Summer

2008A Message from the President...

L’association ontarienne des professeurs de langues vivantesThe Ontario Modern Language Teachers’ Association

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Pete Cecile

Bonjour et bienvenue, tout le monde. Je voudrais vous remercier de m’avoir donner la chance d’être votre président pour l’année prochaine. Je suis très fier de ce qu’on a fait et de ce qu’on va faire comme organisation.

I w o u l d l i k e t o congratulate Linda Hendry, the Conference Chair of the 2008 Spring Conference, for a very successful event. We had over 1,000 participants again this year and we have received some very positive feedback thus far. Linda and her committee, Wanda West-Gerber, Heather Henke, Brenda Lessard, Antoinette Minutillo and Heidi Locher did a fantastic job. Kudos to Heidi for stepping in so close to the conference date as Administrative Assistant, and pulling it all together. Our members were very complimentary of the work that Heidi has done in such a short time and it is very much appreciated. Merci beaucoup!

Thank you as well to all the members who participated in the Annual General Meeting. This year, at the AGM, we made several revisions to our constitution and elected 4 new members to the Board of Directors: Félicitations à nos nouveaux membres: Heather Henke, Jennifer Rochon, Maria Carmen Romero et Kim Lundquist.

Un autre grand succès, le Concours d’art oratoire qui a eu lieu le samedi 10 mai à Glendon College, Toronto. De la part de Faten Hanna, merci à tous les enseignants qui sont venus comme juges pour cet événement.

On aimerait aussi souhaiter la bonne chance aux candidats et aux candidates qui passeront quelques semaines à Québec cet été, en faisant partie de Projet à Québec, qui était un grand succès l’année passée.

Successes in our ProvinceI believe that the theme that Linda Hendry chose for this year’s conference, “Languages, Our Natural Legacy”, “Les langues, notre héritage naturel”,…is very fitting in light of all the positive language activities taking place in Ontario. We are making a difference!

Premièrement, il est évident que les parents sont très au courant de l’importance des langues dans le monde aujourd’hui, puisque les inscriptions dans nos classes d’immersion sont en train d’augmenter partout dans la province. Même les élèves au niveau secondaire commencent à continuer leurs études en français. Dans certains conseils on trouve plusieurs classes de 10e et 11e année au niveau appliqué, un phénomène qui était très rare, il y a quelques années. On fait une différence!

Another positive sign was the passing in the legislature of PPM 146; a policy memorandum which now allows secondary students to choose a second FSL credit in Option 1 to count for their graduation requirements. This is something that OMLTA/AOPLV had been lobbying for quite some time. We are making a difference!

Nous ne pouvons pas oublier les événements uniques qui se passent partout dans nos conseils, grâce aux fonds spéciaux du “FSL Renewal Funding Grant”

In the South West region of Windsor and Essex County, on April 28th, students were thoroughly entertained at “Frenchstock” by Beebo, Etienne, Jacquot, Julie Powers, Marc Tardif and Zoléo. Over 2500 students attended this event and their enthusiasm was unmatched, as they stood, cheered, danced and sang to some of their favourite songs. After the concert, the students were each given a compilation CD, containing songs from each of the featured artists. They were then treated to an autograph session by all the artists before catching their bus for the ride back to school.

Les 1700 élèves de Waterloo ont beaucoup aimé leur spectacle avec le groupe “Swing” qui était un succès fou à l’auditorium du Kitchener Collegiate Institute.

…and in London, grade 7-10 students were treated to high calibre French culture, by way of a concert by ZPN, a rock group from Québec.

In the Kingston area, the Limestone Board is providing their primary F.I. teachers with resources and PD that make Shared Reading the primary component of their Comprehensive Literacy Program.

…Tandis qu’à Sudbury, au mois de mai, on a emmené les élèves au marcher en plein air – afin qu’ils puissent entendre les auteurs présenter des ateliers sur leurs livres.

Pour les profs de FLS qui ont plus de 5 ans d’expérience et sont membres de notre organisation, on offre une expérience exceptionnelle. “Projet à Québec” leur donne la chance d’améliorer leur français et en même temps, apprécier la culture de la belle province pendant l’été.

I’m sure there are many more good things going on all around us that were not mentioned. If you are involved in any of these, please feel free to write a little description and submit any valid articles and/or photos which would benefit other OMLTA/AOPLV members, to Faten Hanna at communication@omlta.org. Also, I invite you to visit our website regularly and be an active member

Let’s take time to celebrate our accomplishments as Second Language Teachers in the province, and continue to advocate for even more improvements to benefit Ontario’s students in the future.

I wish you all a good and successful finish to your school year, and a nice relaxing summer.

In this issue . . .

A message from the president ............................ 1

From the editor’s desk ...... 2

Teacher’s Bookshelf .......... 2

Lifesaver Hero ................... 3

Success Story : The “First Year Teaching “ .................. 4

Success at Nipissing University ........................... 5

OMLTA/AOPLV Board of Directors 2008-09 .............. 6

2008 Spring Conference ... 8

FrenchStock ..................... 10

Suggestions forSuccess ............................ 11

2008 Spring Conference Prizes ........... 12

Branchez-Vous ................. 13

40 Infos Surprenantes sur le Français ........................ 14

Le Concours d’Art Oratoire 2008 ................... 16

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. ~ Henry David Thoreau ~

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From the editor’s desk .....

Faten HannaFaten Hanna, Editorcommunication@omlta.org

Communication, the quarterly membership newsletter of the Ontario Modern Language Teachers’ Association, covers second language education issues in general, and Association activities in particular. Send correspondence to: Heidi Locher - Administrative Assistant OMLTA/AOPLV, 17A-218 Silvercreek Parkway N., Suite 123, Guelph, ON N1H 8E8 email: omlta@omlta.org www.omlta.orgTel: 519-763-2099, Fax: 519-763-3987

Communication provides a forum for a wide spectrum of opinions on second language learning and teaching. This policy permits divergent viewpoints without implying the endorsement of the Association.

