Post on 11-Jan-2016
Give Them a Reason to Take MORE French
Part ILiberal Arts, STEM, Importance of
French, Advocacy Lessons
Give Them A Reason to Take MORE French!
AATF, July 20, 2014, New Orleans
Margot M. SteinhartBarrington HS, Northwestern University (formerly)
Eileen WalvoordNiles Township HS (Retired)
Randa DuvickValparaiso University
Essential Question for the profession
• How do we sustain our French
program?
o How do we attract new students and
retain them?
o How do we prevent program elimination?
Some answers1. Be attentive to public opinion about liberal
arts and STEM.
2. Have ready answers to support the study of
French.
3. Adapt to your own situation the advocacy
lessons learned by others..
Margot to address these points
Some more answers
4. Be visible and promote French
continuously.
5. Facilitate K-12 and
College/University collaboration
and dissemination of program
information. (Articulation)Eileen and Randa to focus on #4 and #5
Some more answers
6. Cultivate allies within and outside of
the school or institution.
7. Maintain contacts with former
students and collect testimonials.
8. Contact union and/or AAUP (higher ed)
re: procedures.
Referenced by presenters
1. Be attentive to public opinion about
liberal arts and STEM.• Liberal Arts (LAS, liberal arts and sciences)
Literature, languages, art history, music history, philosophy,
history, mathematics, psychology, and science
• Humanities
Same as liberal arts PLUS religion, visual and performing arts,
social sciences, anthropology, area studies, law, and
linguistics
NOT PART OF PROFESSION, VOCATION, OR
TECHNICAL CURRICULA
Concerns about higher education
• “Luxury” vs. practicality
• Need to create jobs in a global
economy
• High tuition costs
• College loan repayment and future
employment and salary
One Viewpoint• Undersecretary of Education Martha
J. Kanter said in a 2010 speech: “The
implication of all this is that liberal
arts colleges provide a boutique, if
charmingly antiquated, education for
the 21st century."
A Different Viewpoint
• Students who follow a career-specific
track tend to lack the skills in critical
thinking, writing, and analysis that
are necessary for success.
“Are we loosing our liberal arts colleges?”
• Frequently quoted article by David W. Breneman (1990)
• His research showed that liberal arts colleges
were evolving into career-oriented
“professional colleges” where students were
majoring in professional fields, e.g.,
business/management, nursing, allied health, computer
sciences, communications, education, and engineering
Number of College Majors — STEM, STEM-related, Non-STEM
STEMScience, Technology, Engineering, Math
• STEM education has been elevated as a
national priority.
• Growing consensus that the nation’s
future economic prosperity is closely
linked with student success in the STEM
fields .
National emphasis on STEM
• President Obama Announces New Plan to
Create STEM Master Teaching Corps (July
2012)
• Obama Administration Commits $3.1 Billion
to STEM Education (April 2013)
• STEM or science mentioned in State of
Union speeches in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,
2013, 2014
Employment and Salary Advantages of STEM Careers
• Students studying science or math in college have
a higher employment rate and salary than
other majors after graduation.
• STEM - $65,000 average with 1 full-time job vs.
non-STEM - $15,500 less with part-time or multiple
jobs
Department of Education report , based on 2007-2008 graduates after 4 years
Why Engineering?
On the other hand….http://www.csus.gov/
Latest News – July 10, 2014
Census Bureau Reports Majority of STEM College Graduates
Do Not Work in STEM Occupations
74% of those who have a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering & math (STEM) are not employed in STEM Occupations.
Based on 25-64-aged group studiedHealth care considered as non-stem in study
Looking ahead to future jobs
Top STEM jobs by 2020
2. Have answers ready to support the study of French.
Use AATF Resources found on
the French Language
Advocacy Wiki
and
the Advocacy Depot
Are sceptics right when they say ...?
• French isn't useful.• French culture is passé.• Most French speakers also speak
English.• French isn't an economic priority
now. Mais NON!
“French isn't useful”
" French has no immediate practical value.”
Its immediate value to students includes increasing English vocabulary, raising test scores in English and Math, and expanding understanding of world cultures.
SAT ACTGRE NOT SO!
"French doesn't increase job prospects."
“French isn't useful”
Its job potential includes airlines, government, military, import-export, NGOs, entertainment, sports, travel, and hotel industries, and companies seeking employees with global outlook.
NOT SO!
"French can really only be used overseas.”
“French isn't useful”
Its use in the USA includes exchange with French speaking Americans (MA/LA), contact with visiting French speakers, and business with Canada, Haiti, other Francophone countries.
NOT SO!
