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What keeps students coming back to your language program each year?  Especially when graduation requirements, scheduling and competing electives are pulling them in other directions? This is the second episode in our advocacy series.  Last week I looked at local, state and national efforts. Today we are in the classroom. I’m joined by Ann LeClair-Ash, a National Board Certified French teacher in Milton, Georgia. We move beyond “convincing students to stay” and dig into designing programs students want to be part of. We look at what advocacy looks like in daily practice in our classrooms. If enrollment trends have you worried, this conversation offers practical steps and genuine hope grounded in real classroom experience.

Topics in this Episode: 

• factors that influence whether students choose to continue with a language beyond the required level
• classroom practices or program-level decisions that make a real difference in helping students feel connected, successful, and excited to keep going
• what advocacy for retention looks like when it’s embedded in classroom culture, student voice, and everyday interactions
• mindset shifts or actionable steps that help teachers build momentum for their language programs
• designing learning experiences that students want to be part of
• JNCL (Joint National Committee for Languages) and NCLIS (National Council for Languages and International Studies)
• Language Advocacy Days
• ACTFL’s Advocacy Resource Center

Connect with Ann LeClair-Ash:

• Instagram: madame_leclair_ash
• LinkedIn: Ann LeClair-Ash
• Email: [email protected]
• Website

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

• Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual Teachers
• On-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language Departments
• Self-Paced Program for For Language Departments

Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:

• Website: wlclassrom.com
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook Group: World Language Classroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• LinkedIn: Joshua Cabral
• Bluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.socia
• X (Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.