Professional Development

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Education Gazette

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How to prepare yourself for the DELF/DALF from New Zealand?

An initiative by Ruth BOURCHIER, French National Adviser (March 2010)

“Salut Folks,
For a long time I have been investigating the possibility of on-line courses to prepare candidates for the Delf/Dalf examinations of French language proficiency and last year I undertook a small ‘sondage’ to see if there would be any demand for such courses. I had expressions of interest from both beginners and teachers at a more advanced level. It would be particularly convenient for those of you who don’t live within a viable range of an Alliance Française or who don’t have access to evening classes or simply those who prefer to self-pace their learning. It could also be a valuable support for those who are already enrolled in other courses. As these Delf/Dalf exams are internationally recognised they also represent a good feather in your professional cap.

In case you are interested but don’t know a lot about these exams, you may like to begin by reading the information on the CIEP website  which explains the various levels.
The examination was created by the CIEP (Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques) and is aligned with the six levels of the European Framework for languages. The CIEP doesn’t offer preparatory courses for candidates but this service is covered by the CNED (I think this is short for Centre National d’Enseignement à Distance but it’s so well known as the CNED that the full name doesn’t feature on their site)

If you are unsure of your current level of language proficiency, a good starting point is the Test de Charlotte offered by the CNED which will indicate your level (see below). You can self-examine on-line for this, free of charge and the test will take about 45 minutes. The information is available in English, Spanish or French

Having established your level the idea is then to enrol for a distance course through the CNED to prepare for the Delf/Dalf level of your choice. These exams can be sat in New Zealand and there are three examination centres at the Alliance Française in Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch. Examinations take place twice yearly in May and in October.

Although there are courses designed for all levels, the on-line enrolment procedure of the CNED is designed for native French speakers but HELP IS AT HAND!! The Alliance Française is keen to make these courses accessible to New Zealand learners of French, regardless of level, and has offered to facilitate the enrolment process and payment. This will make things much more user friendly. Once you have done the Test de Charlotte (not necessary if you already know your level) and established which course is suitable for you, you simply send your details to the Alliance Française in Wellington with your payment and they will enrol you.

For each course there are three possibilities offered, for which you will received materials (CD Rom) and tutor support.
The prices are as follows:

30 hour course: $165
60 hour course: $205
90 hour course: $245

Please note that this fee covers only the tuition and that there is an additional fee payable to the Alliance Française for sitting the examination. You can refer to the information on their website for details.

Now that enrolment has become a whole lot easier, I’m eager to undertake a course too. Now which level to choose? The Test de Charlotte will sort that out….

When you are ready to enrol just contact the Alliance Française in Wellington and they will do the rest. alliance@paradise.net.nz

Cheers, Ruth"

SCROLL PASS Le Test de Charlotte for an ENROLMENT FORM

Test de Charlotte

The CNED ( the French Distance Learning Organisation) offers a free test of French as a foreign or second language. The test is called "test de Charlotte".  If French is not your mother tongue and you would like to self evaluate, this evaluated and corrected test may point you in the right direction to answer the following questions:

    * What is your general level (elementary, intermediate, advanced)?
    * Do you understand the oral language well ? The written language?
    * Do you have difficulties in grammar and vocabulary?

A great self evaluation tool before embarking on a DELF/DALF preparation course!
Read the "Mode d'Emploi" before you start and allow 45 minutes to complete the test.

NZALT Biennial Conference, Queenstown 4-7 July 2010

For more information, registration form, and accomodation details, access the NZALT website from here.

