanese students

3) Presentations on Afro-Hispanic peoples & literature done in Spanish
classes at the end of Feb to tie in with Black History Month

4) Our "quote of the day" at the end of the morning announcements in a
foreign language

5) Signs on rooms in the school done in other languages

6) Showcase decoration featuring world map with names of students in
school from other countries

Angela Thomas

======================

96/02 From-> Mark Norlander <norland@polaristel.net>
Subject: Re: FOREIGN LANGUAGE WEEK help needed!
 

Here's an idea. Have students dress up as someone famous (living or
dead) from countries where the languages are spoken. Scientists,
authors, athletes, artists. Loads of possibilities. Then have them wear
some kind of a sign on their back or front saying who they are, where
they are from, their native language and what made them famous.

Mark Norlander

======================

96/02 From-> "Helen V. Jones" <hjones@pen.k12.va.us>
Subject: Re: FOREIGN LANGUAGE WEEK help needed!

In the high school where I taught several years ago, the cafeteria
manager was very cooperative. Representatives from the foreign language
classes prepared a week-long "International Lunch Menu" which they
translated into the various languages. The menu was printed and also
read during morning announcements by a student of that particular
language. We had some fun with it--it also was good publicity for
foreign language study.

Helen V. Jones

======================

96/02 From-> Viviane Levy <levyr@hertz.njit.edu>
Subject: Re: FOREIGN LANGUAGE WEEK help needed!

This year's Foreign Language Week's theme is "Life can seem like a
jungle without learning another language".

Here are additional ideas:
a) Different language classes could make flags of the different
French/Spanish/German... countries - they could be laminated, then
displayed in a prominent spot (cafeteria, hall, display cases, etc..) b)
Each day of the week becomes "French, Spanish, Italian... Day"; so
students read a message in that language on the intercom. Furthermore,
each language teacher could sell or make something "French" "Spanish"
for the school or his/her class. My French Club sells croissants, a.m.
as a breakfast; in my own classes, we do a one-class projects - they
vary from year to year - the project the students love best is MAKING
MARDI-GRAS MASKS - all one has to buy is plain black face masks, then go
to an art supply store to get sprinkles, feathers, puffy magic markers,
glue, and voila - you leave the students' imagination and creativity to
fly away - then of course teacher should display the "master pieces."
c) Showcase with arts and crafts decoration from students' countries of
origin or Foreign Language studied in the school.
 Viviane Levy

======================

96/02 From-> judith orman <friede@postoffice.ptd.net>
Subject: Re: Foreign Language Week activities

I'm in charge of our foreign language organization, and though we have a
student membership of nearly 250 in the club, we just had a
well-advertised meeting today in preparation for Foreign Language
Week--and Month, as we are declaring it, and only 15 students showed up.
I'm hoping with help from all online here that I get a bandwagon effect
going with students.

So far, we plan much the same: daily announcements in foreign languages,
not only by students, but also an array of native speakers. We are
blessed this school year with a representation from over 21 countries.

Also: a show, foods, posters . . .
We are enlisting the help of a "Student Writers' Bureau," a group of
students who will write articles for the newspaper during the month to
let the public know about languages in the schools.

We are enabling a "Student Speakers' Bureau" to:
a. seek proclamation(s) from mayor(s) supporting foreign language month;
b. approach the school board to ask for same support; c. speak on radio
and local tv broadcasts about language in our schools. . . . and we hope
to take club members to see a regional pro soccer game.

Judith Orman

======================

96/02 From-> Deby Doloff <DebyD@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Foreign Language Week activities

This is what we have decided to do:

--Hold a UFO contest (Unidentified Foreign Objects). Find some unusual
things and put them in the hall display case. Students vote on each
object saying what they think it is and from what country. First correct
answer drawn, wins.

--Post up an Identification Challenge. Find pictures of famous foreign
people. Students are to try to identify who they are and what language
they speak.

--Have a graffiti wall -- a large sheet from a roll of brown paper
taped on the wall. Each class will come down (teacher supervised) and
write something in the FL on the wall with markers.

--Hold the FL poster contest.

