* Mn Chapter AATF *

French Teachers of the Year


Congratulations ! - Félicitations !





2007/2008
JOHN J. JANC

- Minnesota State University, Mankato -
The ELEVENTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !


Prof. John Janc at the Minnesota Humanities Center, St. Paul on April 18, 2008
at the Mn-AATF Annual Meeting/ Spring Dinner
and LaRae Ellingson (l.), Teacher of Year Coordinator

John J.Janc, professor of French and Director of Summer Study at Minnesota State University, Mankato, since 1979 was honored on Friday, April 18, by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French. He was named MnAATF French professor of the year at the annual dinner held at the Minnesota Humanities Center in Saint Paul.

Dr. Janc received a Doctorat de troisième cycle from La Sorbonne Nouvelle and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has been actively involved in teacher preparation and teaching assistant supervision. In addition to authoring five books and numerous articles, he has made numerous presentations on the local, state and national levels. He has served as vice-president, president and past president of the Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures, been on the board of the Central States Conference as well as many of its committees and was president of the Minnesota chapter of the AATF. He was named the Order of Omega Faculty Member of the Year at his home institution and CASE University Professor of the year for the state of Minnesota. He is also the recipient of the Emma Birkmaier Award and the Central States Conference Founders Award. The French Government named him a Knight (Chevalier) in the Order of the Academic Palms (les Palmes Académiques). He founded and has directed the Mankato State University Summer Study in France Program (in La Rochelle) for twenty-eight years.

One of his former students, Traci Nelson (herself a former Mn-AATF President), spoke eloquently of how he guided her through her French and French-teaching studies so thoroughly. "He started out as my French professor, and ended up as my lifelong mentor. He is the reason I became a French teacher, and I believe, the reason I have been successful. As an Intermediate French student at what is now Minnesota State University, my desire to become an elementary teacher was beginning to fade. I was drawn to the idea of becoming a French teacher by this man who demonstrated such passion for his subject matter and a tireless dedication to teaching. I changed my major and became his advisee. Little did he know this was just the beginning of my need for his guidance! I was fortunate to work under him as a teaching assistant. Dr. Janc created a system built for training successful teachers. He taught us specific methods of teaching and then allowed us to try them with a class. We would then evaluate our skills and formulate a plan to improve upon them. It was because of his program that we became confident teachers. Even after starting my teaching career, I could depend on him for advice and guidance. He assisted me with everything from designing my curriculum and planning my first trip abroad with students, to writing grant proposals. It is no surprise that his office phone number is etched in my memory. An exemplary teacher is someone who gives of him or herself both inside and outside of the classroom. Dr. Janc does more in one year than I will do in my lifetime! He coordinates a trip every year and finds funds to help students in need. He writes numerous articles throughout the year, most notably the "Que se passe-t-il en France" which allows French teachers for whom travel is difficult to keep current on what is going on in France. In addition, he has written numerous books on the works of Victor Hugo. He has been President and Past President of AATF-MN, as well as serving on a variety of committees. Whenever there is a task to improve the state of teaching languages, Dr. Janc is there to help."

                   Selected Janc articles .



2006/2007
KATHLEEN LAHOUZE

- Cooper High School, Robbinsdale -
The TENTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !


Kathleen Lahouze (r.) at Embassy Suites Chez Daniel on April 13, 2007
at the Mn-AATF Annual Meeting/ Spring Dinner
and LaRae Ellingson (l.), Teacher of Year Coordinator


Liane Mattson--Language and Friendship travel group, said in her nomination letter:
       "Kathie est adoree par tous les professeurs qui ont le plaisir de voyager avec elle. The feedback from her co-leaders every year is "extraordinaire."...Elle reussit avec tout le monde a cause de son charme et sa chaleur. Each year after she takes her students abroad, she takes the time to stop in for a visit and share the many new tips she's found--for restaurants, fromageries, new directions ...et toujours un cadeau de bonbons francais en plus! We treasure her friendship and know Naomi * is smiling on her dear friend tonght."
        * Naomi Thomsen received "les Palmes Académiques" in 2004. Kathy was a primary supporter both for receiving the honor and throughout Naomi's so very unfortunate illness.