Contact Heidi Locher (see details above). Please note that other than its own materials, the OMLTA does not endorse any of the products advertised in Communication.

The Ontario Modern Language Teachers’ Association is a non-profit service organization committed to furthering modern language education, to providing support and opportunity for professional growth and to representing its members on matters related to education in Ontario. Membership is $50.00 annually. Receiving a copy of Communication is a benefit of membership.

The Executive: Pete Cecile, President - Louise Bianchin, Past President - Linda Hendry, 1st Vice-President - Susan Forrester, 2nd Vice-President - Helen Griffin, Treasurer - Wanda West-Gerber, Secretary.

The Directors: Michèle Babcock, Colette Fraser, Daniel Dionne, Faten Hanna, Heather Henke, Kim Lundquist,Anne Popovich, Jennifer Rochon, M.Carmen Romero,Karla Torrente-Lepage.

Faten Hanna

Daniel Dionne

Send articles to Faten Hanna, Editor, Communication, 3301 Aubrey Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 5C9. Electronic submissions in Word or WordPerfect are encouraged - communication@omlta.org. Topics for consideration: Learning and Teaching Strategies, Assessment, Special Education, Class Management, School Culture, Instructional Leadership and specific activities to feature in the pull out section. Deadlines for submissions: Summer Issue March 16, Fall Issue July 20, Winter Issue Nov. 18, Spring Issue Jan. 19. We accept submissions in both official languages as well as modern languages.

An honest attempt has been made to secure permission for and acknowledge contributions of all material used. If there are any errors or omissions, these are wholly unintentional and the editor will be grateful to learn of them.

Advertising Information

About the Association

OMLTA/AOPLV Board of Directors:

Editor

Contributors in this issue:

Article submissions

MMunicATiOnc

Disclaimer

Webmaster

Julie Barlow - Writer

Pete Cecile - Greater Essex County D.S.B.

Helen Griffin - Thames Valley D.S.B.

Faten Hanna - Dufferin-Peel C.D.S.B.

Dr. Cher Harvy - Nipissing University

Linda Hendry - Waterloo Region D.S.B.

Jean-Benoît Nadeau - Writer

Dr. Rence Shackelford - Stone Mountain

Karen Wakelam - The Prince Charles School Limestone D.S.B.

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Dear readers:

How time flies! As the school year comes to an end, we often ask ourselves what we have accomplished. Take the time to reflect on all the experiences that you have had throughout the year. I am sure great strides have been made. Write down two highlights that stand out in your mind. When I tried to do this, it was difficult just choosing two, since I have been so fortunate in being involved in many wonderful experiences.

After reflecting, I realized that they all involved working with educators and students. Une des plus belles expériences que j’ai vécues cette année, c’est d’être coordinatrice des juges pour le concours d’art oratoire et de travailler toute une journée complète avec des enseignants et des étudiants doués, qui sont venus de différentes régions de l’Ontario. Des éducateurs professionnels qui ont choisi de venir et jouer le rôle de juge pour nos chers élèves. It was a lot of work but the feedback from the day was very positive.

This type of reflection also inspires us to set goals for the coming year. As the focus of this edition is “Success stories”. I hope the reflections; the articles and the information in this edition will inspire and interest you.

Have a wonderful, relaxing summer and take time for yourself.

La porte secrète menant à la réussite (Paperback)

Authors: Florence Scovel Shinn Publisher: Astra Format: Paperback 141 pages ISBN-10: 2900219167 ISBN-13: 978-2900219164 List Price: $74.98

Pensez positif dans votre travail

Authors: Ventrella Scott Publisher: Village MondialFormat: 224 pagesISBN-10: 2842111753 List Price: $33.96

Présentation de l’éditeurPenser positif, ce n’est pas être naïf, c’est faire le choix de la réussite. Norman Vincent Peale avait développé la notion de pensée positive. Son disciple, Scott Ventrella, montre comment l’appliquer dans l’univers professionnel. Les techniques psychologiques qu’il propose sont à la fois simples à acquérir et efficaces au quotidien. Ce qu’il propose, c’est d’opter pour une nouvelle façon de voir les choses pour changer son attitude vis-à-vis d’elles, et des axes d’action concrets pour y parvenir. Le lecteur y trouvera un grand bénéfice pour lui-même dans sa carrière et dans sa vie en général.

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I did not like school very much and there was no reason why I should,” recalls Ben Carson. “I was the dumbest kid in the class. What did I have to look forward to? The others laughed at me and made jokes about me every day.”

But Carson’s mother knew that education was the only way he was ever going to escape poverty and ridicule. She made Ben and his brother limit their television viewing to two programs per week. His mother also required that he and his brother each read two books per week and do written reports on them. Dr.

Carson recalls, “I was in the fifth grade and had never read a whole book.” With the encouragement of his mother, Ben Carson became a reader.”

After the fifth grade, Carson not only excelled in school but went on to become a leader in neuroscience as head of John Hopkins University’s Pediatric Neurosurgery unit. Carson is known as the originator of ground-breaking surgical procedures, a doctor who turns seemingly impossible hopes into joyous reality. He is a humanitarian who reaches beyond corporate boardrooms to touch the lives of inner-city kids.