--Different foreign food at lunch each day with foreign music being
played.

--Eighth grade Spanish class will perform a Mayan tale bilingually for
the 3rd grade who is studying the Mayan civilization. Then both will
look at slides of Mayan ruins.

--Each 5th grade class is doing a creative project and will perform for
each other during FL Week. Projects are dancing La Bamba, putting on
original puppet shows, singing and performing "Guantanamera" with help
from the music teacher (teaching us rhythms on Latin percussion
instruments) and some excellent musicians in the class.

--With Librarian and Music Teacher, the 4th grade will act out a Spanish
and French story tale in English with a number of Spanish or French
words thrown in and some songs sung bilingually. When the Sp or Fr words
are said, one student on stage will hold up a picture to show the
meaning of the word.

--Each class will create their own project to decorate the school.
Examples are:
-label the school in different languages - mark a world map with colored
yarn connecting country and language label
- write captions in the FL to cartoons
- find out what languages the faculty can speak or have studied and make
a poster of the information
- Draw pictures of different teachers in the school and write sentences
about them using descriptive adjectives
- Learn Chinese calligraphy using ink and brush and hang up the samples
made with English translation
- Include a Spanish page in the school newspaper

Deby Doloff

======================

96/02 From-> Linda Thalman <thalman@wfi.fr>
Subject: Re: FL Week activities/web adaptations

Deby posted some marvelous ideas (and so have others), but for some
reason many of hers made me think of ways they could be adapted to
teaching with the Web. I know not everyone has web/email access, but if
you do, how about these adaptations for web-paired classes?

Deby suggested:
>--Hold a UFO contest (Unidentified Foreign Objects). Find some unusual things
>and put them in the hall display case. Students vote on each object saying what they
>think it is and from what country. First correct answer drawn, wins.

UFO pictures or drawings are scanned and numbered. A form could be
created for online identification. Object 1 = _____________ Or simply
students submit by email. 1 = a Swiss cow bell 2 = a hairdryer The
student(s) with the most correct answers get a virtual prize.

Deby suggested
>--Post up an Identification Challenge. Find pictures of famous foreign people.
>Students are to try to identify who they are and what language they speak.

Scan a few famous people's pictures. Students choose one to write about
(choose your essay, story, biography tasks as desired). Essays from the
2 classes are compared for similarities/differences. Essays could be
exchanged by email.

>--Have a graffitti wall -- a large sheet from a roll of brown paper taped on the
>wall. Each class will come down (teacher supervised) and write something in
>the FL on the wall with markers.

Dave Sperling has a great Graffitti Wall in his web site -- send you
students there or start your own between classes. Graffiti Wall
www.pacificnet.net/~sperling/wall.html

Deby suggested:
--Different foreign food at lunch each day with foreign music being
played.

If two classes did this during the same week, menus could be posted on
the web/exchanged via email. If you've got super sophisticated systems,
record some of the music and put it on the web for others to listen to
and perhaps identify, react to, or just listen to.

Deby suggested: (and here you could replace Spanish with any foreign
language)
>- Include a Spanish page in the school newspaper

Put your school newspaper on the Web!

Linda Thalman

======================

96/02 From-> Judy Frumkin <Cityf@aol.com>
Subject: Re: FL Week Film

I teach in an inner city school in Baltimore and have found that a
wonderful film to show is "Black Orpheus". Do any of you remember seeing
it years ago?

It was considered to be an art film then. The music is delightful
(Remember the song "A Day in the Life of a Fool") and was made in
Brazil. The film is in Portuguese with English subtitles but it's always
interesting for my Spanish students to be able to compare Spanish with
Portuguese and see how much they understand! Of course, the story is
based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice (sp?) and so the English
department could also be involved.

Lots of sources for comparative papers, etc. The film is not always easy
to get hold of but I was able to rent it at a Blockbusters a few years
ago and, of course, the "artsy" video stores might have copies
available! Hope this helps!

