KEFKO - Leipzig - June 23-July 14, 2012

KEFKO:  Transatlantische Kooperation in der Evaluierung fremdsprachlicher Kompetenz

Der gemeinsame europäische Referenzrahmen und die ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines

The target audience for this three-week seminar at the University of Leipzig are 20 present and future American teachers of German as well as college/university faculty who are teacher trainers or coordinators of graduate teaching assistants and who eventually will serve as multipliers for information on the equivalency of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

The seminar will focus on the theoretical and practical curricular aspects of teaching and testing for proficiency from both a CEFR and an ACTFL perspective as well as on the correspondences between the CEFR and the ACTFL guidelines. In addition, there will be an opportunity for advanced language practice for professional purposes and intercultural/ landeskundlich  professional development. The participants should be at the advanced proficiency level on the ACTFL scale.

The seminar includes all program costs and materials, and room and breakfast for the three- week program.  Also covered are excursions and cultural events, a city tour, and transportation costs in Leipzig.  Participants will receive a stipend (up to $600) toward their roundtrip transportation from the United States to Leipzig.

Participants will have the opportunity to acquire three graduate credits (postgraduate ECTS-Leistungspunkte) through a final project at the University of Leipzig.  Separate fees are required for ECTS credits, which are not covered by the scholarship.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a current member of the AATG.
• Demonstrate proficiency in German at least at the OPI Advanced Low level by submitting the German Language Proficiency Assessment Form, including the assessment by a German faculty member or supervising teacher verifying your proficiency. 
• Submit a complete application, including:  (a) one letter of recommendation from a current or recent professor of German or someone who is familiar with your interest in foreign language testing and/or in foreign language education in general, and (b) a 200-word statement in German on why you wish to participate in the program and what you expect to get out of this program.
• Participants must show that they are fully insured for health, accident, and liability on arrival at the course site.
• Participants will be expected to present a teaching unit at a local, state, regional or national professional meeting based on their experience in the program, e.g., a unit on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and its relationship to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and/or the National Standards.

Deadline has passed.

This program is generously supported by the German government’s Transatlantic Program, through funds from the European Recovery Plan (ERP) program of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie.

Selection committees review applications for all seminars with stipends or grants. 

Application for KEFKO Summer Seminar

Please copy the following questions (1-9) and submit them with your answers below each question, in an e-mail addressed to: headquarters@aatg.org by February 24, 2012, with your family name and “KEFKO Application” in the subject line.

1          What are your name, complete mailing address, and email address?

2          Are you a member of the AATG?

3          If you are a K-12 teacher:  Are you currently certified to teach German K-12 in the U.S?

a) If yes, where are you currently teaching and what portion of your assignment is German?
b) If not, when will you become certified?

4          Do you agree to stay in the teaching profession for at least ten years?

5          How much time have you spent in a German-speaking country? Please describe briefly.

6          Have you taken any standardized language exam for German, e.g., a Goethe Institut exam, an OPI, etc.?

a) If yes, list which exam you took, the exam date, and what score you received.

7          List the name and institution of the person who will submit a letter of recommendation for you:

Please note: Letters of recommendation should be submitted by the person writing the recommendation, who should send an email to: headquarters@aatg.org by February 24, 2012, with the family name of the applicant and “KEFKO Recommendation” in the subject line.

8          List the name and institution of the person who will submit the German Language Proficiency Assessment Form: Please note: The German Language Proficiency Assessment Form should be submitted by the person doing the assessment, who should send an email to headquarters@aatg.org by February 24, 2012, with the family name of the applicant and “KEFKO Evaluation” in the subject line.

9          Answer in 200 words (maximum) IN GERMAN: Why do you wish to participate in the program? How will it benefit you professionally? What do you expect to get out of this program?

(End of application form)

German Language Proficiency Assessment Form for KEFKO

To be completed by a member of the German Language Department or Supervising Teacher. Please copy the following questions (1-4) and submit them with your answers below each question, in an e-mail addressed to: headquarters@aatg.org by February 24, 2012, with the family name of the applicant and “KEFKO Evaluation” in the subject line. Fill in the following information:

Assessment for (name of candidate):

Name of the Evaluator, Position, and Institution:

Date:

Select the response that best fits the applicant’s proficiency in each category. You only need to submit the category and the letter indicating the level of achievement in that category (i.e., 1 = b; 2 = c, etc.)

1. Listening Comprehension

a) Has comprehension similar to a native speaker
b) Able to understand complex conversations, lectures & news broadcasts
c) Able to understand simple conversations, lectures & news broadcasts
d) Has trouble understanding simple conversations, lectures and broadcasts
e) Has extreme difficulty understanding simple things.

2. Speaking

a) Exhibits the functional ability of a native speaker.
b) Speaks fluently on a range of topics; usually able to sustain proper time frames; some errors
c) Speaks haltingly on some topics; inconsistent use of proper time frames; regular errors
d) Speaks with extreme difficulty on most topics.

3. Writing

a) Writes fluently, appropriately and without many serious errors on a range of topics.
b) Appropriate use of complex structures.
c) Writes adequately on general and specialized topics with some errors in grammar, vocabulary and idioms. Some complex structures.
d) Writes using predominantly simple structures on a range of topics. Regular errors
e) Writes only with extreme difficulty. Numerous errors.

4. Reading

a) Able to read complex texts on all subjects
b) Able to read most complex texts in familiar subjects with little effort
c) Able to read complex texts in familiar subject areas with great effort
d) Able to read only simple texts
e) Unable to read and understand many simple texts without supporting visual information

(End of proficiency assessment form)