French Teaching Fast Track 2025 Applications Now Open

French Teaching Fast Track 2025 Applications Now Open

Apply by February 16 to join the French Teaching Fast Track Spring 2025 cohort.

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, 47 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 70-hour long, three-phase online curriculum targeted at fluent French speakers all over the US, particularly native and heritage speakers.

Upon completion of the program, successful participants will obtain:

  • A Personalized Learning Plan outlining the final steps required to obtain a teaching license
  • Up to three university credits applicable toward an approved teacher preparation program
  • Integration in the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) with a mentor and opportunities to develop a professional network
  • Optional 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.  

Participants are still required to complete additional coursework to become fully certified teachers and, as their Personalized Learning Plan will state, may choose to pursue this coursework full-time in a state approved teacher preparation program, or part-time, while working as a teacher, through an alternative pathway to accreditation. 

 

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

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

If you are interested, please apply by February 16 by filling out this form.

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. If you successfully complete the program, you will also receive a one-year membership invitation to the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). The classes are completely free of charge. 

On February 3rd, we hosted an informative webinar. To learn more about our program, you can view the recording here.

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 3 – May 15 (22 hours: 11 synchronous/11 asynchronous)
  • Phase Two – Institute: May 22 – June 12 (26 hours: 10 synchronous/16 asynchronous)
  • Summer: June – July (office hours by appointment/optional)
  • Phase Three – Consolidation: August 7 – December 4 (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