How to Use Your 2005: The Year of Languages Participant Kit

Use the links below to gain a clear understanding of what the Year of Languages initiative is about, its goals, the themes around which you may build local activities and information you can use to foster broader awareness of the initiative among the media, organizations, parents and students.

• Sample press release for elementary/secondary schools 
• Sample press release for postsecondary institutions 
• Sample proclamation 
• Overview of what the initiative is about and will accomplish 
• Generic article about The Year of Languages 
• Calendar of monthly Year of Languages focus points 
• Download the logo and instructions for use:  Available in JPG, TIF and EPS.
• Year of Languages PowerPoint presentation
• Year of Languages Participant Kit Packet (PDF):  This Packet contains the two sample press releases, the sample proclamation, the overview, the generic article, the calendar and the logo instructions, in one PDF file.  It does not contain the PowerPoint presentation; you must download that separately. (Updated 05/01/05)

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Suggested Uses

1. Press releases – there are 2 sample releases, one for elementary/secondary schools and one for postsecondary institutions.  These are meant to be guides for  helping you put together your personalized release with specific activities and  quotes from local people.  The releases should be sent frequently to newspapers  and broadcast outlets … to the attention of a contact you already have or to the  reporter who handles the education beat.  A follow-up phone call and, better yet, a  face-to-face meeting can help you gain their attention and enjoy sustained  coverage throughout the year.
2. Proclamation – this is a guide to help you compose a customized version that allows a governor, mayor, town council, county board, etc. to declare 2005 as The  Year of Languages in your state, county, city, town.  Your state legislative representative or council representative can help you move this forward. 
3. Overview – this is a general explanation of The Year of Languages initiative, what our goals are and what we will achieve. 
4. Generic article – this article can be customized with your local information and should be used in your school newsletters, posted on your web site and sent to the newspaper and broadcast people you contact.  It will be a good item to leave with editors when you meet with them. 
5. Calendar  – each month during The Year of Languages, ACTFL will be coordinating activities at the national level that focus on a specific area of  language learning.  Localities should use this as a guide to planning their own activities.  A good way to start is to meet as a group with the language teachers in  your school or district to brainstorm ideas, using the calendar as a starting point.

 

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