Some quick examples of the types
of information that can be conveyed to
others:
French has a key role in international organizations
• Official language (with English ) of:
– UNESCO; NATO; OEC; International Labor Bureau;
International Olympic Committee; Council of Europe;
European Community; Universal Postal Union (no
English); International Red Cross; Union of International
Associations; Interpol; + 74 others
• Dominant working language of
– European Court of Justice; European Tribunal of First
Instance; European Commission Press Room
French is an official language in many countries
• official language of France and its overseas
territories (DOM-COM)
• official language of 14 other countries:– Bénin; Burkina Faso; Central African Republic; Congo (Democratic
Republic of); Congo (Republic of); Côte d'Ivoire; Gabon; Guinea;
Luxembourg; Mali; Monaco; Niger; Sénégal; Togo
• one of the official languages in:Belgium; Burundi; Cameroon; Canada; Chad; Channel Islands (Guernsey
and Jersey); Comoros; Djibouti; Equatorial Guinea; Haiti; Madagascar;
Rwanda; Seychelles; Switzerland; Vanuatu
French has a key role as 2nd most influential language
• number of people speaking French on 5 continents (220
million)
• amount of trade with the US (import/export)
• political and humanitarian influence
• sixth language for content on the Internet
FROM: Weber - http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/reprints/weber/rep-weber.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Languages_used_on_the_Internet
Mandarin Chinese Most Useful Business Language after English (August 30, 2011)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-30/mandarin-chinese-most-useful-language-after-english-1-.html
Bloomberg Report affirms…
French IS Useful in Business!
The 13 Most Useful* College Majors
(As Determined By Science) • #10 French, German, Latin, and other
Common Foreign Languages
• #1 Nursing, #2-4 Mechanical, Electrical,
Civil Engineering, #5 Computer Science,
#6 Finance, #7 Marketing and Marketing
Research, #8 Mathematics, #9 Accounting
The 13 Most Useful* College Majors (As Determined By Science)
• *Useful, for our purposes, is defined by majors most
likely to lead to less unemployment and higher
earnings, and which are in industries projected to
grow in the next decade according to research from
Georgetown University and data from the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
• http://newsweek.tumblr.com/post/21784902381/the-13-
most-useful-college-majors-as-determined-by
• Posted on April 25, 2012
The future of French
• As a result of population growth, the OIF*
estimates that the number of French speakers
will rise to over 700 million by 2050, 80% of
whom will be in Africa. This would take the
proportion of French speakers in the world
population from 3% to 8%.
• *Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie• http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy-1/promoting-francophony/the-status-of-
french-in-the-world/
World leaders in trade and agricultural exports
France:
world’s 7th largest exporter, 7th largest importer
world’s 2nd largest exporter of agricultural products (after
US)
exporter of planes, arms, vehicles, pharmaceuticals,
personal and household goods, etc.
Belgium:
mostly trade with Europe (80%)
exporter of diamonds, luxury foods, etc.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
rankorder/2078rank.html
Switzerland:world’s 20th largest exporter and 18th importerexporter of pharmaceuticals, luxury foods, electronicsbanks have 28% of offshore funds
Quebec:world’s top producer of hydro-electricitymajor exporter in aerospace (small planes, engines), transportation (buses), forest products (wood pulp, paper)exporter of food products (e.g., maple syrup)
D. R. Congo: exporter of diamonds, gold, cobalt, copper, coffee, petroleum, wood
World-leading companies in all economic sectors
• France:
world’s top tourist destination
35 of 500 largest companies in world
world’s largest insurance (AXA), cosmetics (L’Oréal), airline
(Air France), cement company (Lafarge), oil and gas
(Total), energy company (GDF-Suez), bank (BNP Paribas)
other: Carrefour (2nd in retail), Sanofi-Aventis
(pharmaceutical), Renault, PSA [Peugeot-Citroën] (cars,
trucks)
• Belgium:Annheuser-Busch InBev, Delhaize group (food and beverage)Dexia, BNB. KBC Group (banking)
• Switzerland:
Nestlé (foods), Roche Holding, Novartis (pharmaceutical, biotech), Crédit Suisse (banking)
• Quebec:
Hydro-Québec (energy), Bombardier (aerospace, transportation), Pratt and Whitney, Rolls-Royce Canada (engines), Bank of Montreal
Thought"Foreign language is crucial to our nation's economic
competitiveness and national security. Multilingualism enhances
cognitive and social growth, competitiveness in the global
marketplace (four out of five new jobs in the United States
are created from foreign trade), national security, and
understanding of diverse people and cultures. As we approach a
new century where global communication will be essential for
survival, we cannot afford the luxury of international
ignorance...“
The United States Congress, Foreign Language Assistance Act of
1994
related to Global Economics
French is USEFULto our students
InternationaL in scope & influence
& connected to many personal & career goals
3. Adapt to your own situation the advocacy lessons learned
by others.