His message to adults and children is really inspiring. In a September 1997 interview with PBS he spoke about overcoming obstacles and working to make the world

a better place for everyone: “As a person who deals in the neural sciences, I’ve come to have great respect for the brain and its capabilities. You know, the brain can process two million bits of information per second. It remembers everything you’ve ever seen, everything you’ve ever heard, and with brains like these, we really shouldn’t be wandering around talking about what we can’t do; we should be trying to create an atmosphere that helps our young people to realize that, whatever they can imagine, they can achieve.” Dr. Carson has written a book about his life, Gifted Hands: A True Story of Healing and Inspiration, which is to be made into a motion picture. A review of this book described it as a portrait of a man’s “extraordinary path to success.” When his journey began, he was living in poverty, had a pathological temper, poor self-esteem and awful grades. Now this same person has been profiled on the ABC News show 20/20, listed in Who’s Who in America, and received the American Black Achievement Award. There is also a stage play based on his life. “Ben Carson, M.D.” ran in Baltimore, Maryland for more than two years and was a big success. His book, The Big Picture: Getting Perspective on What’s Really Important in Life, explores how we can overcome obstacles to take action on behalf of something greater than ourselves. His book Think Big also explores his life philosophy. Someone who has made such a dramatic change in the course of his life can certainly inspire others to have faith in their own intellect. This is what makes him a hero.

LIFESAVER HERO: BEN CARSON by Dr. Renee Shackelford

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Now that it is May and I have 8 months of teaching under my belt I can finally see the end of the roller coaster ride that I have been on. My head is no longer spinning, my stomach no longer in knots. I am now taking the time to reflect on a busy, exhausting, and stressful first year of teaching with a sense of appreciation.

It was the first day of school, September 4th, 2007. The bell rang and my heart almost leapt out of my chest. I was now beginning the first day of my career as a teacher and I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. “Aren’t teachers supposed to know everything?” I kept repeating to myself. However, I had so many unanswered questions: What do I say to the students when I first meet them? How do I introduce myself? How do I establish classroom rules? I so desperately wished that I knew the answers to these questions; however, now that I reflect back on that very first day of school, I realize that you can only truly know the answers once you have lived through this scary, unknown situation. As I like to remind myself each and every day: teachers only gain wisdom through experience. And maybe that’s the important lesson for me and others too. Knowledge is one thing, but experience and practice turns that knowledge into wisdom.

Phewff! The first day was done; however, September and October were just ahead and full of loops and spins. These two months were full of students challenging my authority. In the back of my mind, I wanted to say “Go and see

your teacher!” knowing that last year my associate would usually step in and resolve the problem; however, I was now on my own. Eeeepp! How was I to deal with this? Well I took a deep breath and forged ahead. Here too I had the knowledge; I had even taken an elective on classroom management for special needs children, but now I had to test the theories just as the children tested me! Maybe I did not always handle the situation the best way but what got me through these first two months was taking the time each night to reflect on my choices and decisions and to learn from those that had worked as well as those that had not.

November rolled around and our first term report cards were due. Ummm, excuse me? How do you write a report card? Perhaps many of you were or are in the same boat, but I had little to no training on writing report cards in

Teacher’s College; however, rest assured that you will make it through. Teaching is a profession with a strong sense of community. I had amazing and much appreciated support from colleagues and the administration. People took me under their wing in order to ensure that I was successful and you will also find those special people to help you during your first year as well. In a sense I was picking up the experience and the knowledge at the same time. I came to appreciate that not all knowledge comes from a formal course – my peers were and are like a living encyclopedia.

By the time Christmas hit, I looked like a wreck – tears streaming down my face and my hair out of place from the crazy roller coaster ride. I physically could not push myself anymore. I was ready for a break and was seriously wondering how I was going to

make it through the next 8 months. Don’t worry: this is a normal feeling and you will find the motivation and energy to make it through each and every day!

The last 6 months, believe it or not, have flown by and I am happy that my first year of teaching is almost done but, believe it or not too, I am sad as well. This year has been one of the most trying years of my life but I have grown as a person and as an educator.

I now know that the ups and downs that I will encounter throughout my career will only help to make me a better teacher. I hope that the remainder of my career is spent on the yes, busy, exhausting, and stressful roller coaster of teaching, but I know that this roller coaster has and will help me grow!

SUCCESS STORY The “First Year Teaching

Roller Coaster” by: Karen Wakelam

Core French, Grades 4-8, The Prince Charles SchoolLimestone District School Board

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Faten: Cher, at the OMLTA conference we were talking about the shortage of French teachers and you mentioned that enrollment of FSL students has increased at Nipissing. Why is this happening?

Cher: It’s hard to determine exactly. Our consecutive B. Ed students come from all over Ontario. We know they are interested in our Laptop program, our International Practice Teaching program and, hopefully, have heard good things about our FSL programs. But a few years ago, I wondered if I could be more pro-active in my own university to promote careers in teaching French. I brainstormed, then implemented the following ideas:

1. First, I obtained a bulletin board dedicated for FSL programs to provide information, to inspire students to become French teachers, and to share pride in being bilingual.

2. I change the bulletin board regularly with displays such as:

A) Beautifully illustrated, computer generated posters by Senior French Elective students that share their pride in being bilingual. For example: • Learning another language allows you to communicate with more people in your country and in your travels around the world - Mary Bugay, Guelph • Being bilingual expands your knowledge and doubles the things you can learn. I’ve learned so much about people, places and things! -Novella Piovesan, Niagara Falls • Learning French as a second language allows me to recognize new possibilities and interpret life from a whole new perspective. - Bruce Forsythe, OttawaB) Posters and pamphlets about federally funded opportunities to learn French such as the Explore and Odyssey programsC) Information on study abroad programs in Francophone countriesD) Displays of articles from Professionally Speaking and CPF that outline the need for more French teachers in FSL and French first language schools

Faten: So you are trying to reach the students when they begin their B.A. degree?

Cher: Yes, because it takes many years to develop skills in language. I want to encourage students in the Faculty of Arts and in our Concurrent Education Program to consider being French teachers when they first arrive at Nipissing, so they have the time to prepare themselves linguistically,

choosing French courses to develop their skills in French throughout their years of learning at Nipissing. I create posters entitled “Be a spark! Be a French Teacher!” and outline advantages of having two teachables. As well, brief five minute presentations to students in the first year concurrent programs allow me to tell them about the job opportunities, invite them into our FSL programs, provide information, and answer questions.

