Foreign Language Teacher Degrees
Teaching students to learn a foreign language is a rewarding and worthwhile career for those who have a love of foreign languages and the skills to teach to others. Learning a foreign language increases students' performance in other core subjects, so it is an important part of the curriculum at every level of schooling. Foreign Language Teacher Education programs convey the teaching skills and language skills one needs to be an effective foreign language teacher.
There is a high demand for foreign language teachers throughout the United States, for all languages. Those who are able to teach Chinese are experiencing an especially good job market as China becomes a major player in the world economy.
Degree Options
- Bachelor's Degree – A bachelor's degree in Foreign Language Teacher Education will enable graduates to become licensed public school teachers in many states.
- Master's Degree – A master's degree is required in some states for a full teacher license in foreign languages although a person can typically start teaching with an initial license before completing their master's degree program.
- Doctoral Degree – A graduate of a doctoral program in Foreign Language Teacher Education can become a college level instructor of foreign languages or foreign language education researcher.
Schools
Various universities and online schools offer degrees in Foreign Language Teacher Education although these programs are somewhat scarce. Many states do not require this specific degree but instead require that a foreign language teacher have a degree in education and have completed a minimum number of courses in the specific language to be taught. This degree is ideal however, since it specifically addresses how to teach foreign languages.
Coursework
Students will be required to take a number of education courses such as Educational Psychology and Teaching Methods in addition to foreign language teaching courses such as those listed below:
- Teaching Foreign Languages to Young Children
- Teaching Foreign Languages to Secondary School Students
- Language Acquisition in Young Children
- Advanced Conversation in language
- Culture and Civilization of language
- Technology in Foreign Language Education
- Internship – Observation
- Internship – Student Teaching
- Study Abroad Program (optional)
Interests and Aptitudes
The most obvious aptitude a Foreign Language Teacher must have is fluency in the language which they will be teaching. Additionally, they must enjoy working with children and be flexible and creative in reaching students with various strengths and weaknesses. For instance, motivating a child to speak the language out loud can be a challenging aspect of the job.
Career Options
The primary career options for a person who holds a degree in Foreign Language Teacher Education is to teach elementary school, middle school or high school students. A few who have earned higher level degrees will become college level instructors. Some people may also work part-time as a translator or tutor in their free time.
Related Majors
- Teaching English as a Second Language
- Foreign Languages
- Bilingual Education
- Linguistics
- Elementary School Education
- Middle School Education
- Secondary School Education
How To Evaluate Foreign Language Teacher Education Programs
Some factors to consider when choosing a Foreign Language Teacher Education degree program are discussed below:
- Licensing Requirements - Prospective students need to choose a program that meets the state requirements where they intend to work. Another consideration is whether the program is specific to elementary or secondary education.
- Languages Offered – While languages such as French and Spanish are almost always options, others such as Russian and Chinese may not be available in every program.
- Study Abroad Options – Students often wish to study abroad to fully immerse themselves in a language and culture. Programs differ in how they incorporate study abroad options into their program including how credits are granted and the timing of when a student can study abroad.
Free Online Courses
Anyone considering a degree in Foreign Languages Teacher Education may want to review some of the below free online materials to get an idea of what this type of program will be like:
- Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 Workshop
- Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices
- MIT' s Foreign Language and Literature department offers numerous foreign languages courses for free.
Resources
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese
American Association of Teachers of French
Chinese Language Teacher's Association
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