EVIDENCE #1: French Immersion program proposal to the Burlington School District

DESCRIPTION: This is a program proposal I created to promote French language and culture learning in the Burlington School District. I submitted it in August of 2016 prior to the school year. I had discussed this with several teachers and the head of the after school program after teaching in it for a number of years.

Second language classes have continuously been cut at the elementary level in Burlington and continue to be reduced at the middle school level

ANALYSIS/REFLECTION: It is contingent upon us as citizens of the world to know other languages besides our own. Americans lag poorly behind in this area compared to other industrialized nations. Indeed, the younger one starts learning the better and with more ease will come the second language.

In terms of French instruction, I have been providing it to prek-adult levels for 25 years and research shows that babies start to learn language before they are born. In an effort to bring more French to young learners I designed an immersion program in hopes of Burlington becoming engaged. There was not interest at a bigger district level although I continued to offer after school French classes. Fortunately, just a few months ago, BSD announced a partnership to explore the launch of an immersion program. I had attended the earliest meeting for this program as an advocate in 2016. It took place at the Edmunds Middle School library and was attended by several principals, the superintendent, the Director of Education at the French consulate in Boston and other officials from there. Clearly, France has an interest in promoting French and French culture and with Canada's French speaking province directly to our north, it only makes sense that French is offered to learners starting in preschool.

As mentioned in other parts of my portfolio, dual-language learning has myriad educational benefits and I look forward to it becoming a priority for all students. This evidence reflects meeting this standard because I submitted a course proposal to promote French in Burlington's elementary schools.

EVIDENCE #2: Prek FRArt Classes, French & Art camps

DESCRIPTION: Program brochures and a display ad offering French classes and camps.

Listing of youth French classes in the region

ANALYSIS/REFLECTION: As a lover of French and diverse francophone cultures, I have taught and promoted French language learning for over two decades. Above is a selection of some Wingspan teaching brochures. In addition, I was contacted by the Alliance Française this winter to be a part of their youth French class listing. It is imperative that children be exposed to a second language as soon as possible in order to cultivate global citizenship skills, which are part of the Vermont Agency of Education standards.

In addition to that, learning another language generates important cognitive connections for overall brain health which translates to other learning domains. Dual language learning is part of education worldwide and the United States needs to step up for the benefit of our youth.

According to The Pew Research Center, almost every country in Europe requires students as young as six to learn a foreign language, usually English. Even more impressive, over 20 European countries (including France) require students to learn two foreign languages in school for at least one school year.

I will continue to advocate for second language learning as early as possible. This evidence reflects mastery of this standard because I have been teaching and promoting French for close to 25 years through classes, camps and local initiatives. As my career transforms into the public school realm, I would like to bring students on as many learning excursions as possible to see how many windows and doors knowing a second language can open.