Pat Deckas-Becerra--2004-2005 MN AATF Teacher of the Year, retired from Robbinsdale HS, former colleague of Kathleen Lahouze in her letter nominating Kathleen for the 2006-2007 MN AATF Teacher of the Year award.
      "She consistently demonstrates her love of the French language and francophone cultures. She studied at the Sorbonne, in their regular classes for a year, and then returned to graduate from Carlton College. She went on to teach in the Robbinsdale school district in 1969. She then went back to live in France for several years. She has also lived in Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast for a year (or two) where she taught in high school. Every year, she expands her students' horizons by telling them about her travels plus she has lead at least 25 groups of students to France on three week summer trips, for which she was not paid.
      Her students admire and respect this caring and sensitive teacher who always makes time for them and the important issues in life; she inspires them to do their best and that is why so many of them have kept in contact with her over the years--even after they've graduated. She even took one student into her home for several months after his family had kicked him out. Her home has also been open to several Amity Aides as well as many other francophone visitors.
      Every year her students consistently place in the Top Ten for le Grand Concours for which she has organized the Awards Breakfast for several years. Every spring she organizes busloads of students to participate in A Vous la Parole; for many years she arranged for all the judges for this important state-wide event. (ed note: She almost did not attend the Spring dinner because she was overwhelmed with getting everything in order for her fifty students participating in AVLP! We thank Kari Christensen who insisted that Kathleen accompany her to the dinner!)
      Her impeccable linguistic skills, her academic background, her tremendous contributions to the MN Chapter of AATF, and her vast cultural experience make her a perfect choice for French Teacher of the Year."



2005/2006
FRANÇOISE DENIS

- Macalester College -
The NINTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !


Françoise Denis (l.) at l'Hôtel Sofitel on April 20, 2006
at the Mn-AATF Annual Meeting/ Spring Dinner
and LaRae Ellingson (r.), Teacher of Year Coordinator

"L'idéal de tout ce qui est important dans la vie - - la plus gracieuse des femmes, la plus généreuse - - la plus gentille- - la plus intelligente - - la plus bienveillante - - la plus belle, spirituellement aussi bien que physiquement - -": Françoise Denis, Associate Professor at Macalester College and our very own beloved chapter newsletter editor. Her nomination was supported by former students and colleagues from the Blake School, Macalester and the University of Minnesota.

Françoise received both her License en Philosophie et Lettres and her Agrégation de l'enseignement secondaire supérieure from l'Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium. She went on to do an MA and PhD at the University of Minnesota. Her CV runs 15 pages and is filled with a variety of publications, grants, translations, book reviews, national and international presentations of papers, ad inf. On page 11, under "service to the profession," one will finally find two short lines mentioning her work as editor of our newsletter, REFLETS de l'étoile du nord.

Her key nominator, Vanessa Doriott, an Honors Thesis advisee of Françoise, who is now a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, was most eloquent in her description of Françoise: "As an instructor, Dr Denis is approachable, supportive, humorous, and exacting in the best possible sense. (It is no coincidence that her nickname in the department during my time there was "La Déesse".) " She goes on to write "My first year experience with Dr Denis left me with an unexpected love for medieval literature that has never left me, despite the fact that my graduate studies are focused elsewhere". Dr Denis is so successful in sparking students' interest because her classes are very dynamic, incorporating literature, music, film and other visuals. She consistently works to show the connections between medieval or early modern texts and today's world and she often uses humor to bridge the gap between the two (one of my favorite memories involves her very vocal appreciation of Louis XIV's legs as she showed us slides)". Dr Denis pushes her students to think outside of the box and go beyond their comfort zone. I feel very strongly that the atmosphere she created in class, which allowed us to feel safe as we took risks, was an important factor in helping me overcome my shyness in the classroom". For six years, I have saved a post-it note written to me by Dr Denis in which she gave a positive evaluation of my class presentation. Later in my studies, realizing that I had earned her respect as a developing scholar meant the world to me."

Patricia Mougel, U of M, states that "her professional and personal commitment to French learning and teaching is far-reaching and exemplary". You can have a discussion with her about selecting a first-year French text book or about a local French play or a 19th century novel and she will show the same genuine interest in those topics and your own ideas on them, which reveals an open mind, genuine intellectual curiosity, well-roundedness and above all, a generous heart." Others mentioned her "infectious smile and laugh" - she has "a joy of life that would light up the room, " and the fact "she didn't just grade compositions-- she kept a log of errors made by each student so she could monitor their progress to make sure they didn't make the same mistakes again."

