Marty AbbottDirector of Education

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Internationalizing the Internationalizing the CurriculumCurriculum

Curriculum/Textbook/Instructional Curriculum/Textbook/Instructional MaterialsMaterials

Professional Development for Professional Development for TeachersTeachers

International Links and NetworksInternational Links and Networks Business PartnershipsBusiness Partnerships Focus on World LanguagesFocus on World Languages

Celebrate!Celebrate!

The Power of The Power of Language Learning!Language Learning!

Educate!Educate!Communicate!Communicate!

The Year of LanguagesThe Year of Languages

Raise awareness of the benefits of knowing another language and motivate people to learn languages.

Promote multilingualism and cultural understanding in the U.S.

Provide information about the teaching and learning of languages

Support the lifelong learning of languages

The Year of LanguagesThe Year of Languages

Advancing the concept that Advancing the concept that everyevery American should develop proficiency American should develop proficiency not only in English, but in other not only in English, but in other languages as well. languages as well. 

Launching a media campaign that Launching a media campaign that will yield sustained attention and will yield sustained attention and public awareness for years to come.   public awareness for years to come.  

The Year of LanguagesThe Year of Languages

Promoting and participating in the Promoting and participating in the development of a language policies development of a language policies in the government/humanitarian, in the government/humanitarian, business/corporate and academic business/corporate and academic arenas.arenas.

Encouraging and supporting research Encouraging and supporting research on all aspects of language learning. on all aspects of language learning.

The Year of LanguagesThe Year of Languages

Establishing a national foundation for Establishing a national foundation for language education innovation, language education innovation, awarding scholarships for those awarding scholarships for those seeking to be language educators, seeking to be language educators, and providing a forum for sharing and providing a forum for sharing important programs and ideas. important programs and ideas.

The Year of LanguagesThe Year of Languages

Promoting and participating in curriculum Promoting and participating in curriculum change through collaboration between change through collaboration between national, state and local educators and national, state and local educators and government leaders. government leaders.

Building professional unity on national Building professional unity on national language issues, bringing together the language issues, bringing together the various constituencies in language various constituencies in language education and encouraging collaborative education and encouraging collaborative advocacy.advocacy.

Structure of the Initiative

ACTFL as Sponsor Member organizations Government agencies and NGO’s Business and corporations Publishers and other exhibitors Individuals

Structure of the Initiative

National Honorary Committee Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT)

Governor Mark Warner of Virginia Dr. Maya Angelou Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador of France Reginald Weaver, President of the NEA Thomas James, Dean of the School of Education, UNC-CH Dr. Humphrey Tonkin, University of Hartford Dr. Gonzalo Gomez Dacal, University of Salamanca, Spain

ACTFL Working Committee Christine Brown/Marty Abbott, Co-Chairs

Participant’s Kit General Information Sample press releases Sample proclamations An article for use in newsletters Year of Languages Logo   PowerPoint Presentation Catalogue of Promotional Materials

November 2004November 2004

Kick-off of Kick-off of 2005 Year of Languages2005 Year of Languages at at the ACTFL Annual Convention in the ACTFL Annual Convention in Chicago with announcements of the Chicago with announcements of the ACTFL-sponsored events and ACTFL-sponsored events and testimonials of support from noted testimonials of support from noted people from the political, business, people from the political, business, and entertainment arenas.and entertainment arenas.

Kick-OffKick-Off

December 2004December 2004MediaMedia

Focus on print, television and radio Focus on print, television and radio media. Organizations are encouraged media. Organizations are encouraged to build interest in to build interest in 2005 The Year of 2005 The Year of Language Language by contacting local and by contacting local and regional press. regional press.

December 2004December 2004MediaMedia

ACTFL Event:ACTFL Event: Press conference held at Press conference held at the National Press Club in the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. with public Washington, D.C. with public statements of support from the statements of support from the President of the United States, the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Secretary of State, the Secretary of Education, Secretary of Commerce, Education, Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Defense.and the Secretary of Defense.

