The UW-Eau Claire French program has again been designated as an Exemplary Program with Honors by the American Association of Teachers of French. The program, which was one of just 10 in the nation to be honored, also received the award in 2017.
The two AATF awards, as well as the German program's designation as a Center of Excellence by the American Association of Teachers of German in 2015, attest to the quality of the language programs available to UW-Eau Claire students.
“Thanks to its excellent program, UW-Eau Claire, which offers language learning from beginning to advanced courses, has increased its enrollment in French throughout the past four years," stated the AATF letter notifying the French program of its award. "The program makes use of innovative and creative methods in teaching language and culture, and gives standards-based assessments to meet university and national outcomes. Its teachers show excellent preparation and enthusiastic dedication to their work.”
The AATF was founded in 1927 and is the largest national association of French teachers in the world with nearly 10,000 members. The association produces two well-known publications: the French Review, a scholarly journal of French studies now entering its 93rd volume and known the world over, and the National Bulletin, now in its 45th year, a newsletter devoted to the teaching and promotion of French and Francophone studies.
In 2014, the AATF instituted an award to honor Exemplary Programs in schools across the country. According to the Association, some of the features of an exemplary program at the post-secondary level should include (1) offering French major and minor (or graduate program) over an extended period of time with good enrollment, (2) participating in interdisciplinary programs which require upper level French courses, (3) implementing key instructional practices by providing strong standards-based curriculum and engaging in innovative practices based on current methodology, (4) connecting French to the community.
Top photo caption: Dr. Jessica Miller, professor of French, and her students participated in a McIntyre Library Blugold Makerspace activity as part of one of Miller's French classes. The students practiced their French speaking skills as they articulated in French what they were doing as they made reusable tote bags as well as their thoughts about a plastic bag ban in north Africa. UW-Eau Claire's French program has been honored a second time as an Exemplary Program with Honors by the American Association of Teachers of French.