Bravo to chapter members receiving other awards in 2005:

- October, 2005 - MCTLC Emma Birkmaier Award 2005 Winner
Mary Kuettner, Eastview High School

October, 2005 - MCTLC STAR Award 2005 Winner
LaRae Ellingson, Rosemount High School

photos and details

- July, 2005 - Minnesota Chapter member, Betsy Kerr, is named National AATF
Dorothy Ludwig Excellence in Teaching, Post-Secondary (College/University) Level Winner for 2005

Prof. Betsy Kerr [our Mn-AATF French Teacher of the Year - 2003] at
the National AATF Conference, July, 2005, Québec, PQ, Canada

- See AATF National Bulletin, Vol. 30, No. 4 (April 2005) page 44 -

Extracts below: from the REFLETS de l'étoile du nord, printed bulletins - Winter or Winter/Spring issues

2004
PATRICIA DECKAS-BECERRA

-Robbinsdale Area Schools-
The EIGHTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year

Patricia Deckas-Becerra ( c ) at l'Hôtel Sofitel on Oct. 29, 2004 at the Mn-AATF Annual Fall Dinner
- with her nominators Kari Christensen ( l ) & Kathleen Lahouze ( r ) of Robbinsdale Area Schools -



Patricia Deckas Becerra's energy, dedication and enthusiasm for teaching French have inspired many students and colleagues alike so it is understandable why she received the award for MINNESOTA FRENCH TEACHER OF THE YEAR for 2004.

Her first exposure to a francophone country was at 19 when she studied at McGill University in Montréal where she says she was incurably addicted to French. She worked as an Au Pair in Paris for four months. She has been teaching French in the Robbinsdale Area Schools for 34 years after graduating from the University of Minnesota. She has studied in France at various cities from Paris to Nice during her 20 trips to Europe.

She has taken Robbinsdale Area students to France on six of these trips. She worked as a bi-lingual guide at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. She has also traveled to French speaking areas in the Caribbean like Martinique and even to French Guyana, South America. Even though this is her last year teaching in Robbinsdale, she says studying and traveling feed her soul so last summer she spent a month in Belgium as the only American studying art, music and literature with French teachers from 19 European countries at the Université de Liège.

Her love for the French language and culture has continually driven her to learn many different methods and incorporate technology as much as possible in her classrooms. She enthusiastically shares any new ideas with her colleagues - she has presented various workshops at state and regional conferences. At one recent workshop she taught others how to create CD-ROMS using their own trip photos with French captions/questions. The prominent textbook company of McDougal Littell published an activities/method book she wrote for their current textbook series. She has also published materials on Internet sites for the French classroom. Her great hope is for her students to always keep their hearts and minds open to other languages and cultures so a deeper appreciation and acceptance of differences in our world can grow ; she deeply believes students learn more about themselves and their communities by becoming globally-minded citizens of the world.


2003
BETSY J. KERR

- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities -
The SEVENTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !


[l to r] Betsy Kerr, LaRae Ellingson, and nominator Lydia Belatèche
at the annual AATF-MN buffet dinner 24 October, 2003


Féicitations à Betsy Kerr, notre, notre nouveau professeur de l'année! Betsy is an Associate Professor of French at the University of Minnesota where she also serves as the Faculty Coordinator of the College in the Schools French program. A graduate of Wooster College in Ohio, Betsy did her graduate studies through Middlebury College in Paris and Middlebury, Vermont and received her doctorate from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Betsy was nominated for this award by Lydia Belatèche, her colleague at the University and assistant for the CIS French program. Lydia lauds Betsy's connecting the University with the greater community of French teachers in the state through her work with the CIS program as well as the major role she plays in the "A Vous la Parole" contest each year. She also notes that Betsy is the co-author of the popular college text, DEUX MONDES and is also a consultant for two other texts.

Lydia called upon Betsy's former students and a CIS teachers, Linda Albertson [1998 MN French teacher of the year-see below] of Eagan HS, to support her nomination. Some key comments drawn from letters by Betsy's former students include:
--"Professor Kerr played a HUGE role in my decision to change my minor into a major in French."
--"She exemplifies the ideal by which all other French professors should hold themselves."
--"Her French is elegant.. (she) starts where we are and inches us forward through ever more complexity
      to a sense of confidence and a degree of mastery."
--"I decided to stay on at the University of Minnesota in part because of Betsy Kerr's courses."

