Applications are open for the 2026 edition! Apply by February 16 to join the French Teaching Fast Track Spring training.
Are you an advanced, native, or heritage French speaker? Are you interested in becoming a French teacher in the United States and do not know where to start? Look no further, the French Teaching Fast Track program is designed for you.
According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 44 US states and the District of Columbia report a dire shortage of teachers of foreign languages – and French is no exception. Lack of human resources is reported as the largest constraint in enhancing French teaching by administrators in American schools.
Yet, with 1.3 million French speakers in the US, some of whom are native or heritage speakers, the talent pool for careers in French language education is impressive. Many of these potential applicants are simply facing significant obstacles in joining the teaching profession, starting with issues surrounding affordability and a lack of information on licensing programs.
Overview
This training opportunity aims to support applicants in jumpstarting careers in teaching French with a three-phase online curriculum targeted at fluent French speakers all over the US, particularly native and heritage speakers.
With this program, successful participants will obtain:
- Over 70-hour online and interactives classes on methods of foreign language teaching
- A Personalized Learning Plan outlining the final steps required to obtain a teaching license
- 4 graduate credits from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), fully transferable to universities nationwide
- Integration in the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) with a dedicated mentor located in your State and opportunities to develop a professional network
- Specific classes to explore different dimensions of French language instruction (e.g., French heritage language, bilingual immersion, etc.)
The French Teaching Fast Track is not a certification/licensure program in and by itself.
What do classes entail?
- Identify and use a variety of techniques to make input comprehensible, ensuring maximum target language use
- Understand and apply differentiated instructional planning and design, including the needs of heritage learners
- Describe and design performance-based assessments
- Develop and present Standards-based lessons that are contextualized, communicative, and engage multiple learning styles to meet the needs of diverse learners and connect to other content areas
- Identify next steps to certification and employment
- Compare and contrast the US school cultures and practices to Francophone school systems
Eligibility
– Applications for the 2025 cohort are closed –
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (or the foreign equivalent)
- Prior authorization to work in the United States
- Fluency in the French language
- Proficiency in the English language
Should you be accepted into the program, you will be asked to pay a registration fee of $150 to cover the cost of books that will be sent to you. The classes are completely free of charge.
If you successfully complete the program, you will also receive an additional one-year membership invitation to the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) and 4 graduate credits form the Pacific Lutheran University.
You can also check out our Q&A, our detailed calendar, and our dedicated page for teacher programs. Should you have more questions, please email julien.buresi@villa-albertine.org
Timeline
Key dates:
- February 16: Application deadline
- March: Laureates selected and notified
- Phase One – Kickoff: April 2 – May 14 (22 hours: 11 synchronous/11 asynchronous)
- Phase Two – Institute: May 21 – June 11 (26 hours: 10 synchronous/16 asynchronous)
- Summer: June – July (office hours by appointment/optional)
- Phase Three – Consolidation: August 6 – December 3 (22 hours: 12 synchronous/10 asynchronous and optional discovery classes)
- Follow up: January 2026 (next steps to certification with AATF Mentoring)
Please also find our detailed calendar.
In memory of Yvonne André Istel