Commission members and others are invited to join together in a light working breakfast to discuss the goals of this commission. **Ticket required for participation**
The Commission for the Promotion of French was created in the fall of 1994 as a Task Force and chaired by AATF Past-President Marie-Christine Koop until fall 1997, when it became a commission. Its main objective was to help teachers recruit students by producing various documents such as flyers, guides, teaching ideas, and letters to convince students, parents, and administrators of the value of French. Many of the materials developed by the Task Force and the Commission are available through the AATF Materials Center and Online Store.
The Commission is currently working on promotional materials for social media. Based upon the success of that project, other materials will be rolled out in the future. The possibility of a new series of promotional posters is also being explored.
Thursday July 10, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT Crystal Room
The Middle School Commission is creating a volume of cultural activities that target the Americas! Come preview some of what we have prepared and give us your suggestions for finalizing it for publication!
Wonder why there are so many French names in the United States? Come explore the impact of early French exploration, commerce and politics on the development the northern US and the Mississippi Valley. A sample interactive unit will be presented, including a variety of resources that help the people and history come to life for our students, as we reflect on this history that continues to impact our daily lives.
I propose sports as a “Big C” cultural lens for exploring French. To explore sports, we ask ourselves the following “little c” questions Which sports are popular? Who practices them? How are sports consumed (e.g., professional or national sports teams watched)? When do people practice or watch sports? Where do athletes get their training? What are the inequities in access to sports training, and how can these be addressed? I had the immense privilege to be in Paris both in 2017 when the city was making its bid and in 2024 when the Games took place. I was able to observe the city making its final preparations for the Olympics before attending several events. I was also able to witness the presence of the Games at other events and sites around the city, including museums with exhibitions related to sports and the Olympics, and activities in the arrondissements of Paris. In this session, I will share what I learned as well as how I will bring it into my classroom.
Découvrez comment une mascotte de classe peut transformer votre enseignement en créant une communauté vivante et connectée. En reliant école et maison, elle permet aux élèves de partager leur quotidien tout en renforçant leurs compétences en écriture. Au-delà des apprentissages, elle apaise l’anxiété et apporte de la joie, même aux plus grands. Et si elle parlait français ? Cette touche ludique et immersive stimule la motivation et favorise un apprentissage authentique et engageant de la langue.
Comment peut-on trouver, organiser et incorporer des ressources authentiques autour desquelles on pourra créer des expériences d'apprentissage qui valorisent l'engagement social? Comment peut-on soutenir les voix et l'engagement de nos apprenants aux niveaux local et mondial ? Lors de cet atelier, nous examinerons le cadre des compétences globales ainsi que les objectifs de développement durable. D'autre part, nous verrons quelles ressources authentiques sont les plus appropriées pour aborder les thèmes des Nations Unies tel qu'il est promu et organisé par l'AATF. Enfin, nous discuterons de la conceptualisation et de l'enseignement des unités, à partir du contenu, des activités communicatives et des évaluations authentiques qui encouragent les compétences interculturelles et les recherches. Des modèles d'unités, d'activités et de ressources seront partagés.
This presentation will address the "Comparisons" standard from World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (French), which can be found in pages 43-48 of the manual. In two concurrent sections of a university-level course on contemporary Francophone literature, the professors challenge their students to investigate migration patterns from the global South (specifically Senegal, Rwanda/Burundi, Guadeloupe, and Cameroon) to Metropolitan France. The students are then invited to compare these literary crossings - push factors, demographics, modes of travel, safety, success rate, etc. - with similar migration patterns towards the US. The goal of this comparison activity is to understand what motivates people to embark on such transnational crossings in hopes of finding a better quality of life. A selection of students from both sections will be invited to share their findings at the AATF convention in Chicago.
This session offers curated information to teach students abroad from a guidebook being written by Ray Kleinlein, artist and art historian, with Joan McRae, French professor. Focusing on key elements from the architecture, art, history, culture, and customs of Paris, this is not Rick Steves, but is made so teachers have at hand the information needed when standing before the grand monuments, the art in the Louvre, the metro system or shopping in the Marais.
What comes to mind when you think of a boxer? Mike Tyson or Mohamed Ali? In the short documentary "Salma the Boxer" you'll meet another type of boxer: a 14-year-old Moroccan Muslim immigrant who challenged the preconceived notions surrounding her. Salma's compelling story provides a rich listening comprehension experience for novice to advanced learners, encouraging discussion about identity and immigration. Participants will leave with lesson plans in hand!
Cette communication présente l’organisation d’un festival de cinéma universitaire issu d’une collaboration entre le Champs-Élysées Film Festival et l’Université de Chicago. Elle propose divers modèles pour créer un espace d’échange culturel autour du cinéma francophone indépendant en classe et en dehors. Les aspects budgétaires, la sélection et l’intégration pédagogique des films, ainsi que les événements filmiques et leur impact sont notamment abordés. Cette initiative favorise une approche immersive de la langue et de la culture.
For those times when unplanned events occur, 25+ activities beyond the norm that you can use right away with no planning or materials needed, little stress and great results…come ready to try some!
How to enhance a French class with a virtual partnership? This session discusses a sample project conducted at the presenter’s institution. In it, a college class in the US partnered virtually with a High School class in France. Presentation points include project rationale, course units, course goals, oral and written assignments designed to meet ACTFL goals, as well as student feedback. The presentation concludes with the benefits, limitations, and future of this virtual partnership.
Join friends and colleagues to see the Impressionist galleries in a guided tour at the Art Institute of Chicago! One hour group tours will begin Thursday, July 10 at 2:00 PM with the possibility of staggering the start time of different groups. (Tours will be conducted in English) After the guided tour, attendees are free to explore the Art Institute of Chicago on their own. Some exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago are not accessible with the general admission ticket included in this event. The purchase of any tickets to extra exhibitions, including the Caillebotte Exhibition, are the responsibility of the attendee. Transportation to the Art Institute is the responsibility of the attendee. The Art Institute is within walking distance.
Thursday July 10, 2025 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT Art Institute of Chicago111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