                          excerpted from - REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 2003-4 (Vol.24,n.2) page 9

[ See U of MN TC campus Dept. of French and Italian website for:     Prof. Kerr's academic listing ]



2002
MOLLY WIELAND

- Hopkins High School -
The SIXTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !



Molly Wieland(center) and two of her many nominators
at the Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 25, 2002
Radisson Hotel, So. Bloomington, MN

Molly Wieland enseigne à Hopkins H.S. C'étaient ses collègues au lycée, Ann Walsh, Amy Miller et Mary Slinde, Associate Principale qui ont posé sa candidature pour cet honneur.

Molly a commencé sa carrière comme professeur d'espagnol en 1979 à Morris Community HS dans l'Illinois. En 1983, elle a commencé à enseigner le français, son premier amour, à l'Université de Michigan. Elle a aussi enseigné le français à Indiana University, l'Université de Strasbourg et l'Université de Minnesota. Elle a commencé son travail à Hopkins HS en 1995 où elle est professeur et District WL Curriculum Coordinator.

Molly a fait ses études à Illinois State University à Normal, Illinois, Middlebury College et à Indiana University où elle a fait son doctorat. Sa dissertation au sujet de la politesse s'intitule: "Politeness based misunderstandings between Native speakers of French and American advanced learners of French."

Voici des extraits des lettres que nous avons reçues en faveur de Molly:

Ann Walsh décrit Molly comme "gifted, dedicated, brilliant, inspiring , creative and fun." Elle ajoute "she is sheer magic in the classroom. Her lesson plans are each works of art, with one stimulating activity flowing seamlessly to the next. She brings music, movement, popular French culture, history, literature, current events and humor to her classes, all while maintaining extremely high academic rigor. "

"Molly has a special gift for reaching out to students that society overlooks, and she does it in a professional, caring and courageous way. She is a genius at setting a positive, respectful, and fun-filled tone in the classroom. Through the years, she has had students facing various difficulties (autism, hearing impairment, emotional trauma, unstable family life, issues of sexual orientation) to whom she has offered hours of special help while still holding them to the same standards as all of her students. "

Amy Miller goes on to add "I admire Molly's ability to develop relationships with her students. She is truly interested in their lives outside of French class. She often attends their plays, concerts and sporting events. I have seen how much her students appreciate her interest. I believe that the relationship that Molly creates with her students inspires them to achieve in French class."

Mary Slinde dit " I have worked with Molly for the past four years and I would consider her one of the top five educators with whom I have ever worked. You could not choose a better candidate for French Teacher of the Year. I have said many times that Molly Wieland combines all the characteristics that we define as necessary in an outstanding teacher. WhenI visit her classroom, I know that our students are receiving superb French education. It simply doesn't get any better!"

          text based on an "MnAATFNet" message of 31 October, 2002
          & Winter, 2002-3 REFLETS de l' étoile du nord (v.23, n.2), page 9

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : FLASH : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Molly Wieland, MnAATF French Teacher of the Year - 2003,
received the National AATF Dorothy Ludwig
Excellence in Teaching Award - Secondary Level
at the AATF Convention in Martinique, July 2003

- See AATF National Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 1 Sept. 2003, page 48 -

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :


2001
MAUREEN ELWELL PELTIER

- Saint Thomas Academy -
The FIFTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !



LaRae Ellingson(L.), Chair of the MN-AATF Teacher of the Year Committee and Maureen Peltier(R.)
at the Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 26, 2001
Radisson Hotel, So. Bloomington, MN



Maureen Elwell Peltier of St Thomas Academy ( St Paul) was nominated by her colleagues who describe her as "a vivacious, dynamic and innovative teacher as well as a kind, gentle and compassionate human being" who "loves all things French." She studied French at the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin and l'Universite Laval. She has led numerous trips to France with her students and has inspired her students to travel and continue their language study of to a degree "rarely seen in other language students" according to her departmental colleague, Mitch Taraschi. This year, her five-year old son just started his French studies at the French immersion school in St Paul. Maureen started her teaching career in Owatonna in 1984 and has been at St Thomas since 1992.

