Advocacy in the Global Media FLAVA Conference 2013 Thomas Sones, FLAVA Advocacy Chair

The extra mile is a lonely road. Fortune cookie wisdom

Today we will… Explore the Advocacy Goals of FLAVA Explore advantages of using new media for advocating Explore media resources for advocacy globally, and locally

What is the FLAVA Advocacy Committee? Advocate- educate, promote, and defend foreign language education nationally, in Virginia, and across the U.S. Address language learning policy, standards, and programs on all levels

Who does FLAVA Advocacy committee work with? National − SCOLT/ NECTFL − ACTFL − JNCL-NCLIS State − FLAVA Member Organizations − VDOE FL Specialist Local − Supervisor’s Association − Individual Teachers

ACTFL’s Advocacy Page NEW PUBLIC CAMPAIGN NOVEMBER 2013 documentation about academic achievement and cognitive benefits. Discover Language logo, posters, adds, and other materials Ideas for local activities participate in student contests Guidelines for visiting policy makers

JNCL-NCLIS Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies Works on and lobbies for policy initiatives to promote and support adequate funding for language and international programs

What does FLAVA Advocacy committee do? Use networking resources to get informed and inform others. Educate FLAVA members − Policy Issues, Announcements, Resources, Publications − Communicate through Bulletin Reports, Web site, List serve/ Social Media Represent FLAVA at National and Regional Meetings

What does FLAVA Advocacy committee do? Speak for FLAVA Members on issues when policy is being formed. Provide resources, guidance, and support for emerging and struggling programs. Your membership dues at work

If you think that you are too small to make a difference, try going to sleep with a mosquito in the room.

How can I advocate? Share! Convince EVERYONE. − Public − Policy Makers − Administrators − Stake holders − Parents − Students You have to go to your audience.

How can I use media to advocate for my local program? CLASS PAGE OR GROUP! − Involve all stake holders Students Parents Administration Community pages or groups. Share! Share! Share!

Advantages of new medias Reach the masses, youth Gather and share specific information that interest you Spread the word faster, further, specifically to non-choir members Make personal comments about news Instant, easy, fast-paced

Which of the following do you use for professional use? FACEBOOK TWITTER TUMBLR BLOGS LISTSERVES WEBSITES NEWSLETTERSPINTEREST OTHER

Facebook connect with students, parents, community beyond the classroom Single most commonly used social media Control of privacy Connect to hundreds of educational, professional, and media organizations Share what you feel important with everyone- family, friends (non-choir preaching) Recommend/ Share: Very useful for reposting news stories and editorials form magazines, newspapers, or other web pages.

Twitter Professional use (not personal) share small posts, links, photos. Follow interesting people or organizations Re-post what you find important

Tumblr, Instagram, Flickr Micro-blog for photos/media, works like twitter Ease of uploading and sharing over other blogs Tag with topics for searches

Pinterest pin-board-style photo-sharing website users create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, and hobbies. Users browse other pin-boards for images, "re-pin" images to their own pin-boards, or "like" photos.

Blogs Online journal Add links, photo’s Collect viewer’s comments Take polls, use other applications

Websites Flteach- web.cortland.edu/flteach/ Fairfax Flags AATG Advocacy Kit Japan Foundation Advocacy page and kit

Newsletters and Journals ACTFL’s Language Educator’s Digest ACTFL’s Smart Brief FLAVA’s Bulletin

Remember: You must advocate before you find yourself needing to.