Advocacy+&+Program+Development

//This page contains activities, assignments, readings, and resources for teaching and learning about world language advocacy and program development.//toc

=Advocacy Objectives=


 * Students will advocate for the importance of world language learning in the 21st century.
 * Students will educate community members about the importance and benefits of long sequences of well-articulated language learning that begin in elementary school.

=Guiding Questions=


 * What is advocacy?
 * Why is advocacy so important?
 * How can language teachers take advantage of //formal// opportunities to advocate for language education?
 * How can language teachers take advantage of //informal// opportunities to advocate for language education?
 * How can language teachers enlist students, parents, colleagues, and community members in advocacy efforts?
 * How can language teachers CREATE advocacy opportunities in the course of their daily activities?

=Key Principles of Advocacy=

Are your efforts purposeful, cultural, influential, credible, and visible?


 * //**Communication**// - Produce a constant stream of PURPOSEFUL communication that advocates for early language learning, creates awareness of both the immediate and long-term benefits of language study, and highlights student and program successes


 * //**Culture**// - Create CULTURAL connections and experiences for community members


 * //**Connections**// - Become INFLUENTIAL by sharing meaningful ideas and information that shifts others' perspectives regarding language learning


 * //**Comparisons**// - Ensure that the information you share is CREDIBLE by reading professional blogs, organizational newsletters, and current research that distinguishes between facts and fiction about language learning.


 * //**Communities**// - Make yourself, your students, and your program VISIBLE by inviting the community into your classroom, and taking language learning into the community

=Activities=

3: Advocacy Role Plays
media type="custom" key="9448184"

4: Elevator Advocacy
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=Assignments=

Advocacy Brochure
Sample Brochure - Early Language Learning (CAL): [|Why, How, & When Should My Child Learn a Second Language?] Sample Brochures - Language-specific (JFLALC): [|Why Learn Japanese?] Sample Brochure - General Language Study (CAL): [|Working Together to Build a Multilingual Society (Center for Applied Linguistics)] Sample Brochure - College-level [|(MLA): Language Study in the Age of Globalization--The College-level Experience] Sample Brochure: [|Knowing Other Languages Brings Opportunities (Modern Language Association)]

=Readings & Graphic Organizers=

[|ACTFL Position Statements]

[|Benefits of Second Language Study] (with research-based citations)

Change & the [|Walls of Resistance] - This graphic demonstrates the key role that perspective plays in the change process and illustrates the high cost of a major shift in perspective

[|Where Do Change Initiatives Break Down? - Knowing-Doing Gap] - A great synopsis of some of the factors that keep people who know what to do from doing it.

[|Rhetorical Triangle] - This graphic depicts 3 key elements that must be considered when designing advocacy efforts designed to produce change

[|Stages of Change] - This graphic lists the stages of change

=Resources=

[|ACTFL's Foreign Language Advocacy Page]

[|Basic Principles of Visual Design] - A one-page PDF handout that outlines the basic principles of graphic design (proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast) from //The Non-designer's Design Book// by Robin Williams that are explained in the site above.

[|CRAP Design Principles & Other Tips for Creating Eye-catching Banner Graphics]

=Tech Tools=


 * What do you wish parents, administrators, colleagues, and community members understood about learning a language? About your program?** **About your students?** **THESE are the messages you should consider having students create in the form of:**

//Banners// //Blogs// //Brochures// //Buttons// //Coloring Books// //Comics// //Postcards// - Have students write why learning a language is fun or important on the back of a postcard and then distribute them to people in your neighborhood or community. This can be done electronically (Idea from Jennie Frazier) //Posters// //Promotional Items (// [|FDs Flickr Toys]) //Scrapbooks// //Slide Shows// //T-shirts (// [|SnapShirts.com])