                          REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 2001-2 (Vol.22,n.2) page 7 - Photo


CAROLYN CRANE-FISK - 2000

The FOURTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year ! - Lake Country School



Traci Nelson (L.), President MN-AATF Chapter with Carolyn Crane-Fisk (R.)
at the Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 27, 2000
Radisson Hotel, So. Bloomington, MN



Carolyn was nominated by her colleague, Paulette Zoë, who describes her as "graceful and strong...warm and giving...a good listener and a wonderful friend." Her principal, Kathy Coskran, goes on to add that Carolyn is "a consummate professional with an unflagging enthusiasm for the French language and a true gift for communicating her passion to her students."
Carolyn graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota and has been teaching at Lake Country School, in western Minneapolis, for the past twenty-one years. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, AATF, the Minneapolis-based Alliance Française chapter and the MCTLC. Upon receiving this award at the Fall AATF dinner, Carolyn gave a gracious, inspiring speech based on her personal experiences teaching and learning French. She gave special recognition to her own high school teacher, Carolynn Johnson, who was in attendance.

                              REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 2001 (Vol.21,n.2) page 9 - Extract


VIRGIL BENOIT - 1999

The THIRD Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !
- University of North Dakota, AFAM and AFRAN -



Traci Nelson (L.), President MN-AATF Chapter with Dr. Virgil Benoit (R.)
at the Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 29, 1999,
Radisson Hotel, So. Bloomington, MN


Dr. Virgil Benoit of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota was named our third Minnesota AATF Teacher of the Year at our annual Banquet at the Fall MCTLC Conference.
Widely recognized as an expert on the French-Canadians of Minnesosta, Virgil teaches French at the University of North Dakota and is a founding member of l'Association des Français du Nord - which sponsors an annual French Festival each August celebrating the French heritage of the area. In addition, he organizes French immersion weekends in Saint Boniface, Manitoba at the Antenne universitaire de l'Université du Manitoba, for teachers of French. ... Several Minnesota French teachers have participated in such sessions and have reported enthusiastically on the merits of the programs Virgil has organized.
Educated at schools in Minnesota, Louisana, Arkansas, Québec and France, Prof. Benoit earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and the University of Vermont. Besides teaching at UND, he writes, speaks and participates in community, cultural and educational groups. [He is the Project Director of the well-known "Calendrier Bilingue - Les Français d'Amérique" published since 1985 by l'AFAM (l'Alliance Franco-Américaine du Midwest) aved l'AFRAN (l'Association des Français du Nord)... .

                  REFLETS de l'étoile du nord    Winter 2000 (Vol.20, n.2) page 7 - Extract


LINDA ALBERTSON - 1998


The SECOND Minnesota French Teacher of the Year ! - Eagan High School



Molly Wieland( R.), President MN-AATF Chapter with Linda Rae Albertson( L.)
at the Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 30, 1998,
Radisson Hotel, So. Bloomington, MN


....the MN-AATF's second "French Teacher of the Year" awardee, Linda Albertson, who was presented that honor at the MN-AATF Fall Dinner meeting held on Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, teaches French at Eagan High School, where she is the coordinator of its modern languages program. As a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, she began her career in Iowa. She has a Masters degree in the Teaching of Second Languages and Cultures from the University of Minnesota. ...Linda's principal writes: "If Linda Albertsson has any peers, they are few in number." He calls her "a student's dream teacher" and adds that she is "sometimes self-deprecating, sometimes stern, often humorous, and always demanding." He attributes Eagan High School's "thriving language department" to be the direct result of Linda Albertson's leadership.

                            REFLETS de l'étoile du nord    Winter 1999 (Vol.19,n.2) page 5 - Extract



The FIRST Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !


STACY BERGLUND - 1997
- Anthony Community Middle School, Minneapolis -



LaRae Ellingson ( L. ), MN-AATF Chapter Secretary-Treasurer
and Chair of the "French Teacher of the Year Award Committee",
Stacy Berglund ( C. ) 1st awardee,
and Molly Wieland ( R.), President MN-AATF Chapter
at the Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, November 14, 1997,
Radisson Hotel, So. Bloomington, MN


In her fifteen years of experience with 7th and 8th grade French students, Ms Bergland has consistently and creatively inspired, motivated and enlightened her students as well as her colleagues both in and out of the classroom. Her students say "She has made learning the French language stimulating, exciting, adventurous and challenging." Her colleagues say "She exhibits excellence in all she does" and "...manages to negotiate with great skill that fine line between challenging her students to achieve academic success while always showing them that she is concerned with the development of their whole selves as students and people."

                     REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 1998 (Vol.18, n.2) page 7 - Extract

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