Judy Frumkin

======================

96/02 From-> NICKISCH_CRAIG <nickcrai@isuux.isu.edu>
Subject: Re: FL Week Ideas

Dear Gini-
In regard to your comment:
>It's almost foreign language week. We used to do a full fledged fair, but
>having to compete with basketball for use of the gym, lack of quality
>student participation, we have lapsed into doing nothing. We would like
>to revive some something, but are looking for low stress, high visibility
>ideas. What do you do?

Some ideas which occur to me, sitting here, are:
- Your students and the Computer Science students (together) review FL
software. Yours for language learning, theirs for use of technology.
Produce a combined report.
- School Cafeteria serves a "FL Special" - maybe just one side dish
(sopapilla, crepes, Torte). A whole meal, if you can get 'em to do it!
- Clean out the trophy cases in the hallways (most of 'em need it!) and
put in objects from the foreign countries. Afterwards put the trophies
back in *polished*, with a little sign "Courtesy of the (Language)
Club."
- Travel posters (and other "eyewash" you can find) put up here and
there.
- A pinnata (made in the form of the opposing school's mascot) which you
have the team captain bust to pieces on-stage at the pep assembly.
Contents thrown out to the cheering multitudes! Blindfold may need to be
slightly transparent, in spots.
- Have the principal (or whoever liver-lips the public address system)
start each announcement with "This is Foreign Language Week at Meadow
Muffin School (or whatever), guten Tag." (different language each time)
Same for the telephone.
- Get the chorus to include FL songs in the closest concert. - Advanced
FL Students present overviews of foreign political systems in the
government classes.
- Put up a "Foreign Language & Culture Trivia Question" for all to see
on entering school. Responses go in a box, and a prize is given for the
right answer (drawn at random from multiple correct responses). Make
sure you receive a right answer(!) - and that your students can
participate, too.
- Language arts classes do a short piece from FL authors whose languages
are taught in your school (in English translation, of course).
- Costume day(s). The kids in FL classes can wear something ethnic ...
needn't be expensive. Salvation Army, DI, et al, usually have a beret,
Filzhut or sarape for not much loot.
- Short on $? Ask a service club to help out (Kiwanis, Rotary, Optimist
... et al).

That should raise awareness! :)

- Craig Nickisch http://www.isu.edu/~nickcrai

 ======================

97/01 From-> Pamela Knapp <pkrk@worldpath.net>
Subject: foreign language week

I taught in a junior high school for a long time before moving to a high
school in a new state. At our junior high, a colleague of mine and I
started (about 10 years ago) what has become one of the most successful
events the whole school and community look forward to each year. Each
day, there are different activities for the students offered mainly by
parents and other community members. These include lectures, slide
presentations, cooking demonstrations, craft demonstrations, dances from
different countries, etc.

It is to the point now where there are often two or three presentations
going on the same period of the day, and there are usually no periods
without some kind of activity. Rooms must be reserved at the beginning
of the school year to accommodate some of the large groups. There are
also various contests, prepared by the students, which are offered
daily. (Most appear on a rolling bulletin board outside the cafeteria
and entry forms are left on a table.) A sampling of foreign foods
(prepared mainly by parents) is offered for the faculty one day during
lunch, and this has really made the entire staff feel that they are part
of the week's activities. Sometimes movies- mostly travel type films -
are shown in the cafeteria during lunch. Displays of items from
different countries are set up in display cases throughout the school.
The librarian does a display focusing books by foreign authors.

The highlight of the week is the international banquet on Friday
evening, followed by entertainment by a professional group (there has
been everything from a German oompah band to a mariachi band to an
Ecuadorian group.) This week takes MONTHS of planning and organization,
but it can be really successful. You need a strong group of parent
volunteers and another student group willing to work hard on the
contests, etc. Merchants from the area donate gifts to be used as prizes
for the various contests or raffles held during the banquet. Last year,
there were so many people scheduled for the banquet (nearly 500!!) that
it had to be moved to a function room of a restaurant. And, although
school was canceled due to a snowstorm that day, over 300 people came to
the banquet anyway!

