FACE Foundation

- Supporting French-American Cultural Exchange in Education and the Arts

French Dual Language Fund

Future Immersion Teacher Fellowship

To encourage new teachers to enter the field of immersion education, and to support current French teachers to pursue dual language certifications, the French Dual Language Fund was pleased to launch in 2018 the Future Immersion Teacher Fellowship, or FIT Fellowship.

FIT Fellows receive scholarships of up to $10,000 to pursue graduate degrees and certification programs to prepare them for roles as French immersion teachers.

Dual language and immersion programs in U.S. public schools are rapidly expanding. However, the biggest obstacle schools face when launching and maintaining immersion programming is teacher recruitment and retention.

Research suggests scholarship programs for teachers entering the field are an effective way to recruit high-quality teachers and increase retention. A survey of 400 National and State Teachers of the Year found that 75% of the teachers said that “scholarship programs for education students” were the most effective recruitment strategies for new teachers.

Through partnering with a select network of American universities, the FIT Fellowship provides scholarships for future French immersion teachers to pursue graduate degrees and specialized certifications in dual language and immersion education.

The FIT Fellowship supports the next generation of French immersion teachers to meet the demands of the growing network of French dual language and immersion programs.


FIT Fellowship University Partners


GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Education and Human Development
Graduate and Endorsement Programs in Dual Language and Immersion Education



UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

School of Teacher Education and Leadership
Dual Language Immersion Endorsement



UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Graduate and Certificate Programs in Dual Language and Immersion Education



COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Teachers College
Graduate and Certificate Programs in Bilingual and Bicultural Education



HUNTER COLLEGE
School of Education
Graduate Programs in Bilingual Education



THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Department of World Languages and Culture



THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
School of Education
Graduate and Certificate Programs in Dual Language Immersion


UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE
Department of Educational Curriculum & Instruction
Masters of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education (Grades 1-5) with a concentration in French Immersion


QUEENS COLLEGE
The Extension in Bilingual Education, offered by the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Department at Queens College, is a fully online program that provides school teachers who are already certified in Early Childhood Education, Childhood Education, or Special Education with a 15-credit program leading to the New York State Extension in Bilingual Education. This program can be completed in one year.
Learn more at: qc.cuny.edu


The Fund continues to seek partner universities that offer graduate-level or certification programs specializing in bilingual education, dual language and immersion teaching in French, or related fields. The French Dual Language Fund will then offer scholarships to a select group of students admitted to these programs to support them in pursuing careers in French dual language and immersion teaching. The scholarship value will be dependent upon the cost of the program and the level (Masters or certificate).

The FIT Fellowship will shine a spotlight on academic and professional opportunities that exist within the growing field of French dual language and immersion education, and aims to motivate the next generation of language immersion teachers.

To learn more about becoming a FIT Fellowship partner, please contact fdlf@albertinefoundation.org


FIT Fellow Cohort

This scholarship program will support two types of students:

1 – Those with a bachelor’s degree, not yet teachers, hoping to pursue a Master’s degree and teaching credential to become a teacher in a French dual language program, and

2 – Current French teachers who are pursuing a specialized certification in order to become trained in dual language and immersion pedagogy.

Another aim of this initiative is to elevate the visibility of job opportunities and academic opportunities in dual language and immersion education. The FIT Fellowship will shine a spotlight on academic and professional opportunities that exist within the growing field of French dual language and immersion education, and aims to motivate the next generation of language immersion teachers.


Application & Calendar

Please submit your application here between March 1, 2023 and June 1, 2023.

The Application is to be completed by the FIT Fellow candidate, and supported with a letter of recommendation by a faculty member or administrator at the partner university.

Applications will be reviewed and decisions announced in June.