American Association of Teachers of German

Kinder lernen Deutsch Strand Stipends for the
2008 AATG Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL
November 20-23, 2008

Thanks to the generosity of the Federal Republic of Germany, AATG offers K-8 teachers of German the opportunity to attend the AATG Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL, from November 20-23, 2008. Stipend recipients will receive partial financial support and an opportunity to work closely with national leaders and one another.

Attendance at the annual joint meeting of AATG/ACTFL is one of the most important professional experiences available to teachers, because national and international experts and successful classroom teachers discuss important pedagogical issues and share information and ideas. The Kinder lernen Deutsch Strand consists of a series of recommended sessions throughout the Annual Meeting that are of special interest to elementary or middle school language teachers, or that address important issues of concern to all language teachers. The Strand provides a focus and continuity for conference participants, as well as networking during and after the meeting among German teachers with similar interests.

Before the conference begins, participants in the Kinder lernen Deutsch Strand will receive advance information about the conference, a list of other participants in the Strand, and suggestions to help them prepare for conference attendance. On Friday morning, November 21, the KLD team will provide Strand participants with an overview of the conference for the K-8 practitioner. They will identify relevant sessions, highlight exhibitors with special value for the K-8 level, and suggest other events of special interest. During this orientation session, Strand participants will begin to network and plan strategies for working together throughout the conference.

At a follow-up session on Sunday, participants will share information and handouts from the sessions they have attended. They will plan ways to share what they have learned at the conference with colleagues in their schools, AATG chapters, and state and regional organizations. After the conference and through the academic year, networking and support for participants' activities will continue via e-mail. Participants may be asked to serve as a resource for other teachers of German at the K-8 level.

All stipend recipients must attend both the orientation and the debriefing session, and they are expected to make their travel plans accordingly. Participants will be asked to submit a budget outlining their anticipated expenses, including conference registration fees, travel and lodging expenses, and substitute teacher salaries, where necessary. (ACTFL will send all AATG members a conference brochure including registration materials - watch for it in the mail.) Applicants should be aware that the AATG stipend will probably not cover all expenses. Consideration will be given to the geographic distribution of the participants.

How to Apply for AATG Kinder lernen Deutsch Strand Stipend

We encourage you to submit your application by e-mail! Simply answer each of the questions in the body of the email message (no attachments, please). Put the number of the question before your response. Please indicate "KLD Strand" followed by your family name, in the subject line. Send us your answers by e-mail at: headquarters@aatg.org If necessary, return by mail to:
AATG, 112 Haddontowne Court #104, Cherry Hill NJ 08034

Indicate the number of the question before your response. This application must be received at AATG by June 23, 2008 (not a postmark deadline).

1. Name:
2. Current Position:
3. Home Address:
4. School Name:
5. School Address
6. Home Phone:
7. E-mail:
8. School Phone:
9. School Fax:
10. How many ACTFL or AATG national Annual Meetings have you attended? When?
11. List the three most recent foreign language conferences (local, regional, or state) you have attended, including conference name, year, location, and your role (attendee, presenter, presider, committee member, workshop leader, workshop attendee, etc.).
12. Describe your current experience teaching German at the K-8 level, including: How long have you taught? What grades do you teach now? How many hours a week do you teach at this level? How many students do you meet each day, and how many per week? What methods do you use? What methods do you find most effective?
13. Describe other teaching experience you have had.
14. Where did you receive your previous teacher preparation?
15. Confirm that your principal will give you the necessary time to attend the full meeting (orientation begins on Friday morning, November 21; the follow-up session ends on Sunday, November 23).
16. What one or two questions would you most like to find information about or answers for during your attendance at the Annual Meeting?
17. How do you plan to use the information and experiences from this conference in your present position, and to share with your colleagues?
18. Submit a budget outlining your anticipated expenses, including conference registration fees, travel and lodging expenses, and substitute teacher salaries, where necessary. Be aware that the AATG stipend will probably not cover all your expenses.