Are you an advanced, native or heritage French speaker? Are you interested in becoming a French teacher in the United States and do not know where to start? Look no further, the Multi-State Pathways to Teaching French program is made for you!

According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 47 States and the District of Columbia report a dire shortage of foreign language teachers – and French is not exempt from this scarcity. Lack of human resources is even reported as the biggest constraint in developing the teaching of French in the US by school administrators.

Yet, with 1.3 million speakers of French in the US – some of them even native or heritage speakers – the talent pool for careers in French language education is impressive. Many of these potential applicants are simply facing important obstacles to joining the teaching profession, starting with issues surrounding affordability and a lack of information on licensing programs.

This program aims to overcome these hurdles!

This training opportunity aimed at jumpstarting a career in teaching French with a 60-hour long, 3-phased online curriculum is targeted at fluent French speakers all over the US, particularly native and heritage speakers.

Upon completion of the program, successful participants will obtain:

• a Personalized Learning Plan outlining the last steps required to obtain a teaching license,
• up to three university credits applicable toward an approved teacher preparation program,
• a contact with the appropriate state and district administrators to secure a position within a school and finish their certification while gaining actual classroom experience

/!\ ATTENTION /!\ 

The Multi-State Pathways to Teaching French is not a certification/licensure program in and by itself.  

Participants will still lack coursework to become fully certified teachers and, as their Personalized Learning Plan will state, may choose to take this coursework full-time in a state approved teacher preparation program, or part-time, while working as a teacher, through an alternative pathway to accreditation.

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have already obtained at least a bachelor’s degree (or the foreign equivalent)
• Prior authorization to work in the United States
• Fluent proficiency in the French language
• Good knowledge of the English language

Should you be accepted into the program, you will be asked to pay a registration fee of $150, which will be used to cover the cost of books that will be sent to you, as well as a French language proficiency test, if applicable. The classes will, however, be completely free of charge.

If you are interested, please apply by April 15th by filling out this form.

Check out our Q&A, our dedicated page, and our flyerfor more information!

Couldn’t attend our webinar but still want to learn more about the program? Make sure to watch the recording and read our presentation!

Should you have more questions, please email [email protected]

This program is launched in memory of Yvonne André Istel.

All classes will be facilitated by Catherine Ousselin (Mount Vernon Schools) and Bridget Yaden (Pacific Lutheran University), and the current timeline of this project is as follows:

April 15th: Applications close 

May 2023: Laureates selected and notified  

June-July 6: Phase 1 Pre-Institute 

• June 8: 5-6 pm Eastern
• June 15: 5-6 pm Eastern
• June 22: 5-6:30 pm Eastern
• June 29: 5-6:30 pm Eastern
• July 6: 5-6:30 pm Eastern

July 13-August 3: Phase 2 

• July 13: 12:00-2:00 pm & 4:00-6:00 pm Eastern
• July 20: 12:00-2:00 pm & 4:00-6:00 pm
• July 27: 12:00-2:00 pm & 4:00-6:00 pm
• August 3: 12:00-2:00 pm & 4:00-6:00 pm
• Continue asynchronous and synchronous instruction through (August 3rd)

August-February: Phase 3 Follow-up 

• September 14: 4:30-6:00 pm Eastern
• ACTFL in November
• December 14: 4:30-6:00 pm Eastern
• February 8: 4:30-6:00 pm Eastern

February 2024 

• Follow up with participants for next steps to certification
• In-person activity/meeting at AATF/ACTFL/Regional/State Spring conferences
• In-person seminars via university/state certification offices
• Invite university/online certification experts to present on processes