World Languages Education Program
Welcome
Prepare for a rewarding career as a teacher with our World Languages Education program. From creating lesson plans to managing the classroom, the World Languages Education program offers students a rigorous course of instruction in teaching specific world language areas in grades K-12, an area of critical need. Our program will provide you with a rigorous and thorough foundation in the fundamentals of teaching and pairs intensive coursework with student teaching opportunities to prepare the next generation of world languages teachers.
Completing the program satisfies the requirements for earning a Delaware Teaching Certificate and License and you will be guided and supported throughout the certification process.
Program Overview
The preparation of world language teachers involves the development of both second language and pedagogical knowledge and skills, a balance of theoretical training and clinical experience, and the nurturing of a reflective process that allows candidates to appreciate and understand the complex relationship between student and teacher. Training comprises a well-rounded second language major program, including opportunity for study abroad, and thorough pedagogical preparation, including multiple clinical experiences.
Courses in second language teaching methodology, second language materials development and testing, classroom management, and developmental psychology are designed to prepare you to meet the challenges of establishing constructive relationships with your students. During your training, you are nurtured as a student by your instructors, but you are also treated like the professional you are becoming. University instructors, as well as the secondary teachers who work with you during clinical experiences, model professional behavior and attitudes, including expertise in the content area, problem-solving skills, and the ability to form partnerships that will respond effectively and equitably to the needs of all learners.
The World Languages Education program in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Delaware is set within the framework of a Departmental philosophy of teacher preparation and an overall University conceptual framework: UD Conceptual Framework and Outcomes.
WORLD LANGUAGES PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Blythe Milbury-Steen
Each semester, students must meet with the World Languages Education (WLE) Coordinator and Advisor, Blythe Milbury-Steen (bmilbury@udel.edu), to discuss their progress both in their coursework and in their completion of required elements for the Teaching Portfolio in Google Sites. The Teaching Portfolio is designed to enable you to track your progress carefully to meet program goals, receive feedback from WLE faculty at each checkpoint and present yourself professionally.
In the spring of your Junior (or next-to-last) year, you must apply for admission to Student Teaching in the spring of your Senior (or last) year.
- For admission to student teaching, you must have an overall GPA of 2.75, a GPA of 3.0 in your lagnuage courses, and a GPA of 3.0 in your required pedagogy courses.
- All required coursework in the language major, as well as the required LLCU courses and EDUC courses, must be completed prior to student teaching.
- Demonstrate at least an Intermediate-High level of proficiency in the target language by the end of the spring semester of your Junior year. (You may do this by taking the Avant test).
In February of your Junior year, you are to submit the following documentation to your WLE program advisor:
- A completed student teaching application form (see WLE advisor for current online form).
- Share your updated Teaching Portfolio
- A copy of your FEPs clearance proof (you should be able to generate one from either Taskstream or the website of Office of Clinical Studies if you have taken EDUC 413/613).
- A degree audit form (from UDSIS) showing that you have completed all major requirement courses and have a 3.0 minimum average.
- You will need to demonstrate at least an Intermediate High level of proficiency in the target language. Please submit a copy of your test score (you may use the Avant test) by the end of the spring semester of your Junior year.
In order to student teach in the spring of your last year, you must have the following:
- An Avant score documenting at least an Intermediate High level of proficiency in the target language. The deadline for submitting those scores is the end of the Spring semester of your Junior year when you apply for student teaching. (See additional program GPA requirements in previous section).
- A cumulative 3.0 GPA on your past two years of coursework; OR SAT/ACT scores that are above the state's minimum requirements. The Office of Clinical Studies provides more information about UD's minimum requirements for entry into student teaching and passing scores.
- Students who do not have the qualifications listed above to enter into student teaching may apply for a 10% waiver from the World Languages Education Advisory Committee (WLEAC).
Freshman Year: Students begin compiling the Teaching Portfolio if they are enrolled in 2xx level language courses during the Spring Semester.
Sophomore Year: All other students begin compiling the Teaching Portfolio. You will receive an orientation session to the portfolio. It will also be discussed in your pedagogy courses. You should also plan on taking the classes EDUC414 Teaching Exceptional Adolescents and 413 Adolescent Development and Educational Psychology in your sophomore year.
Junior Year: All students must:
- Meet with the WLE advisor prior to spring registration
- Take LLCU 421: Methods of Teaching World Languages during the Spring Semester.
- Apply for student teaching.
- Score at least an Intermediate High on the Avant test, taken in LLCU 421, before the end of the Spring Semester. This is required to enter Student Teaching and will also help you prepare for your certification exams (please note that the Avant exam is not one of your options for your certification exam, but it will be a useful study tool! See below for more information).
Senior Year: All students must:
- Have scored at least Intermediate High on the Avant test the previous semester (required for admission into student teaching).
- Have completed all pedagogy and language courses for the major.
- Complete additional testing for certification (either the Praxis II content knowledge test or ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and Writing Proficiency Test) in either the Fall or the Spring.
- Take LLCU 424, LLCU417 and LLCU422 in Fall semester and LLCU 491 Capstone and EDUC 400 Student Teaching in Spring semester.
Incoming students, transfer students and students changing a major after matriculating will declare a Spanish Studies, French Studies, Italian Studies, German Studies, Latin Studies or Classics Studies with “an interest" in Education.
Students who wish to be admitted into a World Languages Education major (French, German, Italian, Latin, Latin with a concentration in Classics, or Spanish) must show an overall GPA of 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their language upon completion of at least two 300-level courses.
Students should then meet with the World Languages Education Program Coordinator and Advisor for official admission to the major. The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures recognizes the University application deadlines of July 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. However, students are encouraged to apply much earlier.