Faten: And are these students able to pass Nipissing’s French Test for entry into the Education programs?

Cher: Well, a lot of students pass, but certainly not all of them. In the past few years I think I have done a better job of informing students about the test so they are better prepared. We want them to succeed! Our French Language Proficiency Test includes both an oral and written component that students must pass. If they fail the test, we provide feedback to indicate what to study for the next test. All candidates have the opportunity to write the test a second time. To provide information about the test, I post envelopes with handouts entitled: Preparing for the French Language Proficiency Test; Facts about FSL Qualifications; and, Teaching French in the Francophone School System. These handouts disappear by the hundreds!

Faten: And are the enrollment numbers up?

Cher: Yes. Although we have not conducted a formal study, we have noticed a steady increase in the number of students writing the entrance test. Enrollment in our Senior Elective has remained high for the last three years, double what it was about five years ago. In 2007-2008, we had an increase in numbers in the Intermediate French Elective, necessitating two sections of students. And, we continue to offer FSL 1 courses in North Bay, Timmins, Sudbury, Newmarket and Brantford in the summer. I like to think that, in some small way, perhaps I am making a difference.

Faten: Thanks, Cher. Perhaps other FSL professors will be interested in trying some of the same ideas to increase enrollment in their programs.

Cher: You’re very welcome, Faten. I think that all stakeholders in FSL education need to look at a variety of ways to attract young people into our profession to maintain quality FSL education in Ontario and in all of Canada. If each of us asks “What can I do?” perhaps we will make a difference!

Success at Nipissing University: Increasing the number of French teachers

in our Education programThe following success story is an interview between

Faten Hanna, Editor of Communications, and Dr. Cher Harvey of Nipissing University.

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Susan Forrester2nd Vice-President Trillium Lakelands DistrictSchool Board

Pete CecilePresidentGreater Essex County District School Board

Louisa BianchinPast PresidentSudbury Catholic District School Board

Linda Hendry1st Vice-President Waterloo Region District School Board

Michèle BabcockLimestone District School Board

Helen GriffinTreasurerThames Valley District SchoolBoard

Wanda West-GerberSecretary Waterloo Region District SchoolBoard

Daniel DionneWebmaster Ottawa-Carleton Catholic District School Board

Kim LundquistSimcoe County District School Board

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Heidi LocherAdministrative Assistant

Karla Torrente-LepageDurham District School BoardM. Carmen Romero

Toronto Catholic District School Board

Jennifer RochonToronto District School Board

Faten HannaEditor – Communication Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

Anne PopovichWentworth District School Board

Heather HenkeAvon Maitland District School Board

One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank,

nor what my clothes looked like. One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of school I attended, what kind of computer I used, how large or small my community, but the world may be a little better, because... I was important in the life of a child.

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A warm thank you to all the delegates, exhibitors, presenters and volunteers who helped make the conference a great success. We were also pleased that Jean-Benoît Nadeau was able to attend as our keynote speaker. His address was well-received, and he had the opportunity to speak to the largest crowd in his professional career.

We have received very supportive comments about the move towards the use of less paper and plastic. Our preliminary program will once again be available on-line in 2009, and we are hopeful to be able to do on-line registration as well. Our ability to accept Visa and Mastercard has helped to make this possible! We will keep you posted!

Please ensure that you maintain your membership in 2009! Your membership puts you on the mailing list for emails from the association, thus “keeping you in the loop”!

Thank you also to the presenters who provided their handouts to us electronically. You may access these documents on our website, www.omlta.org, in the “Conferences” section. Many teachers have already found this to be very convenient.

I extend an invitation to all of our delegates to consider offering a workshop, either at the Spring Conference, or at the Fall Conference (if you prefer a smaller venue for an inaugural presentation). Teachers say, again and again, that they appreciate hearing from colleagues during workshops. We especially invite teachers of Spanish, German and Italian to share their knowledge and expertise. Find a colleague, and give a workshop together, perhaps! Info is available on our website.

Lastly, I would like to extend my personal thanks to the Planning Committee (Wanda West-Gerber, Heather Henke, Antoinette Minutillo, Brenda Lessard and our Administrative Assistant, Heidi Locher) for their diligence, generosity of time and effort, good counsel and collegiality. It is through the volunteer efforts of educators and the Board of Directors that this conference becomes a reality each year. Thanks also to Sandy Smith, Maureen Smith and Christine Roberts for their help.

Susan Forrester, 2nd Vice-President of the OMLTA, will chair our conference in 2009. Please assist her and her team in making the 2009 conference a great success too!

Linda HendryChair, 2008 OMLTA/AOPLV Spring Conference

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A warm thank you to all the delegates, exhibitors, presenters and volunteers

who helped make the conference a great

success.

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On Monday, April 28th, 2500 elementary French Immersion and Core French students from the Greater Essex County District School Board and the Windsor Essex Catholic School Board enjoyed the exciting concert “Frenchstock” at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts. Singers Etienne, Zoléo, Beebo, Jacquot, and Juli Powers joined magician Marc Tardif for the two hour concert. “Frenchstock” was generously funded by the federal government to promote French language learning. Students prepared for the concert by learning the songs featured at the concert and each student received a free CD with songs from each artist. All of the students had a chance to get the performers’ autographs at the end of the concert.

C’était fantastique! Pete CecileTeacher Consultant - LanguagesGreater Essex County D.S.B.

FRENCHSTOCK

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1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery. 2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy

of your time and talent. 3. Give people more than they expect and

do it cheerfully. 4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic

person you know. 5. Be forgiving of yourself and others6. Have a grateful heart. 7. Persistence, persistence, persistence. 8. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary. 9. Treat everyone you meet like you want

to be treated. 10. Commit yourself to constant improvement. 11. Commit yourself to quality. 12. Understand that happiness is not based on

possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.