How does your community see itself?
Educational, cultural, and economic aspirations
What is your community’s world–view?
How does it see itself in relation to the world?
Why would your community make a decision to
cut French instruction?
What has happened–or will happen–to cause this?
But 1st — QuestionsYou Should Ask Yourself
More QuestionsYou Should Ask Yourself
What are the facts–and the rumors?
Who are the stake–holders?
And what do they risk losing?
Who are the decision–makers?
And what are their priorities?
Who are your allies?
Who can influence the decision-makers?
Park Ridge, IL, Elementary School, #64
50 Parents demanded end of French Program at School Board meeting andwore Adios to French stickers
Case #1
“Adios to French”
Frog gets too
comfortable to
notice danger.
Observations - What happened?
1. Delay in responding to district program review
2. Lack of choice of language (either French only
or Spanish only in 5 elementary schools)
3. Frequent turnover in French teaching staff —
lack of program continuity
4. Strong parent-led anti-French campaign
5. Pro-French effort to overturn board decision
started in summer — too late to rally parents
• Educate school board members,
administrators, and actively involved parents
on the value of French.
• Find ways to actively involve parents in their
children’s French education.
• Create a “buzz” about French by involving
the community in a service project with French
speakers.
Lessons SharedTricia Nagel, District 64
Deerfield, IL, Grade 6 French Classes
CC
Case #2
Promoting French, collectingsignatures of Francophiles, Deerfield Farmers’ Market
Parents advocating for French strategize
Visibility & Momentum
• Web Site, Petition,
List serve (200
people)
• Formation of French
Club of Deerfield
• Meeting, Minutes
• Parents on District
Curriculum Task Force
• Board Meetings
Mailing to District 5th Grade Families befor registration
Letters (kids & parents)ButtonCoupons
Observations — What worked?
1. Parents regularly attending board meetings to
learn of unexpected curriculum changes
2. Parents and students speaking at board
meeting in opposition to program cut (40 -50
supporters)
3. Web site created with information about
French and a petition
4. Parents with tech, communications, and
marketing skills involved
Lessons Shared
1. Promote CHOICE of languages,
not just French
2. Be involved in school, attend board
meetings, volunteer for task forces to keep
informed
3. Communicate (Create an online network,
contact the press, appeal to the court of
public opinion.)
4. Use a petition format whose list serve is
not owned by someone else, e.g,
Change.org. (Use Google)
Wheeling Jesuit University
• University
president
announced end of
French major and
terminal contract
for tenured prof.
Case # 3
Dominique De FilippisFrench Professor
Resources used to thwartelimination of French major
Advocacy Depot
& TBob
Peckham
• “WV Needs French”
• Job announcements in
Pittsburgh and WV area
French Language
Advocacy Wiki
• PowerPoint slides , tailored
from “Top 10 Reasons to
Learn French”
• Articles as handouts, e.g.,
“French is more than…
• Personal Story Video clips
(6)
Resources used to thwartelimination of French major
Sister Mary Helen Kashuba
(President, AATF)
Letter of support
AAUP (American
Association of University
Professors)
Due process procedures not
being followed by WJU
Testimonials from alumni
Email messages to
president by alumni and
colleagues
Anecdotes with local
connections to
French/France
Reasons to Study Frenchon French Language Advocacy Wiki:PowerPoints, Flyers, Brochure, Articles
Tailor Your MessageHelp is on the Wiki
A CASE FOR THE CONTINUANCE OF FRENCH
AT WHEELING JESUIT
•
WJU tailors PowerPoint on Wiki to fit local need
French Video Stories on the Wikihttps://frenchadvocacy.wikispaces.com/
DOWNLOADThese video clips from WIKI
Great resource!
The French ReviewVol. 86, No. 6, May 2013
Le français a-t-il un avenir aux Etats-Unis?
Topics
Service learning
Dual degree programs
Collaboration between high
school and higher ed
teachers
Initiatives taken by the French
Service de coopération et d’action culturelle
Advocacy StrategiesSummary
Identify and contact effective parents & other allies
Articulate reasons
for studying foreign languages
for the importance of French to your community
Match your arguments to your community and
institution
Educational goals, Mission Statement, Strategic Plan
Cultural and economic aspirations
Advocacy StrategiesSummary
Use social networking and media outlets to
harness support
Keep the momentum
In the community
With the advocates
For the students
Get visible and stay visible