Dr. Patricia W. Cummins teaches French language, literature, and civilization, as well as interdisciplinary courses on the European Union, intercultural communication, and language and identity. She has hosted summer workshops for teachers of French and Spanish, and she has hosted American Language and Civilization Workshops.
As Chair of the American Association of Teachers of French Commission on Colleges and Universities, she plays a leadership role nationally in the use of electronic portfolios and computer based assessment. E-portfolios take into account the national standards of foreign language learning as well as the rating scales provided by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Dr. Cummins’ first two books were focused on medieval literature, and her second two books on business French. She has published over 40 articles on medieval literature, business French, and second language acquisition. Her recent publications focus on higher education reform in the European Union, on the use of e-portfolios in assessment and evaluation, and on the attainment of high-level language skills in courses for language for special purposes.
Dr. Cummins’ professional service has included national offices in several organizations, including the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, and several other organizations.
In 2008 Dr. Cummins was the recipient of the Marshall Brannon Outstanding Teaching Award (Foreign Language Association of Virginia). In 2009 she was a finalist for the Northeast Conference Outstanding Teaching Award. In 2010 she was promoted from the rank of Knight to the rank of Officer in the Order of the French Academic Palms. |
