| |
The NIAF Italian Language and Culture 2010 Teacher of the Year Award
|
Offered in collaboration with the University for Foreigners - Perugia
|
Information
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) was founded in 1975 as a non-profit, non-partisan organization in Washington, DC. The NIAF is the major advocate in Washington, DC for nearly 25 million Italian Americans, the nation's fifth largest ethnic group. Its mission is to preserve and protect Italian American heritage and culture. One of the NIAF’s top priorities is the promotion of the Italian language. In this effort, beginning in 2003, the NIAF will honor a teacher for excellence in Italian language and culture classroom education.
In 2009 NIAF and the University for Foreigners Perugia partnered to award a gift of continuing education to an instructor of the Italian language and to continue their support of the diffusion of the Italian language in the United States. The University for Foreigners Perugia is the oldest and most prestigious italian institution involved in teaching and research activities as well as in the diffusion of the Italian language and civilisation in all expressions.
A selection committee will select the NIAF Teacher of the Year. The NIAF Italian Teacher of the Year award recipient will be announced in September of each year and recognized at the NIAF Education Luncheon or Council Breakfast held in conjunction with the NIAF Annual Gala and Convention. In partnership with the University for Foreigners of Perugia, the recipient will receive a continuing education scholarship to cover tuition, travel and living expenses to enroll in the University for Foreigners of Perugia’s course for teachers of the Italian language to foreigners. (see Award section for details)
Purpose
The purpose of the award is to annually recognize an outstanding educator in Italian language and culture. The recipient will have shown dedication and contribution in the field of teaching Italian. The award of a continuing education scholarship aims to provide the instruments (content, methodological and bibliographical) to teachers so they can continue their professional development.
Eligibility
- All nominees must be employed by an accredited American elementary or secondary school during the school year preceding their nomination.
- Nominees must have a minimum of three (3) years teaching experience.
- Nominees can be teachers at public, private and/or parochial schools.
- Nominations for elementary and secondary teachers will be considered.
Candidates should be skillful, dedicated teachers who plan to actively continue classroom teaching. Most importantly, a candidate should demonstrate an ability to inspire a love of learning the Italian language and culture in students of any background.
Application Process
Teachers must be nominated by their school principal.
The application consists of two parts: 1) a cover sheet to be filled out by the school principal (nominator) and 2) the application to be filled out by the nominated teacher. The application should be typed or word-processed, and essay questions should be double-spaced. When additional pages are added, the question number and essay topic should appear at the top of each page. Limit answers to the number of pages requested in each section (type size no smaller than 10 point).
Please provide all information requested in the application form.
Material should be either single-stapled or submitted with a clip/clasp, with no binding.
The completed applications and any support materials submitted cannot be returned to the applicant or nominator. We suggest the applicant keep a copy of all submitted material.
All applications must be submitted by mail in their entirety, including all attachments and letters of support. Partial or incomplete applications will not be evaluated.
Once the application has been submitted, no changes or additions will be permitted.
Applications should be mailed to:
NIAF Italian Teacher of the Year
1860 19th Street NW
Washington DC 20009
IMPORTANT DATES:
| Application post-mark deadline: |
Friday, June 25, 2010 |
| Notification date: |
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 |
| Acceptance date: |
Friday, September 10, 2010 |
| Award ceremony (Washington, DC): |
October 2010 (NIAF Gala Weekend; date TBD) |
| Study in Italy*: |
July 2011 (estimated) |
* 2010 recipient may defer study in Italy for one year. Award expires summer 2012.
Selection Process
An Award Committee, made up of a panel familiar with Italian language, Italian culture, foreign language education and the NIAF, will meet in July to discuss the nominees and applications.
The Award Committee will evaluate applicants on a number of criteria including:
- Creativity and innovation in teaching Italian language and Italian culture;
- Interdisciplinary approach: the degree to which the connection is made between Italian language and culture and other subjects/disciplines;
- Student impact: evidence of a teacher’s impact on inspiring students, student attitudes and on overall learning;
- Dedication to the advancement of teaching Italian language and culture, and community impact: evidence of a teacher’s impact on the community (related to Italian language and/or Italian culture);
- Professional development: Desire to stay informed about current educational theories, foreign language education, and Italian language and culture; and
- Letters of support (3).
All nominees will be notified by September 1, 2010 of the selection of the Award Committee.
Award
- NIAF Teacher of the Year will be presented at the NIAF conference in Washington DC in October. Winner will be provided with roundtrip transportation to/from Washington, DC, 2-3 nights hotel accommodations, two tickets to NIAF Awards Gala, and a stipend to cover other related travel expenses.
- NIAF and the University for Foreigners - Perugia will award the Teacher of the Year a continuing education scholarship to participate in the University of Perugia’s “Corso di Aggiornamento per Insegnanti D’Italiano All’Estero.” Expenses covered by the scholarship include transportation between the US and Perugia; tuition and course fees; accommodations; and board at the University cafeteria.
2010 Application Available Soon!
2010 Teacher of the Year Guidelines Available Soon!
----------------------------------------------------
Questions? Email Riccardo Skeem at rskeem@niaf.org
|
|
|
