Are you an advanced, native or heritage French speaker? Are you interested in becoming a French teacher in the United States and do not know where to start? Look no further, the Multi-State Pathways to Teaching French program is made for you!
According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 47 States and the District of Columbia report a dire shortage of foreign language teachers – and French is not exempt from this scarcity. Lack of human resources is even reported as the biggest constraint in developing the teaching of French in the US by school administrators.
Yet, with 1.3 million speakers of French in the US – some of them even native or heritage speakers – the talent pool for careers in French language education is impressive. Many of these potential applicants are simply facing important obstacles to joining the teaching profession, starting with issues surrounding affordability and a lack of information on licensing programs.
This program aims to overcome these hurdles!
This training opportunity aimed at jumpstarting a career in teaching French with a 60-hour long, 3-phased online curriculum is targeted at fluent French speakers all over the US, particularly native and heritage speakers.
Upon completion of the program, successful participants will obtain:
a Personalized Learning Plan outlining the last steps required to obtain a teaching license,
up to three university credits applicable toward an approved teacher preparation program,
a contact with the appropriate state and district administrators to secure a position within a school and finish their certification while gaining actual classroom experience
/!\ ATTENTION /!\
The program is offered in partnership with ACTFL and 20+ local education agencies. All participants accepted into the program will benefit both from the support of the French Embassy and of local organizations in charge of providing them with detailed and curated information on accreditation pathways available to them in their own state.
The Multi-State Pathways to Teaching French is not a certification/licensure program in and by itself.
Participants will still lack coursework to become fully certified teachers and, as their Personalized Learning Plan will state, may choose to take this coursework full-time in a state approved teacher preparation program, or part-time, while working as a teacher, through an alternative pathway to accreditation.
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
Have already obtained at least a bachelor's degree (or the foreign equivalent)
Prior authorization to work in the United States
Fluent proficiency in the French language
Good knowledge of the English language
Should you be accepted into the program, you will be asked to pay a registration fee of $150, which will be used to cover the cost of books that will be sent to you, as well as a French language proficiency test, if applicable. The classes will, however, be completely free of charge.
Applications for the 2023 cohort have closed on April, 15th. Applications for the 2024 cohort will open by early 2024.
Check out our Q&A, our dedicated page, and our flyer for more information!
Couldn't attend our webinar but still want to learn more about the program? Make sure to watch the recording and read our presentation!
Should you have more questions, please email elisa.alvarez@frenchculture.org
This program is launched in memory of Yvonne André Istel.
All classes will be facilitated by Catherine Ousselin (Mount Vernon Schools) and Bridget Yaden (Pacific Lutheran University), and the timeline of this project is as follows:
April 15th: Applications close
May 2023: Laureates selected and notified
June 8-July 6: Phase 1 Pre-Institute ( 18.5 hours: 8.5 synchronous/10 asynchronous)
June 8: 6:30-7:30 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
June 10: 12:00-2:00 pm Eastern
June 15: 6:30-7:30 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
June 22 : 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
June 29: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
July 6: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
July 13-August 12: Phase 2 (26 hours: 10 synchronous/16 asynchronous )
July 13: 6:30-8:30 pm Eastern + 4 hours asynchronous work
July 20: 6:30-8:30 pm Eastern + 4 hours asynchronous work - LISA SHEPARD
July 27: 6:30-8:30 pm Eastern + 4 hours asynchronous work - Guest Speaker BRANDON LOCKE
August 3: 6:30-8:30 pm Eastern + 4 hours asynchronous work - Guest Speaker LYNN JOHNSTON
August 12: 12:00-2:00 pm Eastern
Office hours (by appointment): July 15th, July 22nd, August 5th
August-April: Phase 3 (26 hours: 12 Synchronous/14 asynchronous)
August 17: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
September 14: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
October 12: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
No meeting in November (ACTFL)
December 14: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
January 11: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
February 8: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
March 7: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern + 2 hours asynchronous work
April 11: 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern
February 2024
Follow up with participants for next steps to certification
Plan for an in-person activity/meeting at AATF/ACTFL/Regional/State Spring conferences
Begin planning for optional in-person seminars via university/state certification offices
Invite university/online certification experts to present on processes