 Week end d'Immersion, Queenstown 3-4 July 2010

Ruth Bourchier (National Adviser) has announced that the French Weekend d’Immersion will be held on the two days preceding NZALT conference from Sat 3 midday – Sun 4 July late afternoon at conveniently located Wakatipu High School.  Ruth  describes the Week End d'Immersion:

"We will be following the same successful formula as for previous weekends d’immersion where we have a team of expert Francophone teachers from around New Zealand conducting a series of workshops in French.
These workshops will be designed not only to get you talking but will incorporate a variety of methodologies aligned to the NZC (such as task-based, use of gesture, full immersion, use of ICT, intercultural focus, Ellis principles).
More details will be available soon on the presenters and their workshops.
This is also a great opportunity for you to meet and share ideas with colleagues from far and wide (we even have a teacher from Perth attending!). The course is open to all French teachers but is recommended for those of you whose language level will enable you to follow and participate in full immersion workshops.
For those of you who would like to eat together on Saturday evening, I am currently investigating ‘Bonjour’, a well-known crêperie in Arrowtown, as a venue for a reasonably priced dinner. Watch this space….

Applications close on 17th June but it would aid greatly with our planning to have enrolments as early as possible. Feel free to email me for any information you may require.
If you are intending to come to the weekend d’immersion would you please email me a quick ‘yes’ to give me an early indication of number at french@ilanz.ac.nz 

TRCC Conference: Languages take you places, Palmerston North 6-8 October 2010

This course is for Primary sector teachers and those considering teaching Learning Languages up to Year 9, with little or no prior knowledge 
of their chosen language.
Languages include: Chinese, French, German, Japanese or Spanish and the course will enable participants to:
• Begin to use and teach their language in the classroom
• Use Learning Languages' methodologies
• Learn appropriate reporting and assessment measures
• Create a good network of colleagues and
• Explore E-learning and E-support

For further information visit the TRCC website: www.trcc.org.nz
Director: Gunhild Litwin - further details to follow.

3 Day Intensive Course, Masterton 7- 9 April 2010

In order to support the work of teachers with a basic level of language (or less),  Ruth Bourchier (National Adviser) organised a 3-day intensive course during the first week of the April holidays.  It took place at St Mattthew’s Collegiate in Masterton, and was conducted by Task-Based expert Manu Ménard.

Stage de Nouméa, April 2010

The French Embassy, in cooperation with Ilanz and the New Zealand Ministry of Education, is offering eight scholarships for a refresher course in New Caledonia from April 6th to April 16th, 2010, to teachers of French in New Zealand secondary schools.
The course will take place at the CREIPAC (Nouméa).
Visit Ambafrance-nz for all information, the application form and the Principal's Comment form.

Deadline for applications is Friday 17th December 2009.

Send your application by post to the French Embassy, Cultural Section, P.O. Box 11281, Wellington, by fax to 04 384 2578, or e-mail Dominique Suquet at dominique.suquet@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Languages Immersion Awards/PD available through Learning Languages.

Access the

to find out about the available Awards, application information, reporting framework and general information about the LIA.  Typically, the Stage de Nouméa, and 1 month, 3 months and 1 year Awards are on offer every year to go to France or a French Speaking country.

TPDL- New Zealand Teacher Professional Development Programme in Languages Years 7-10

► Do you teach or are you preparing to teach the Learning Languages Curriculum Area? 

The Teacher Professional Development in Languages Years 7-10  enables you to acquire all the skills required to be an effective language teacher!  And if you are thinking about Languages related PD, the TPDL provides you with the support to improve your French (and sit a DELF examination if you wish).   

Language Study is one component of this Ministry of Education funded teacher professional development for secondary and pre-secondary teachers.   As well as language study, teachers complete a graduate level university paper in the latest pedagogy for language teaching.  For this paper teachers meet for 8 days over the year.  Teachers are supported in school (with visits) and on-line.The TPDL caters for all teachers no matter where they are situated in New Zealand . Expresssions of interest are now being received.

►For further details about this programme which caters effectively for the Learning Languages Curriculum Area,  email Project Director Wendy Thomson at w.thomson@auckland.ac.nz.  Wendy can also send you an information sheet upon request.

FRANSÈME 2009

A first time for this PD day held in Auckland on July 24th! Dedicated to teachers of French, it was greatly supported with over 70 people attending. Fransème was successfully organised by Priscilla Pollard, Wayne Lynch and Ruth Bourchier.