13. Be generous. 14. Be loyal. 15. Be honest16. Be a self-starter. 17. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes

be wrong. 18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for

every area of your life. 19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on

your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.

20. Take good care of those you love. 21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make

your Mom proud.

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Life isn’t just about keeping score.It’s not about how many people call youAnd it’s not about who you’ve dated or haven’t dated at all.What sport you play,Or which guy or girl likes you. It’s not about your shoes or your hairOr the color of your skin,Or where you live or go to school. In fact, it’s not about grades, money,Clothes, or colleges that accept you or not.Life isn’t about if you have lots of friends or if you are alone,And it’s not about how accepted or unaccepted you are. Life just isn’t about that. But life is about who you love and who you hurt.It’s about how you feel about yourself.It’s about trust, happiness, and compassion.It’s about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignoranceAnd building confidence. It’s about what you say and what you mean.It’s about seeing people for who they are and not what they have.Most of all it is about choosing to use your lifeIn a way that could never have been achieved otherwise. These choices are what life’s about.

Life is not a destination. Life is a journey. As long as you continue the journey, you will always be a success.

Life is not a destination. Life is a journey. As long as you continue the journey,

you will always be a success. ~ Albert Camus ~

1. In a group of three: 1 time, 1 reciter and 1 counter.2. Try to say a tongue twister as many times as you can.3. Each person gets one attempt.Time line: 1 minute or less. BONNE CHANCE!

• Sisixcentsciesscientsixcentsaucisses,sixcentsixsciesscierontsixcent six saucissons• Seizejacinthessèchentdansseizesachetssecs.• Unchasseursachantchassersaitchassersanssonchiendechasse.• Jesuiscequejesuisetsijesuiscequejesuis,qu’est-cequejesuis?• Undragongradédégradeungradédragon.• Un pâtissier qui pâtissait chez un tapissier qui tapissait, dit un jour au tapissier qui tapissait: vaut-il mieux pâtisser chez un tapissier qui tapisse ou tapisserchezunpâtissierquipâtisse?

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2008 Spring Conference PUBLISHERS/EXHIBITORS Prizes

Un gros merci to the publishers and exhibitors who graciously donated the following prizes to the winning

participants at the OMLTA Spring Conference this year.

Adam Smit Waterloo Region District School Board Amelia O’Seasnain Toronto Montessori School College Andrea Paturel Thomas Valley D.S.B. Anne Sagar York Region D.S.B. Bernadine Verstraeter Woodland Christian High School Bryan J. Smith College Ave Secondary School Carmen DeVincenzo Thames Valley District School Board Cathy Fretz Renfrew County Catholic District Christina Schilling Halton District School Board Cindy Armstrong Lambton Kent School Board Danielle Gégoux Waterloo Regional District School Board Denise Baker Simcoe County D.S.B. Diane Kronpsky Durham District School Board Eileen Currie York Region D.S.B. Gisele Gallacher Waterloo Region District School Board Gisèle Wilson Bluewater District School Board Guy Mellan OMLTA Life Member Helen Chesire Simcoe County District School Board Janet Molzan Greater Essex County D.S.B. Janet Smith Lambton Kent District School Board Janice Ritz Waterloo Region School Board Jean Rochon Toronto Distcit School Board Jean Chorostecki Peel School Board Josie Martino Peel School Board Julia Nash University of Waterloo Julie Guèvremont Ottawa Catholic School Board Kelly Vaine Simcoe County D. S. B. Kim Lundquist Sudbury Catholic D.S.B. Kim McCutcheon Waterloo Region D.S.B. Koren Watron Halton District S.B. Kristin Doak York Region District School Board Larissa Klein Thames Valley District School Board Leonard Semajuste Catholic District S, B. of Eastern Ontario Lianne Chumley Waterloo Region D. S. B. Lisa DeNobile-Blasato Simcoe Muskoka CDSB Lois Hayward Waterloo Region D.S.B. Lynn Tremblay Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario Marie Ruggiero Niagara Catholic S.B.D. Marilyn Talbot York Region District School Board Marlene Zieske Waterloo Region D.S.B. Maryanne Coniglio York Catholic D.S.B. Michael Green Waterloo Region D.S.B. Michael Phillips Toronto DistrictSB Monica Allison London District Catholic School Board Monica Hartman Waterloo Regional Schooll Board Morgan Truemner Lambton Kent Composite School Nancy Pauls Waterloo Region District SB Natalie D’Elia Halton District School Board Natalie Holoka Ottawa Catholic S.B. Nawal Deir Toronto Catholic DSB Patricia Stack Ottawa Carleton Catholic S. B. Paul Leclerc Toronto District SB Roanne Maletto Catholic School Board of Eastern Ontario Rosa Ceppaione Windsor Essex Catholic D.S.B. Sarah Surtees Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic DSB Tabatha Smith Renfrew County D.S.B. Teresa Georgiou Toronto Catholic D.S.B. Win Braunsch London District Catholic School Board