January 2005January 2005Language PolicyLanguage Policy

The focus on language policy will The focus on language policy will encourage local, state and national encourage local, state and national policy makers to examine the role of policy makers to examine the role of languages in their schools, and work languages in their schools, and work and business environments. and business environments.

January 2005January 2005Language PolicyLanguage Policy

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: An interactive : An interactive teleconference with chief policy teleconference with chief policy makers broadcast from the University makers broadcast from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which will engage language educators, will engage language educators, business leaders and policy makers in business leaders and policy makers in a discussion of national, state and local a discussion of national, state and local initiatives that focus on language use initiatives that focus on language use and language learning.and language learning.

February 2005February 2005International EngagementInternational Engagement

Activities that highlight the importance of Activities that highlight the importance of international engagement will be international engagement will be encouraged by participating organizations. encouraged by participating organizations. Building relationships with countries around Building relationships with countries around the world will be featured as well as sister the world will be featured as well as sister city initiatives and study abroad programs. city initiatives and study abroad programs.

February 2005February 2005International EngagementInternational Engagement

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: A panel of Fulbright : A panel of Fulbright Exchange participants as well as Exchange participants as well as representatives from other representatives from other international programs will be international programs will be featured at a symposium on the featured at a symposium on the importance of study abroad programs importance of study abroad programs and using language beyond the and using language beyond the classroom. classroom.

March 2005March 2005Connecting Languages to Other Connecting Languages to Other

AreasAreas

This focus will encourage activities This focus will encourage activities that show the interrelationships that show the interrelationships between languages and other subject between languages and other subject areas or professional fields. areas or professional fields.

March 2005March 2005Connecting Languages to Other Connecting Languages to Other

AreasAreas

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: A panel discussion of : A panel discussion of languages and the connections to languages and the connections to other fields will feature scientists, other fields will feature scientists, mathematicians, sociologists, and mathematicians, sociologists, and artists.artists.

April 2005April 2005Higher EducationHigher Education

This focus will provide a forum for This focus will provide a forum for discussion of enrollments, curricula, discussion of enrollments, curricula, programs, and initiatives in the higher programs, and initiatives in the higher education institutions in the United education institutions in the United States. Symposia that focus on States. Symposia that focus on higher education initiatives that higher education initiatives that promote advanced levels of promote advanced levels of languages will be featured. languages will be featured.

April 2005April 2005Higher EducationHigher Education

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: Students who have : Students who have participated in the National Security participated in the National Security Education Program (NSEP) will be Education Program (NSEP) will be featured along with programs that featured along with programs that combine engineering or business combine engineering or business with language, such as the University with language, such as the University of Rhode Island. of Rhode Island.

May 2005May 2005Language AdvocacyLanguage Advocacy

This month participating organizations This month participating organizations are encouraged to identify ways that are encouraged to identify ways that language learning and multilingualism language learning and multilingualism can be promoted in their own can be promoted in their own communities. Highlighting languages in communities. Highlighting languages in the media will be a primary mechanism the media will be a primary mechanism for promotion.for promotion.

May 2005May 2005Language AdvocacyLanguage Advocacy

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: In conjunction with the : In conjunction with the JNCL Delegate Assembly, events will JNCL Delegate Assembly, events will be held on Capitol Hill to highlight the be held on Capitol Hill to highlight the importance of languages at the importance of languages at the federal level including building our federal level including building our language capacity as a nation through language capacity as a nation through various programs and initiatives.various programs and initiatives.

June 2005June 2005Adult Learning and Language Adult Learning and Language

UseUseDuring this month, language learning During this month, language learning and language use by adults will be and language use by adults will be featured. Organizations that offer featured. Organizations that offer programs for adults to learn languages programs for adults to learn languages will be highlighted as well as ways that will be highlighted as well as ways that languages are used in work and leisure languages are used in work and leisure situations.situations.

