Graduate Degree - Foreign Language Teaching - Master of Arts
| Program | Foreign Language Teaching - Master of Arts |
| Program Code | 5724 Foreign Language Teaching |
| Program Level | Graduate |
| Award Type | Master of Arts |
| Start Term | SS12 |
| College | College of Arts and Letters Relevant Excerpt(s) from Academic Programs:
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Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.
Requirements as represented in Degree Navigator are not available for this program.
Graduate Study
Foreign Language Teaching - Master of Arts
The Master of Arts degree in Foreign Language Teaching provides the aspiring foreign language teacher with the fundamental background and practical experience to teach a specific target language, while also offering current foreign language teachers opportunities to continue and enhance their education. With its focus on solid foundations in second language acquisition (SLA) and the intersection of SLA with the practice of foreign language teaching, this program prepares students to design lesson plans, courses, and curricula that support teaching for high levels of language proficiency. Students will be prepared to integrate technology effectively into the teaching of language and culture and work with faculty mentors to create a praxis-oriented experiential module that is designed to enhance the student’s plan of study and contribute substantially to preparation for career placement.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree in Foreign Language Teaching, an applicant must:
- have the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test forwarded to the College if the applicant is a native speaker of English.
- include in the letter required by the college a 750 to 1000 word statement that addresses the applicants academic background and goals in pursuing the degree.
- submit three letters of recommendation, completed by instructors or supervisors familiar with the applicants work. Letters of recommendation must be submitted on official stationary with an original signature.
- take one of the tests of English language proficiency described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog if the applicants native language is not English.
To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have:
- a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a recognized educational institution.
- proof of proficiency in the target language (specific language for the teaching of which the applicant wishes to use the degree) at a minimum of American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Intermediate High or its equivalent on other nationally or internationally recognized tests of language proficiency.
- successfully completed the Master of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching online technology skills test.
In addition, students who are non-native speakers of English are required to have fulfilled the university’s English language proficiency requirement as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog by achieving a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 100 (Internet-based), 250 (computer version), or 600 (paper version).
Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Foreign Language Teaching
The Master of Arts degree in Foreign Language Teaching is available only online and only under Plan B (non-thesis). A total of 30 credits is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the program director. The student must meet the requirements specified below:
| 1. | All of the following courses: | ||||||
| AL | 845 | Language Concepts for Foreign Language Teaching | 3 | ||||
| AL | 815 | Teaching Culture in Foreign Language Courses | 3 | ||||
| AL | 817 | Foreign Language Program Development and Administration | 3 | ||||
| AL | 881 | Special Topics in Teaching with Technology in Arts and Humanities | 3 | ||||
| LLT | 808 | Assessment for Language Teaching and Research | 3 | ||||
| LLT | 841 | Topics in Second/Foreign LanguageLearning and Teaching | 3 | ||||
| LLT | 860 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 | ||||
| 2. | Complete 6 additional credits which may consist of one Experiential Module for 6 credits or two Experiential Modules of 3 credits each. This requirement must be planned in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. Students may choose from a list of experiential modules or design other experiential modules in consultation with the advisor. Selections will be based on individual background and professional goals of the student. | ||||||
| 3. | Complete the following course: | ||||||
| AL | 898 | Master's Research | 3 | ||||
| 4. | Successfully complete a final examination or evaluation which is fulfilled by completion of a portfolio developed during the course of study and must be submitted to the student’s guidance committee after completion of the core courses and experiential module(s). The purpose of the portfolio as a certifying examination is (1) to demonstrate an understanding of second language acquisition theories and their application to student leaning and to the practice of teaching the target language, (2) to demonstrate an understanding of theories of culture and their application to the practice of teaching the target culture in the target language classroom, and (3) to enable the student to articulate the integration of learning from the experiential modules into the program of study and career objectives. The portfolio must include the following: | ||||||
| (a) | documentation of expertise in an area of target foreign language pedagogy and documentation of expertise in an area of target culture pedagogy through video recordings of classroom teaching or classroom artifacts that demonstrate competence as a teacher of the garget foreign language and culture. Documentation must include evidence of integration of technology, as well as application of appropriate learning assessment tools. This documentation must be accompanied by a reflective essay that provides evidence of how the student’s studies have affected teaching practice and understanding of this practice. | ||||||
| (b) | a second reflective essay that addresses the student’s experiential module as an expansion of the student’s course selections and the integration of that module into the student’s career plans. | ||||||
Academic Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5. A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses taken for the purpose of satisfying the degree requirements.
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