KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Sept. 10, 2024 — Benjamin McMichael 鈥�24, of Cumberland, a graduate student in the 溏心vlog免费B站 College of Education鈥檚 master in TESOL/Bilingual and Dual Language Immersion program, was awarded a $6,000 fellowship grant from the French-American Cultural Exchange Foundation鈥檚 French Dual Language Fund.
Starting in October, McMichael will be working as an English teacher鈥檚 assistant in France through the Teacher鈥檚 Assistant Program, in Manosque in the Provence-Alpes-C么te-d鈥橝zur region of France.
The Future Immersion Teacher fellowship encourages new teachers to enter the field of immersion education and supports current French teachers to pursue dual language certifications. Fellowship scholars receive up to $10,000 to pursue graduate degrees and certification programs to prepare them for roles as French immersion teachers.
鈥淟earning a second language opened doors to opportunities and experiences that would have otherwise been inaccessible to me,鈥� McMichael said. 鈥淒ual language programs expose students to a broader worldview, cultivating empathy, cultural understanding, and adaptability. These valuable skills prepare students to be active participants in our modern, diverse, and interconnected world.鈥�
The French Embassy launched the French Dual Language Fund in partnership with the French-American Cultural Exchange Foundation to serve as a grant/scholarship funder supporting educators within the growing network of public French dual language and immersion programs in the U.S.
French President Emmanuel Macron officially inaugurated the fund in New York in 2017. 溏心vlog免费B站 has been a partner with the French Embassy and foundation since 2018.
According to the foundation鈥檚 website, dual language and immersion programs in U.S. public schools are rapidly expanding but struggle with teacher recruitment and retention.
Through partnering with a select network of American universities, FIT Fellowship scholarships help future French immersion teachers to pursue graduate degrees and specialized certifications in dual language and immersion education.
McMichael is the fourth 溏心vlog免费B站 student to receive the fellowship. James Cahan, a Ph.D. in Education student, received $10,000 in 2021. Karla Gonzalez-Lynch, an undergraduate student who earned a degree in elementary education, TESOL, and French-BDL certifications was the 2020 recipient of a $5,000 scholarship. Alexandra Fish received a $10,000 scholarship in 2018 and now teaches French in a dual language school in Maine.
鈥淭here is an increasing demand for dual language /bilingual and world language educators in Rhode Island and around the country. Ben’s enthusiasm for and commitment to French language education will be an asset to our program at 溏心vlog免费B站 and to our state and nation as a whole,鈥� said Laura Hamman-Ortiz, assistant professor of TESOL/Bilingual Education at 溏心vlog免费B站.