Each student may bring one guest (we started with two, but it got to be
too big) and must bring a foreign dish to serve six. Teachers, spouses,
etc. volunteer to serve the food, and it is so much fun for everyone!
You can ask students to bring a copy of their recipes and compile a nice
cook book to offer for sale at the banquet. This can be done once again
by parent volunteers or professionally, if you have the funds. Beverages
can be solicited from a fast food restaurant nearby or by supermarkets.
One year, we had a parent who was the regional manager for Pepsi, and he
donated the drinks and the machines!

This community, close to Boston, has a fair amount of cultural
diversity, so there's no lack of presenters or volunteers. When I came
to my present school four years ago, I didn't think that I could
establish a successful week, because our community is far from
culturally diverse and is also a summer resort area with a comparatively
small winter population. Well, I decided to give it a shot, and was very
surprised at the results!

Although the other teachers showed little interest that first year, the
editor of the local newspaper helped by writing an article asking for
volunteers, and our foreign language club, although small, helped
tremendously! We were able to offer the daily contests, had at least
three presenters each day, hosted a banquet with an entertainer and had
a lovely display case in our library. Let me mention that the banquet
had to be postponed due to snow, and was rescheduled for a Thursday
evening, but we still had well over 100 people and some wonderful food.

My point here is that you can do this, even if you don't have as many
resources or as much enthusiasm as you'd like. Last year I discovered
the Speakers' Bureau at the University of New Hampshire, and it turned
out to be a great resource. I also think that some of the ideas work
just as well -if not better- with high school students. Our school is
fairly small for a high school, with a population of about 750. I don't
know if a bigger school would have more success or not.

Pamela Knapp

======================

97/01 From-> Denise Rainis <rainis@meol.mass.edu>
Subject: Re: Foreign Language Week

FL Week is always a special time for us and an important one to
highlight our program and ...to do some PR. Our most successful events
have been:

1. The Cultural Extravaganza

Kids from all FL classes each block are mixed and put into 3 teams. A
team rep from each team comes to the front of the room (we use a
double-sized room.. it's packed but adds to the fun) and has an
opportunity to answer 3 questions. Most of the questions come from
culture questions we "borrowed" from trivial pursuit and do not focus on
any one of the languages we teach. Each student has a xylophone tone.
The first to ding gets a shot at the question. Correct answer = point for
the team. Penalty point for "frivolous" or "premature" dinging.

Prize to each member of winning team = homework pass.

You can also play class against class... depends on the mix each period.
Sometimes we play a FR against SP. Questions like "name 5 items of
clothing" (Fr. does Fr. and Sp does Sp.) First team to get 5 correctly
written on the board wins.

2. International Cabaret Show

About 8 wks before FL week we solicit acts for the cabaret. EX: Singing
groups (Folk, a capella, and rock) , dancing groups (Indian, Armenian,
Polka!!. Irish Jig, Cha Cha, Can Can,Merengue, etc.) and other acts (ex
Latin Fashion show, a rap about Latin, American Sign Language
accompanying a song). We usually have more acts than we need and juggle
them around. On the day of the Cabaret Show, we darken and decorate a
large room (complete with spot and stage lighting) and the language
classes watch the acts. We run the show each period and again during the
evening for the parents. We always have a rock band that does 2-3
popular songs translated in to Fr. or Sp.

A lot of work , but a BLAST. Kids look forward to it all year. It's also
nice because it gives some kids who are not usually in the spotlight a
chance to perform.

3. Cabaret Dessert Cafe

We usually run the Cabaret show on Wednesday during the day and Thursday
evening in the auditorium. After the show, performers and parents gather
for dessert and beverages in the cafeteria (decorated). All of the
desserts are prepared by the parents as their price of admission into
the show. We have also done a buffet dinner of international foods (also
prepared by the parents) but, quite frankly, it is a lot more work
(heating and serving) and makes for a pretty long evening for an
already-tired staff.

4. Filmfest

Using
-International commercials
- student made videos (I archive my students video work so that by the
time they are juniors and seniors a look back at the previous
years is quite a lot of fun--and a validation at how much their
language skills have grown
-A foreign film-one in a language that is NOT taught at the HS.(Last
(year we did Cinema Paradiso) We wrote a curriculum to go with the
film and spent some time discussing it. It took 2+ classes but I feel it
was a valid experience.

