Updated 5/20/2009
SAM
World Languages - Maine Learning Results
SUPPORTING MATERIALS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE 2007 LEARNING RESULTS
The Maine Department of Education is developing several tools to support deeper understanding of the revised Maine Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction for World Languages. As these materials are finalized, they will be posted on this website.
World Languages PowerPoint - Provides an introduction
to the Learning Results revision process, changes in structure and content for World Languages standards, and potential considerations for implementing the revised standards.
Podcast - This program is also available as a Podcast on iTunes-U. (iTunes software is required - click here to download for free.)
Narration Notes to the World Languages PowerPoint/Podcast in PDF and RTF (text only) formats.
THE VISITING TEACHERS FROM SPAIN PROGRAM
The Maine Department of Education in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Education, Social Policy and Sports (MEPSYD) is pleased to announce the 2009-2010 Visiting Teachers from Spain Program. This program brings qualified teachers from Spain to teach the Spanish language and culture in Maine elementary, middle/junior high and high schools. The Visiting Teachers from Spain Program began in 1985 and currently includes a number of state Departments of Education in addition to individual school districts in at least thirty states. Maine began its participation in the 2008-2009 school year.
Background information:
In November 2007 Commissioner Gendron signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Education and Science of Spain in order to collaborate on educational initiatives. The MOU was created, in part, to address the critical shortage of qualified instructors of Spanish in Maine elementary and secondary schools. Under this agreement, visiting teachers from Spain may come to Maine to teach for a period of up to three years.
Program objectives:
- Improve and expand the teaching of the Spanish language and culture in Maine.
- Foster relations between the people of the state of Maine and Spain.
- Increase global awareness in Maine school communities.
- Provide Maine students in this program with bilingual and cultural educational experiences that will help to prepare them for future success in personal, academic and professional spheres.
Qualifications of the visiting teachers:
- Teacher certification (in Spain) in philology (languages) with a certificate of pedagogical aptitude
- Postsecondary degree equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree or higher in the U.S.
- Three or more years of teaching experience or related educational activities in the Spanish or English language
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English
- Spanish and/or international driver’s license
General requirements for participating Maine school districts:
- Full-time language teaching assignment for the visiting teacher
- Placement of the visiting teacher under contract, including employee health insurance coverage if the teacher does not have civil servant status in Spain, with salary payment commensurate with the teacher’s educational level and years of teaching service. An initial one-year contract may be followed by contract renewals of one or two years if all parties agree.
- Assignment of a teacher mentor to the visiting teacher
- Placement of the visiting teacher with a temporary host/welcome family for the first 2-3 weeks until the teacher locates suitable rental housing, the cost for which the visiting teacher will be responsible
- Assistance in arranging for permanent rental housing and vehicle purchase or lease
- Payment of $750 annual fee for the visiting teacher to obtain or renew a federal J-1 exchange visitor visa*
- Payment of $100 application fee for an International Visiting Teacher Permit issued by MDOE’s Teacher Certification office
- Payment of $55 fee for a Criminal History Records Check (fingerprinting)
- Payment of expenses for the visiting teacher to attend the annual Foreign Language Association of Maine (FLAME) Conference held in Portland, Maine in March 2010
- Payment of the visiting teacher’s expenses of up to $200 to attend a 1-2 day orientation program held in August in Augusta, ME
*The Maine Department of Education seeks to become a federally designated Exchange Visitor Program sponsor, which will potentially decrease or eliminate the annual visa fee for participating schools/districts in future years. The application process, however, has not been completed at this time.
Responsibilities of the Maine Department of Education:
- Interview candidates and evaluate their proficiency in both speaking and writing English.
- Match candidates with prospective schools/districts and arrange for a telephonic interview between the recommended candidate and a school/district official.
- Assist in the application process for obtaining J-1 exchange visitor visas.
- Provide an orientation program in Augusta for the visiting teachers.
- Monitor visiting teacher placements throughout the school year and work with schools and districts to resolve any issues and concerns that arise.
- Ensure coordination of the visiting teacher program and act as liaison between the participating schools/districts and the Consulate General of Spain’s regional education advisor in Boston, MA.
Selection and hiring process:
- The Spanish Ministry of Education, Social Policy and Sports recruits and screens candidates to work in Maine.
- The MDOE World Languages Specialist travels to Spain (in April) to select candidates to match with Maine schools/districts, based on a review of credentials (transcripts, diplomas, certificates), face-to-face-interviews and a writing sample.
- Immediately following the daily sets of face-to-face interviews of candidates in Spain, the MDOE World Languages Specialist will identify any appropriate matches and call the designated school/district official to recommend a candidate. Information about a candidate will also be provided via email to the school/district official.
- During the phone call, the designated school/district official will have the opportunity to briefly interview the candidate. At the end of the call, the school/district official will either approve or decline the selected visiting teacher candidate.
- The visiting teacher subsequently will be issued a contract by the hosting school district.
Orientation and support:
- Orientation and professional development provided by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Social Policy and Sports prior to the teachers’ departure from Spain
- 1-2 day orientation program on living and teaching in Maine, which will include a general orientation to Maine and its educational system, as well as professional development in instructional methods and classroom management (held in Augusta, ME prior to the start of the 2009-2010 school year)
- Ongoing support and resources from the regional education advisor from the Consulate General of Spain’s office located at the Massachusetts Department of Education
Additional information about the program is available at the Ministry of Education, Social Policy and Sport of Spain website: http://www.mec.es/exterior/usa/en/programs/visiting/default.shtml
For more information or questions, contact:
Don Reutershan
World Languages Specialist
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
Email: don.reutershan@maine.gov
Tel.: 207-624-6826
Fax: 207-624-6821
Note: Many of the documents provided on this website are in PDF format. In order to access these materials, you will need the Adobe Reader program installed on your computer (we strongly recommend that you use either versions 7.0 or 8.1). Your District Technology Coordinator should be able to help you if you have any questions about using Adobe Reader. For further information, or to download Adobe Reader for free, click on the Adobe Reader icon below.