ACPI, Two gift bags•AIM Language Learning, 2 CDs & teaching material •Apprentisage Illimité , Set of readers/lecteurs •Aquila Communications, Books – Set of three •readers, set of two readers Canadian Education Exchange Foundation, Backpack •Cahiers d’activités N.G., Four Activity Books •Canadian Parents for French - Ontario, Sweatshirt •Canadian Association Second Language Teachers, •Assessment kit, postersCarlson W. Travels, Chapters Gift Certificate •Centre franco-ontarien de resources pédagogiques/ •Librairie du Centre, Book – Des vertes et des pas mûres Chenelière Éducation, Two Teacher kits •Consulat de France, Deux dictionnaires, •quinze livres variés Duval Education, $50 Gift certificate•EF Educational Tours, Back pack•Editions Marie France Ltée, Three workbooks •Éditions Soleil publishing Inc., $25 Gift certificate •Ellison Tours, $50 Chapters Gift certificate •Rosetta Stone, Five one month online •memberships to Rosetta Stone French Teacher.com, Program Unit book and Workbooks•Girol Books, Three dictionaries •Goethe Institute Toronto, Umbrella •Hachette Education, Reader •ISE Ontario, Backpack and a $50 Gift certificate •for OMLTA membership Jacquot, CD de musique •Le français…oui, oui, oui! Ltée, CD and toolkit•Learning Spirit, Copy of Grammaire sous la main •Les Éditions CEC, Several Readers•Les Éditions RDL, Two $25 gift certificates •Les Éditions à Reproduire, two $25 Gift Certificates •McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Book – Beginning French•Myosotis Presse, Dictionnaire•Nelson Education, Card game •Pearson Education Canada, Literacy practice book•Pearson – ERPI, Professional Development book•Perspectives Eduscho, Two dozen travel drink •bottles, five travel mugs, five tote bags, five portfoliosPoster Pals, $50 gift certificate •Productions Alléluia!,Workbook•Prologue, Readers•Prometour Educational Tours, five School Atlas•R. K. Publishing, Textbook kit •Rand-McNally Canada, five Atlas books •Rigodon / Mariposa in the Schools, two music CDs •Scholar’s Choice Moyer, $25 gift certificate •The Resource Centre, Spanish dictionary•Thomson Nelson, Five French dictionaries •Tralco - Lingo Fun, DVD and Book •Vista Higher Learning, Spanish DVD•Wintergreen, Two gift bags•Word Nerd Language & Education, Language Logic Book•

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BRANCHEZ-VOUS!Par: Helen Griffin

SUCCESS!Discover Languages www.DiscoverLanguages.org This site is a new campaign which builds on the momentum of the 2005 Year of Languages. Its goal is to raise public awareness about the importance of learning languages and understanding cultures. It includes What’s Going On, Classroom Resources, Information on Languages, Information for Parents, Featured Websites and Podcasts. A fun link is “Areyousmarterthanalanguageteacher?”…giveitatry!

World Languages Dayclear.msu.edu/clear/store/moreinfo.php?product_ID=47 This site allows you to download information that may be needed in order to plan a “World Languages Day”. It was created by CLEAR (Centre for Language Education and Research) at Michigan State University. It is hoped that the step-by-step planning guide will stimulate interest in learning languages and will highlight the importance of cultural awareness. The steps included are Rationale, Laying the groundwork, Funding, Publicity, Presenters and sessions, Participating schools, Registration, Logistics, Exhibit area, Volunteers and Evaluations. There are also appendices which include sample budgets, programs, session descriptions, ads, timelines, letter templates and other useful information. All the makings for a successful learning opportunity.

Anniversaire du Québec The following websites have been created to celebrate Québec city’s 400th anniversary: ☺ http://www.quebec400.gc.ca/bienvenue-welcome-fra.cfm Site officiel de la ville de Québec ☺ http://www.quebecregion.com/f/ ☺ http://monquebec2008.sympatico.msn.ca/MonQuebec2008/ ☺ http://www.carrefour-education.qc.ca/quebec_400/index.htmlCarrefour éducation – Espace pédagogique du 400e anniversaire de Québec En collaboration avec plusieurs partenaires, Carrefour éducation a mis en œuvre un espace pédagogique pour le 400e anniversaire de Québec. Quatre grands thèmes ont été ciblés dans le cadre de cette initiative : •Les Premiers occupants; •LesvoyagesdeChamplainetlafondationdelaville; •L’architectureetlepatrimoine; •LaculturefrançaiseenAmérique.Dans chacun de ces thèmes, vous trouverez une synthèse des principaux évènements historiques et diverses suggestions de ressources pédagogiques. Vous pouvez également avoir accès à des sites Web pertinents, des scénarios pédagogiques, des expositions virtuelles, des banques d’images, des évènements et des sorties éducatives.

L’écho d’un peuplewww.echodunpeuple.ca Ce site a les activités et les liens web qui soulignent la culture et l’histoire franco-ontariennes.

Le site officiel des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques d’hiver 2010 !http://www.vancouver2010.com/fr Vancouver successfully won the bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics and this bilingual site is full of interesting information about the event. Il y a un appel pour les bénévoles… vos talents et vos habiletés linguistiques peuvent être mis à contribution pour aider à la réussite des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques d’hiver de 2010 à Vancouver, dans les deux langues officielles du Canada. Vous trouverez toutes les informations et pourrez poser votre candidature sur ce site, ou bien sur le site de Workopolis, http://promotions2.workopolis.com/content/promotions/volunteer/fr/index.html.

How to Learn a Foreign Languagehttp://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/learn-foreign-language/ This site lists the 5 keys to success in foreign language learning according to Steve Kaufmann.

Podcasts a Resounding Success in Foreign Language Classes by James Cain

http://web.mit.edu/ist/isnews/v22/n02/220201.html In this article, the author gives links to a ChinesePod but also supplies specific links to resources that would enable someone to create their own podcast. Worth checking out!

Ten Tips for Language Learning Success http://www.vistawide.com/languages/languagetips.htm “If you’re a first-time language learner, you know that emotional ups and downs come with the territory. When you understand a concept or begin to comprehend the language, you may experience feelings of exhilaration. However, these are often followed by moments of frustration and discouragement, during which you might fell as if you will never master the concepts and attain the ability to understand and communicate effectively.” This site then lists time-tested, research-verified approaches that may increase success in the language.

Key Factors in Language Learning Success by Mollie Immel-Brown http://www.linguaguide.com/articles/16/1/Key-Factors-in-Language-Learning-Success/Page1.html The author lists five specific factors that influence the language learner. Source: David Crystal. “The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language.” Second Edition

Before You Know Ithttp://www.byki.com/byki_descr.html At this site you can download the BYKI lite version of the software for FREE. There are 63 languages to choose from and each language has about a dozen word lists and phrases. The word lists relate to a specific theme like going to a restaurant and include cards that you click on which have the English translation on one side and the word in the target language on the other. A bonus of the software is that you can hear the pronunciation of each word by a native speaker. The software is simple and there are no bells & whistles; however, it is one way to hear and practice the target language.