5. Potpourri

We have also had years where we hired dance instructors to come and
teach various folk, line, and ethnic dances. We mixed classes and used
the gym. Some years it was great, others not so hot. Depended on the
mix/mood of the kids and the talents of the instructor!

Once in a while we teach mini-lessons to OTHER classes (ex French to
Latin students)--Fun but tiring for the teachers!

6. Meet the Exchange Students

We invite AFS and other exchange students to talk to classes. Students
are encouraged to ask questions. Sometimes we do it in small groups
(best) and other times a "panel" forum.

Denise Rainis

======================

97/01 From-> MS JANET R WOODHOUSE <jwoodhouse@prodigy.com>
Subject: Re: Foreign Language Week

Our high school is small and in a rural area, so we are limited in
finding diverse entertainment to complement our other activities. I
think it would add a lot to what we usually do, but the logistics of
transportation and the fees some require just don't make it a feasible
option here.

I believe Natl. Foreign Language Week is usually the second week of
March; that coincides with our girls' state basketball tourney. Since we
have been fortunate to be frequent participators, we move our week to
the last of February.

Our Foreign Language Club spearheads the activities. Committees are
formed and volunteers do the necessary preparations. They receive
participation points which make them eligible for a weekend trip in the
late spring, so usually we get a good response.

Some type of logo representative of the language is drawn by hand,
computer or traced. These are usually copied onto cardstock and then
colored with markers. Each student's French, Spanish, Russian name is
then placed on the sign. (no last names) These are hung on the hall
lockers of the students who are in foreign language classes. It gives
great visibility to our programs!

Each day of the week is focused on a particular country; recently we
have chosen the countries of our current foreign exchange students.
School lunches feature some traditional dishes of that culture each day.
The menus are translated into the featured language and displayed on the
cafeteria walls. Posters and other realia are hung in the cafeteria as
well. This changes daily during the week and involves a different
committee for each country featured. We usually send some fresh flowers
at the end of the week to our high school cooks to thank them for their
cooperation and extra effort!

We also have had multi-cultural posters and signs throughout the school.
There is a display case in the student center and we have placed objects
from other countries here. Home basketball games bring large crowds and
gives us community visibility as well.

One day of our For. Language Week we have a faculty potluck for lunch.
It is held in the home ec kitchen and is always fun and tasty; a welcome
change to school lunch! We place a sign-up sheet in the faculty lounge
before the designated day and will accept anyone and any item! Some will
bring exotic dishes; some have pizza delivered!

We have at times distributed packets of information to the elementary
school instructors to coordinate the focus throughout the district.
Trivia contests have been run in home rooms. We invite guest speakers
and have a panel of our foreign exchange students who speak in one
central area to the foreign lang. classes. If room allows, we have
invited social studies classes as well. Now that we are on block
scheduling for the first time, some changes may be necessary in this
format. Often some of our activities are featured in the local paper or
student newspaper.

I hope these suggestions help and that others will continue to share; we
are always looking for new ideas to improve our program! This week
involves a lot of energy and time, but the comments and results have
been felt very worthwhile by our department.

Janet Woodhouse
Washington HS
Vinton, IA

======================

97/01 From-> "Helen V. Jones" <hjones@pen.k12.va.us>
Subject: Re: Foreign Language Week

Here's the latest from ACTFL re FL Week:

It will be from march 2-8.

The motto this year is "Foreign Languages--Stepping Stones to World
Understanding"

Helen V. Jones
hjones@pen.k12.va.us

======================

97/02 From-> shivik <shivik@tiac.net>
Subject: Career Activities/FLWeek

In response to Bev Larsen's request for activity ideas on careers during
FL week I can only respond that I am looking too.

WE have tried an assignment, both in class and as homework. of having
students go through the Boston Sunday Globe's classified ad sections
looking for all work that mentions any second language as a requirement
or as providing an advantage. Students have collected, cut out, made
posters which we have displayed prominently around the school. WE also
post them outside our classrooms on parent conference nights.