June 2005June 2005Adult Learning and Language Adult Learning and Language

UseUseACTFL EventACTFL Event: A symposium on : A symposium on Language Use in the Work WorldLanguage Use in the Work World will will feature policies and practices found feature policies and practices found in the U.S. business world.in the U.S. business world.

July 2005July 2005Languages and Languages and CommunitiesCommunities

This focus will encourage participants to This focus will encourage participants to feature the languages and cultures found in feature the languages and cultures found in their own communities. Chambers of their own communities. Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and other service Commerce, Rotary Clubs and other service organizations, as well as libraries should be organizations, as well as libraries should be tapped for participation at the local level. tapped for participation at the local level.

July 2005July 2005Languages and Languages and CommunitiesCommunities

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: The annual Folk Life Festival : The annual Folk Life Festival sponsored by the Smithsonian Museum will sponsored by the Smithsonian Museum will feature communities throughout the U.S. feature communities throughout the U.S. and their respective languages and and their respective languages and cultures.cultures.

August 2005August 2005ParentsParents

The important role that parents play in The important role that parents play in providing language opportunities for providing language opportunities for their children will be highlighted. their children will be highlighted. Information on the brain research and Information on the brain research and other important benefits for students other important benefits for students will be emphasized as well as the will be emphasized as well as the important role that parents play in important role that parents play in supporting language programs.supporting language programs.

August 2005August 2005ParentsParents

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: The National Council of : The National Council of PTAs will co-sponsor a forum that will PTAs will co-sponsor a forum that will provide parents with cogent benefits provide parents with cogent benefits and rationales for beginning to learn and rationales for beginning to learn languages at an early age. K-12 languages at an early age. K-12 programs that highlight language programs that highlight language learning will be featured.learning will be featured.

September 2005September 2005Heritage LanguagesHeritage Languages

Emphasis will be on promoting the Emphasis will be on promoting the learning and maintenance of learning and maintenance of heritage languages including Native heritage languages including Native American as well as endangered American as well as endangered languages and American Sign languages and American Sign Language. Language.

September 2005September 2005Heritage LanguagesHeritage Languages

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: A nationwide : A nationwide teleconference will feature heritage teleconference will feature heritage languages found in various regions of languages found in various regions of the USA and efforts being made to the USA and efforts being made to preserve those languages.preserve those languages.

October 2005October 2005Early Language LearningEarly Language LearningThe benefits of early language learning will The benefits of early language learning will be emphasized as well as various program be emphasized as well as various program models that can be used at the models that can be used at the elementary level. Participating elementary level. Participating organizations will be encouraged to make organizations will be encouraged to make presentations at PTA meetings and to presentations at PTA meetings and to School Boards highlighting the rationale School Boards highlighting the rationale for beginning language programs in for beginning language programs in elementary schools.elementary schools.

October 2005October 2005Early Language LearningEarly Language Learning

ACTFL Event:ACTFL Event: A Saturday festival A Saturday festival featuring elementary students who featuring elementary students who are studying languages will be are studying languages will be organized with presentations of organized with presentations of songs, skits, and artwork.songs, skits, and artwork.

November 2005November 2005Celebrating Celebrating

Accomplishments & Accomplishments & Looking AheadLooking Ahead

Culmination of Culmination of 2005 The Year of 2005 The Year of LanguagesLanguages at the ACTFL Annual at the ACTFL Annual Convention in Baltimore. Using the Convention in Baltimore. Using the momentum to build a better future. momentum to build a better future. The first National Language Teacher The first National Language Teacher of the Year winner will be announced. of the Year winner will be announced.

December 2005December 2005CultureCulture

Participating organizations are Participating organizations are encouraged to highlight the learning encouraged to highlight the learning of culture during this month.of culture during this month.

December 2005December 2005CultureCulture

ACTFL EventACTFL Event: Culminating cultural : Culminating cultural program at the Kennedy Center in program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. sponsored by Washington, D.C. sponsored by ACTFL and various embassies.ACTFL and various embassies.

www.yearoflanguages.orwww.yearoflanguages.orgg

How can you participate?How can you participate?