Language Learning with New Media and Video Games http://www.lingualgamers.com/thesis/ “Abstract: In recent years, a sharp increase in the number of academic studies around the use of video games and new media for educational purposes has greatly expanded our understanding of their potential for enhancing learning. At the same time, the field of foreign language pedagogy has been racing to keep pace with the numerous opportunities afforded by the internet and interactive media forms. Surprisingly, however, there has been little cross-over between the two bodies of academic literature. This site seeks to present many of the latest theories in game studies and new media literacies alongside theories of language learning. Numerous examples are presented of how video games and web applications such as The Sims 2, Grim Fandango, Google Earth, Social Networking, DVD functionality and others could shift the way we approach language learning.”

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Le mot de la fin ...LE SAVIEZ-VOUS ?

40 INFOS SURPRENANTES SUR LE FRANÇAISTiré de La Grande aventure de la langue française

de Julie Barlow et Jean-Benoît Nadeau

LANGUE MONDIALE

• Le français occupe le deuxième rang, après l’anglais, pour le nombre de pays où il est langue officielle - 33 contre 45. Et le nombre de pays membre de la Francophonie, 53, est égal à ceux du Commonwealth.• Le français est aussi la seule autre langue, avec l’anglais, enseignée dans tous les pays du globe à plus de 100 millions d’élèves par deux millions de profs – dont 20 % hors francophonie.• Kinshasa est la deuxième plus grande ville francophone du monde, après Paris, et avant Montréal et Bruxelles.• Le nombre de locuteurs du français a TRIPLÉ depuis 1945, car la plupart des anciennes colonies françaises et belges ont conservé le français comme langue officielle, d’administration, de gouvernement, de science, d’éducation et de diplomatie après la décolonisation.• Sept millions d’Américains parlent français, tout comme la moitié de la population algérienne et 15% de la population israélienne.• Le français est toujours langue de travail à l’ONU, à l’UE et dans des douzaines d’organisations comme le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge, Médecins sans frontières, et l’Organisation internationale du travail. Les pays francophones forment des blocs considérables à l’ONU, l’UE, l’Union africaine et la ligue arabe.• Deux pays du G-8 (France et Canada) et six pays d’Europe (France, Belgique, Suisse, Roumanie, Luxembourg, Monaco) sont entièrement ou partiellement francophones.

AFFAIRES, SCIENCE, TOURISME

• La France est toujours le pays le plus visité au monde, avec plus de 75 millions de touristes chaque année. • C’est à des chercheurs et inventeurs francophones que l’on doit le premier vol humain, le cinéma, le pneu radial, les cartes à puce, la motoneige, le saxophone, le Velcro et bien d’autres inventions.

• La multinationale Areva, dont le siège social est à Paris, est la plus grande firme spécialisée en énergie nucléaire civil.• La plus grande firme de génie international au monde est SNC-Lavalin, de Montréal.• Toulouse et Montréal, avec Seattle, sont les trois principales villes d’aéronautique.• La technologie de la compression de la voix, nécessaire au milliard de téléphone cellulaire, fut breveté à l’Université de Sherbrooke. • Cotonou, en Guyane Française, est la base de lancement des fusées Ariane, seul programme de lanceur spatiaux commercialement rentable.

CULTURE

• La dernière édition d’Astérix fut imprimée à 7 millions d’exemplaires, en français seulement, et traduite en 23 langues.• La production cinématographique française – 500 films par an – se classe au second rang mondial et compte plus d’auditeur hors des frontières qu’en France. Au Canada, les films québécois enregistrent souvent plus de ventes au guichet que les superproductions hollywoodiennes.• L’agence universitaire de la Francophonie réunit 630 universités dans le monde et 350 facultés de français, pour un total de plus de 120 000 chercheurs et professeurs.• Nombre de grands auteurs francophones encore vivants – Milan Kundera, Nancy Houston, Jonathan Littel, Andreï Makhine, Tahar Ben Jeloun, Dany Laferrière, François Cheng – n’ont pas le français pour langue maternelle.

LANGUE

• Le premier recensement linguistique du monde, à la Révolution française, a montré que 75 % des Français ne parlaient toujours pas le français. Jusqu’au 19e siècle, le français était plus pratiqué en Hollande et en Allemagne que dans certaines parties de la France.

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• Entre le tiers et la moitié du vocabulaire de base en anglais vient du français, incluant des termes comme pedigree, surf, view, catch, chase, strive, staunch, challenge, pride, et war.• Le purisme français et l’Académie française ont pour origine un seul homme, non pas le cardinal Richelieu comme on le croit souvent, mais le poète François de Malherbe.• Première organisation officielle vouée à la modernisation d’une langue, L’Académie française, crée en 1635, a servi d’inspiration pour des organisations similaires pour la plupart des principales langues du monde parlées dans les plus grands pays, incluant les pays hispanophones, scandinaves, germanophones, russophones et arabophones. Les pays anglophones sont la seule exception. • La langue française compte plus d’un million de termes et en crée quelque 20 000 nouveaux chaque année. • La banque terminologique du Québec reçoit 50 millions de demandes d’information par année, dont la moitié provenant d’Europe : c’est 25 fois plus que n’en reçoit le site de l’Académie française.