Feedback from a participant: "Manu did the plenary on task based learning. He is extremely passionate about it. I will read the book… I went to his workshop on it as well. I went to another one with the French assistante Annelies and I found out about le slam, and le grand corps malade and some other interesting and topic related songs. I went to Ruth’s workshop on dictation which was also great, talked about collaborative dictations, linking them to Ellis, all very good. Simon Curnow did a workshop on literature and showed a film that his pupils had made. All in all it was a great day. There is absolutely nothing that I would complain about. I came away from every single workshop with usable ideas, some good stuff to put into practice." See programme below.

  and La Marseillaise clip!

UNC - Université d'Été: Stage de Didactique du Français 25 Nov-12 Déc 2009.

L'Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie organise à Nouméa du 25 novembre au 12 décembre 2009 un stage international de didactique du FLE-FLS dans le cadre de son université d'été.
La formation proposée peut déboucher sur un Diplôme universitaire délivré par l'Université de N-C, qui capitalise 100 heures de formation). Les modules sont assurés par des spécialistes universitaires européens et d'Asie-Pacifique.
Ce peut être une opportunité à la fois pour les étudiants universitaires qui s'intéressent à la didactique des langues et des cultures, ainsi que pour toute personne impliquée dans l'enseignement du français langue étrangère.
Une attention particulière sera accordée à la place du français dans le contexte océanien et dans le Pacifique.
Voir ci-dessous la brochure de présentation du stage et les conditions d'inscription.  Date limite des inscriptions pour ce stage était le 31 août 2009

Language Immersion Awards - AFS

The Ministry of Education is offering at least fifteen, one month and twelve one year Ministry of Education Language Immersion Awards (LIAs) for travel in 2010 to teachers of French.

For detailed information please visit the AFS website.
In the Newsletters below, read the accounts written by Language Immersion Awards Recipients who share their amazing language learning experiences, and discover also shortcut to their blogs.

Applications for 2010 are now closed.

Alliance française de Rouen, Normandy (France)

Programmes for Teachers of French and Students (including groups)

One hour from Paris, the Alliance Française de Rouen offers general language classes, complemented by cultural and artistic discovery activities. Here is Kathy Stanford's introduction: "Whatever your expectations, you will find in Rouen, in group or individual lessons, an effective solution to learn French and to discover the culture.  We offer many French language learning options.  Each person will find something that suits them.  Rouen, the medieval capital city of Normandy, is rich in cultural and architectural treasures and is an ideal point of departure for excursions to Mont Saint Michel, Monet's Garden at Giverny, Bayeux, Honfleur, Saint Malo, Etretat, Deauville, the Somme and the D-Day Beaches.
In addition to the general programme, courses are also tailored for teachers of French as a foreign language, and for school and university groups.  The programmes offer the experience of living with a French family and sharing breakfast and dinner with them  Other accommodation options are available on request."
 
Visit  www.alliancefr-rouen.org for more information about programmes, which are open to adults of all ages.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact Kathy Stanford  if you:
- Require information about existing programmes; or
- Would like to discuss tailor-made group programmes.
 

contactfrancophones.com

Lesley Parris (Tamatea School) pense que ce site web pourrait être intéressant pour les profs de français:

Le but de ce site entièrement gratuit est de mettre en relation, partout dans le monde, ceux qui apprennent le français et ceux dont le français est la langue maternelle. Complémentaire de l'action pédagogique que vous menez, il offre à vos étudiants la possibilité de mettre plus souvent en pratique leur connaissance du français en rencontrant les nombreux touristes, étudiants, hommes et femmes d'affaires francophones de passage dans leur pays.

Une occasion unique, pour vos étudiants, de nouer des contacts amicaux ou professionnels avec eux. Et surtout de parler français ! 

Contactsfrancophones.com a pour but de mettre en relation des personnes du monde entier partageant un même intérêt pour la langue française. 
Notre site s'adresse à la fois aux francophones et à tous ceux et celles qui apprennent le français. 
Que le français soit votre langue maternelle, ou que vous l’appreniez quelque part dans le monde, profitez de notre réseau de contacts pour rencontrer de nouvelles personnes et enrichir votre carnet d’adresses…dans votre pays ou à l’autre bout de la planète!