Advocacy For World Language Education

Use our most recent newsletter as a guide to advocate for world languages.

See what’s happening and get involved!

FLENJ’s mission is to promote excellence in world language education by advancing policy and practice. FLENJ actively advocates at local, state, and national levels to promote policies that will foster language learning. However, when it comes to advocacy, everyone must play a role in supporting world language education in both public and private institutions, Pre-K–16 and beyond.

In order to assist all constituency groups in their efforts to advocate for world language education, FLENJ has brought in advocacy materials from numerous sources specific to individual needs. In particular, we have included many resources from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Please visit the links below to learn how you can advocate for world language education in New Jersey!

Advocacy Resources for …

Language Advocacy for foreign language teachers in new jersey
Foreign Language Advocacy resources for parents in new jersey
Foreign Language Advocacy Resources for Administrators in new jersey
foreign language advocacy for businesses in new jersey
Foreign language advocacy for community leaders
foreign language Advocacy Resources for Government

More Resources…

Click on the links below for more information.

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel! There are many resources already available to you, so that you do not have to start your advocacy work from scratch:

Back Up Your Advocacy Efforts with Up-to-Date Research!

Click here to find the person in the U.S. House of Representatives who represents you, and email her/him about world language.

Click here to reach your U.S. Senators, to email them about the amazing things you are accomplishing in your world language program.

Click here to find the people in the New Jersey Legislature—both in the Senate and in the Assembly—who represent you. Make your voice heard in favor of world language education.

The New Jersey State Board of Education
This board holds monthly meetings at the Department of Education, 100 River View Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08625-0500. Teachers, students, administrators, and parents are encouraged to register to testify in favor of world language programs.

If you would like to subscribe to an emailing list to learn of the New Jersey Board of Education’s activities and of opportunities to send letters testifying for world language, click here.

Amanda Seewald is FLENJ’s Advocacy Representative. She is also “our woman in Washington” – she represents FLENJ on the Board of Directors of the Joint National Committee on Language (JNCL). With other FLENJ Board members, Amanda travels to Washington, DC every year to meet with New Jersey legislators. Listen to her introductory guidance on Advocacy. She will provide regular updates to the membership on Advocacy.

Advocacy News Report – FLENJ, September 2016

Advocacy News Report – FLENJ -2016

Advocacy News Report – FLENJ/JNCL-NCLIS – 2014

Advocacy News Report Summer/Fall 2012

These videos from the Coalition for International Education, the American Council on Education, and the Network of Business Language Educators show the enormous benefits of language education programs. They demonstrate why U.S. global competence is essential in our interconnected world of the 21st century.

This video, “Are We Prepared for Jobs of the Future????” is brief (just above 3 minutes) and would be a great introduction to the subject of global competence.

The inspiring video, Engaging the World, may be appropriate for PTA/PTO presentations or other educational venues.

The video A 21st Century Imperative makes the case that U.S. global competence in the 21st century is not a luxury, but a necessity for our society.

It is important to network and keep informed about advocacy. Other teachers whom you will meet through FLENJ will be able to offer you suggestions and information. In addition, regular FLENJ president’s messages will address current advocacy initiatives.