Bonjour.
My name is Brian Wopat and I have been involved with AATF-WI since 2004. I have worn a couple of hats on the AATF-WI leadership team; Treasurer, Secretary, Webmaster, and most recently Concours Oral Coordinator. I believe that a strong organization comes from members who feel impacted, supported, and celebrated. I deeply believe in the importance of advocacy, continuous improvement, and service to our language and profession.
My French Journey
I started learning French as a freshman in high school. For the first two years, I was not a fan! During my junior year when my class went from twenty-two students to six, I discovered how much I enjoyed learning about and exploring other cultures. The concept of meeting others that are different from me was intriguing. I couldn't get enough. As a senior, I knew I wanted to spend time in France and become a language teacher.
I attended UW-La Crosse and studied abroad my entire junior year in Caen, France. As a graduate in 2002, I landed my first job at Holmen High School. Over the next five years, the program grew so quickly that another teacher was brought on. In 2023, I switched schools to Onalaska High School where I currently am one of two French teachers (my colleague is a former student) in an incredible program supported by an amazing administration.
My mantra has always been, it's the honor and glory of serving the community. I've been fortunate enough to have been recognized by local, state, and national organizations through my work in the classroom and at the state level. My journey is yet to be complete as I think more can be done to help increase the value in learning a language, foster language programs at the elementary level, and to create a vessel for students to learn a language over sixteen plus years.