This year we are having a speaker from a Boston university speak to the
students about their international business offerings/program. WE are
targeting juniors to hear this presentation because we can not
accomplish the logistics in our schedule to offer it to everyone.

Our community has a business/education coalition which provides small
grants. We have received a grant to wire one classroom for access to
Internet and we hope to have students researching job opportunities with
FL requirements. If anyone has any addresses that will help this search,
I'd love to hear from you.

One representative from a local business frequently travels to Mexico.
She is coming to speak to the students about what it was like for her to
interact with her Mexican counterparts. She spoke no Spanish and they
spoke little English. Her Mexican counterpart will also speak to the
students when he comes to our community. We hope to follow this
presentation by beginning an e-mail partnership with the Mexican
business.

I think this is such an important area. We tell our students they can
use their language skills. We have to show them how.

Judy

======================

97/02 From-> Bob Peckham <bobp@utm.EdU>
Subject: Re: Career Activities/FLWeek

Those of us working on "FL in careers" can avail themselves of a WWW
site which should provide a lot of relevant material in the Francophone
world:

FRANCOPHONE CAREER LINK @ GLOBE-GATE
http://fmc.utm.edu/~rpeckham/GLOBEG.HTM

of particular interest to those interested in the procedure of choosing,
training for and getting a job (including CVs and lettres de
motivation), within the above-named site, there is a relevant link:

TRAVAIL EN FRANCOPHONIE@GLOBE-GATE
(The Choosing, Training, Employment, Retirement Cycle)
http://fmc.utm.edu/~rpeckham/emploi.html

TBob

======================

97/02 From-> Mary Young <youngm@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Foreign Language Week/Careers

If you can get them to internet sources or phones (or write letters)
maybe they could contact Chambers of Commerce in the area and ask about
local businesses and companies that have offices overseas -- or perhaps
find out which ones regularly do business with your target language
countries. That may have to be done ahead of time. If you have just the
list of companies and their services and products students could:
- write bilingual ads/brochures to sell the company in two markets; -
prepare a whole ad campaign (print, TV/radio, billboards, etc.) to
promote the company in the target language country;
- they could "scout" a new market in another target language country and
develop a marketing plan (figure out how to sell Perrier or Big Macs to
Tahitians?)

In the back of some French magazines there are want ads for
international businesses seeking bilingual employees at all levels.
Students could write such ads, respond to them, and role-play interviews
for these jobs.

I've had some luck having kids choose a career that would connect them
with a French-speaking country, and role-play an interview with them
that is taking place 10 years from now on French TV. The interviewer
asks about their preparation for the job (for which they have become
internationally famous, of course), their qualifications, what the job
is like, and the adventures connected to it. The next time I do it we'll
do pairs first, then have volunteers role-play for the class. The last
time it was Oprah-style and everybody asked questions through a
moderator who used the stapler as a "mic", which was fun.

I hope these are useful in some way.

Mary

======================

97/03 From-> Bob Hall <bobhall@pcisys.net>
Subject: Re: Career Vocab & FL Week Idea

Irene wrote:

>I'll put the kids in grps of 4 and give each one a diffrent set of questions to
>answer based on the ads. I think they'll enjoy it and it will give me an
>opportunity to have them review vocab, develop their own "input" and see,
>perhaps, some relevancy when they're reading Spanish in a USA paper!
>
>I know we all become heir to newspapers our kids or their parents bring us
>from vacations. Here's a great opportunity to use authentic materials.

Irene-

Do you incorporate an oral component with an activity such as the one
described in your message? If so, would you be willing to share your
suggestions as to how you incorporate the oral element?

I, too, have been developing culminating activities for chapters in
Voces y Vistas; but always seem stumped as to how I can incorporate an
L2 oral segment.

As an aside, our Spanish teachers enjoy a daily subscription to 'La
Opinion', a Spanish language newspaper published in Los Angeles. I
believe it costs the school $114 for a daily subscription. I have been
able to find many useable materials in this newspaper.

Thanks in advance for your expert guidance!

Bob Hall
 

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