AU CANADA

• La Nouvelle-France et l’Acadie furent entièrement de langue française deux siècles avant la France.• Le système québécois d’aménagement linguistique a inspiré des mesures similaires dans un grand nombre de pays, dont la France, l’Espagne, le Brésil, le Japon et 33 États américains. • En dehors du Québec, 300 000 élèves canadiens sont inscrits dans des classes d’immersion française chaque année. Et trois millions d’adultes dont la langue maternelle n’est pas le français déclarent parler le français comme langue seconde. • L’Ontario compte un demi-million de Franco- Ontariens, et leur drapeau est l’un des sept emblèmes officiels de la province.• Les Acadiens se sont donné un drapeau et un hymne national un siècle avant le Canada. Le Nouveau-Brunswick fut la première province à se déclarer officiellement bilingue et demeure encore la seule.• Jusqu’en 1930, toutes les lois de protection linguistiques visaient à protéger l’anglais ou à forcer l’assimilation des francophones. • Les huit et neuf millions de Nords-Américains de langue maternelle française descendent de seulement 10 000 colons français.

• Le Canada est l’un des rares pays au monde à faire usage de la Common Law en français. Les juristes du Nouveau-Brunswick ont participé à la rédaction de la constitution de l’île Maurice.

AUX ÉTATS-UNIS

• Le français est la quatrième langue aux États-Unis, pour le nombre de locuteurs, et la seconde pour le nombre d’élèves. Plus de 7 millions d’Américain le parle.• Le Québec est le 8e partenaire commercial des États-Unis, et plus d’un demi-million d’Américains travaillent pour des multinationales françaises.• Les premières figures légendaires du Far West américain étaient des Canadiens français nés dans la vallée du Saint-Laurent. Ils ont guidé Lewis et Clark, colonisé le Nouveau-Mexique, ouvert la route du chemin de fer et découvert les premières pépites d’or en Californie.• New York, la Californie et la Floride ont maintenant rejoint la Louisiane et la Nouvelle- Angleterre comme principaux centres francophones aux États-Unis.• Aux États-Unis, la moitié des films étrangers et 30% des livres d’origines étrangères sont en français.

DANS LE COMMONWEALTH

• Le Royaume-Uni et l’Irlande sont le siège de 14 alliances françaises, plus d’une cinquantaine de clubs français et de 9 lycées et collèges français. Plus d’un demi-million d’élèves et d’étudiants apprennent le français entre la maternelle et l’université. • Cinq pays du Commonwealth ont le français et l’anglais comme langue officielle : le Canada, le Cameroun, Maurice, les Seychelles et Vanuatu. • C’est à Londres que le Québec a créé sa première délégation à statut quasi diplomatique dès 1871, soit quelques années après que le Canada eut acquis son indépendance en 1867.

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Interested in writing an article for COMMUNICATION? E-mail: communication@omlta.org

LE CONCOURS D’ART ORATOIRE 2008

Le Concours annuel d’art oratoire en français langue seconde, organisé par CPF, a eu lieu le 10 mai 2008 au Collège Glendon de l’Université de York à Toronto. Le concours était un grand succès, plus que 300 élèves de 31 conseils scolaires de l’Ontario ont participé cette année.

Plus que 60 enseignants ontariens de langue française se sont portés volontaires pour participer comme officiels pour évaluer les discours. Nous tenons à remercier tous les enseignants qui ont participé et de donner généreusement de leur temps. Sans eux et leur générosité le concours ne pourrait avoir lieu!

Les meilleurs orateurs de l’Ontario ont participé dans quatre catégories différentes. Les lauréats provinciaux du secondaire accèderont ensuite au Concours national du CPF qui se déroulera samedi 31 mai 2008 à Ottawa. OMLTA/AOPLV voudrait féliciter tous les élèves qui ont participé au Concours provincial pour leurs performances et leur courage, et leur souhaitons bonne chance.

En attendant impatiemment le Concours 2009!

Faten Hanna Coordinatrice des Juges

Place First Name Last Name Title Of Speech School Board Grade Category 1st place Ana Klimovic L'importance du positif Toronto DSB 11 Imm 2nd place Brigitte Stepanov La vie sur notre terre Ottawa Carleton DSB 11 Imm 3rd place Joe McGrade Les pesticides Toronto Catholic DSB 11 Imm 1st place Kristina Hick La science de l'amour Ottawa Carleton DSB 11 Ext 2nd place Victoria-Cate May-Burton Ce qui compte dans l'histoire de la surpopulation Ottawa Carleton DSB 11 Ext 3rd place Ali Daneshvar L'échange éducatif Toronto DSB 12 Ext 1st place Farrahnaz Bulsara Ma petite rencontre en Inde Ottawa Carleton DSB 12 Core 2nd place Ariya Hagh Maurice Ravel - artiste et internationaliste York Region DSB 11 Core 3rd place Christine Ishu Le défi de l'adolescence Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB 12 Core 1st place Sandra Huynh Une vie moderne sans cellulaire, est-ce possible? Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB 12 FSL+ 2nd place Rebecca Mukuna-Mujinga Sans domicile fixe Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic DSB 12 FSL+ 3rd place Marguerite Comeau L'amour Ottawa Carleton DSB 11 FSL+ 1st place Daniel Mount L'injustice contre Robert Latimer Toronto DSB 10 Imm 2nd place Luiza Jaroszek La signification des couleurs Toronto Catholic DSB 10 Imm 3rd place Bianca Braganza L'amitié Independent Schools 9 Imm 1st place Ben Sher Les célébrités - nos héros? Ottawa Carleton DSB 10 Ext 2nd place Laura McEown L'intelligence Independent Schools 9 Ext 3rd place Chuqiao Wang Mon histoire Ottawa Carleton DSB 9 Ext 1st place David Liu Apprendre le français York Region DSB 10 Core 2nd place Michelle Lee Les voyages Toronto DSB 10 Core 3rd place Dimitar Kolev Les différences entre Canada et Bulgarie Waterloo Region DSB 10 Core 1st place Stefania Lista Le discours et le vin Toronto Catholic DSB 9 FSL+ 2nd place Gemma Caprio Montréal vs Toronto Independent Schools 10 FSL+ 3rd place Yiqi Yang La poule ou l'oeuf Ottawa Carleton DSB 9 FSL+