2011 NZAFT Professional Development Scholarship

NZAFT offered two Professional Development Scholarship of $500 in 2011.

The recipients were Shelley Hancox (Rathkeale College) and Florence Lyons (Matamata College).
Both members chose to attend the international Task Based Teaching conference Crossing Boundaries held in Auckland 18-20 November 2011.

Presentations and Discussions at TBLT2011 can be accessed here.

Florence blogged about her experience there here.
Shelley shared her reactions and findings in the document below.

NZAFT Initiatives - 2011

1. The Mark Williams Awards

The NZAFT is proud to announce the continuation in 2011 of the Mark Williams Awards.
The Mark Williams Award is for a teacher led project which focus is on enhancing students' French learning experience.
 

"This award is given in honour of Mark Williams.  Mark taught French for many years at Otumoetai College, Tauranga. He was a dedicated teacher and complete Francophile and he inspired both teachers and colleagues alike. His ability as a teacher, his willingness to share, and his total commitment to the profession and to his students made him a great teacher of French.
It is difficult to estimate how many lives he touched with his love of the French language and all things French. There is no doubt that there are many, many people out there today who have gone on to share this love thanks to his inspiration.This award recognizes Mark, his work and his great contribution to French teaching in New Zealand."
Thank you to Shirley Bain (past NZAFT President) for providing these kind words in Mark's memory.

Recipients for 2010: NZALT Waikato Branch for the French Camp, St Catherine's College Rugby tournament to France, Taupo Intermediate Teachers Professional Development, Christchurch Girls High School Trip to France.

Rules and Criteria for the Mark Williams Award for 2011
The Mark Williams Award is for a teacher led project which focus is on enhancing students' French learning experience.
1. Applicants for one of six Mark Williams Awards must be a paid member of the NZAFT
2. Application for an award must be made in writing to the President, Lesley PARRIS. Application forms are available by downloading a copy from this page (see below).
3. Applications for an award must fulfill all the criteria stipulated on the form.
4. The selection will be made from applicants who meet all the requirements in their application. (see form for criteria)
5. Members receiving an award must supply NZAFT Executive with a short written report of the project, suitable for publishing in the NZAFT section of www.french.ac.nz.
6. Disbursement of the award will be made upon reception of the relevant receipts and of the short written report upon project completion.
7. The award may be granted for a project within or beyond New Zealand.
Applications must reach the NZAFT President by July 31st 2011 (end of term 2)
Send your application by post to Lesley PARRIS, 81 Hill Road RD2 NAPIER or by email al.parris@xtra.co.nz

Great examples of use of a Mark Williams Award 2010

1- Christchurch Girls' account offers ideas for an itineray.

2- St Catherine College mix sport and culture and Taupo Intermediate offers upskilling opportunity.

NZAFT NZ/France South Island Reciprocal Exchange

Stephanie Barnett (Rangi Ruru College) has been overseeing the successful NZ-France South Island Exchange (known also as Bourges Exchange) on behalf of NZAFT for some years now. This exchange has been facilitated with the support of the NZ-France Friendship Fund. Stephanie has made available the report she has submitted to NZFFF which you can download below.  Stephanie also stresses that she would be very happy to support the setting up of such an exchange in other parts of the country, as "the application process, protocols and Code of Practice are all in place and it is a MoE approved-exchange as long as the organisation of it has NZAFT approval".

She adds she is available to liaise with anyone interested and would encourage any colleague with strong links with a Lycee to pursue an exchange along the lines of the Bourges exchange. She stresses though that it would be almost impossible to find a French teacher/school willing to organise a student exchange from schools other than their own. Stephanie can be contacted at stefbarnett [at] hotmail.com (replace [at]by @)

Thank you Stephanie for sharing this information so extensively and long live this relationship!

Scholarship 2010: CAP-FIPF Conference in Sydney 3rd-5th December

 The NZAFT is pleased to announce that the recipient of this Scholarship is Morgan PATTERSON, Central Southland College, Winton. Congratulations Morgan and thank you for your interest: we look forward to publishing your feedback!

2. NZAFT Scholarships for 2010

The NZAFT has offered scholarships to 10 of its members to attend the NZALT biennial conference "Scaling remarkable linguistic heights" CULTURE CURRICULUM CREATIVITY to be held in July 2010
in Queenstown. Each scholarship consisted of $500 towards attendance costs (conference registration- travel – accomodation)

The deadline for applications was extended  from April 5th 2010 to May 10th 2010 and it is now closed.

NZAFT Initiatives - 2009

1- NZAFT- French Embassy Competition 2009:  I love French!
ran term 2 2009 and was very successful indeed!
Thank you for sending on so many great entries. Prizes included 3 Ipods Nano, donated by the NZAFT, and many DVDs, CDs and books donated by the French Embassy.
View all the entries that you could possibly use while promoting French in your school at About> Competition 2009

2- NZAFT SCHOLARSHIP 2009
The NZAFT offered a scholarship to a New Zealand teacher of French to attend the AFMLTA Biennial Conference in Sydney between July 9-12 2009.
The AFMLTA (Australian Federation of Modern Languages Teachers Associations) is the equivalent to the NZALT in Australia.  The theme of the 2009 Conference was" Dialogue, discourse, diversity!". The NZAFT covered the cost of flights, accommodation and conference registration for one French teacher in New Zealand.
The NZAFT is proud to announce the awardee for the 2009 Scholarship is Jo RITTEY (Rangiruru College).

CSD: New Curriculum Implementation

    Terms 2 and 3 2009

The Curriculum Support Days, organised by the PPTA, aim to provide samples and examples to show teachers how to bring together the Achievement Objectives and Key Competencies, while taking into account other aspects of the NZC (eg vision, principles etc.), in the planning of their Units of Work.  Read below the Newsletters published by the  PPTA on Curriculum Support days, and find the suggested timetable for your local Support Day. For sample materials and teaching resources, as well as a range of relevant support documents, go to the Curriculum section of this site.

Subject Associations Forum 16-17 April 2009 Wellington.

Lesley, Philippa and Pascale attended the Subject Associations Forum.  This Forum, organised by the PPTA,  gathered together over 50 teachers representing a large range of Subject Associations. It provided a range of very good opportunities: to hear how the Ministry sees a building of professional partnership with teachers via the Subject Associations, to understand how other SA are organised and what their strengths and limitations are and to network for the benefits of our members.

                  
If you are interested in finding out what the 2 days involved, and in reading the introductions to both Lesley's and Pascale's presentations, have a look at the Programme below!

SCALEs Project (Standards Review for Learning Languages)

Go to the NZALT website to read the background to the project, discover the Draft Matrix for Learning Languages and access the Feedback Questionnaire.  Deadline for completion of the Questionnaire is January 20, 2009.

The NZALT, under the leadership of Adèle Scott and Gunhild Litwin, negotiated a contract which allowed for one member of each language association to form part of the advisory group to look at second language standards.  Sue Pommarède represented the NZAFT as she worked on the SCALEs Project.   Please read her report below.

Read below what the NZAFT Listserve members are writing about the Draft Matrix

The first document is a roll of entries started on Dec 5th 2008 when the Draft Matrix was initially published.

The second document, started June 16th 2009, is an other roll of entries. It consists of the feedback on the Matrix, the Draft L 1 Standards, and on the conditions of Assessment, published by subscribers on the NZAFT Listserve.