A continuing investment in foreign language education

A continuing investment in foreign language education

Sunday, April 1, 2018
 

LAKE PLACID - The Adirondack Foreign Language Enhancement Fund (AFLEF) at Adirondack Foundation awarded $28,500 in grants to 14 classrooms this year, supporting enhanced technology, cultural immersion, and community engagement.

Additionally, the fund is fully underwriting a full-day professional development conference for foreign language teachers on Thursday, April 12, at the Crowne Plaza in Lake Placid.

Since its inception in 2013, the foreign language fund has awarded over $175,000 in grants across the region.

“The Adirondack Foreign Language Enhancement Fund is making a significant investment in our region,” said Cali Brooks, president and CEO of Adirondack Foundation. “At the classroom level, teachers and students are benefiting from the fund’s grants for better technology, cultural immersion, and generally highlighting foreign language instruction in our schools. The fund’s donors, with support and guidance from our teachers, have also identified strategies that go beyond the classroom, such as this year’s conference in Lake Placid.”

Grant awards this year included support for an innovate project combining foreign language and art instruction at Lake George Central School. Teacher Nathalie Martineau will use AFLEF funding to purchase painting materials, which her 5th and 6th grade students will use to recreate Picasso’s painting, “Child with Dove,” by following Spanish or French instructions.

“The project involves an exposure to European arts and an exploration of a foreign language in context,” Martineau explained. “It gives students a chance to display creativity, leadership, intellectual rigor, critical judgment, and commitment. We are thrilled and excited to benefit from this grant.”

At Northeastern Clinton Central School, middle school French teacher Kathleen Sample will use an AFLEF grant to boost classroom technology with new Chromebooks.

“This gives us continuity with the technology used in our high school,” Sample said. “My students will be able to use technology to learn French instead of the standard paper and pencil method. We are excited to start new programs next year.”

2018 grant recipients also include AuSable Valley Central School, Crown Point Central School, Elizabethtown Lewis Central School, Indian Lake Central School, Newcomb Central School, Queensbury Union Free School, Saranac Lake Central School, St. Regis Falls Central School, Ticonderoga Central School, Ticonderoga Central School, and the Town of Webb Union Free School District.

Learn more about AFLEF grants here, or contact Program Officer Andrea Grout. Learn about how you can give to AFLEF here.