Alina Rodriguez, a French teacher at Pace High School, received some education of her own as she studied abroad in Paris over the summer.
Rodriguez was one of only two people nationwide who received a $3,000 Professional Development Scholarship by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). The AATF awarded her with the scholarship after she presented an iTunesU project she created to teach her French students.
For her stay in Paris, Rodriguez was enrolled in an intensive summer course for professors who teach French to foreign students from July 1 through 17. She studied at the prestigious Paris French Alliance school alongside professors from all over the world including Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Greece, and Argentina.
In addition to taking courses in grammar, writing, oral communications, and phonics, Rodriguez was also able to enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of Paris. She visited Versailles Palace, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, and several museums, took an excursion to the Seine River, and sampled the exquisite French food. She was even able to attend the Bal des Pompiers, a traditional French celebration held the day before France’s independence day.
“It was an incredible experience and I was able to visit the most beautiful places,” said Rodriguez. “What an invaluable professional experience! I was totally immersed in the culture and language of France for 17 days.”