Language Studies Teaching (BA)

The University offers a bachelor of arts (BA) in language studies teaching.

This program is designed for students who wish to obtain licensure to teach in middle school, junior high, and high school. Courses leading to teaching licensure are offered in French, German, Latin, Spanish, and teaching English as a second language. The program is unique within colleges in the Midwest in its flexibility that enables students to tailor an academic program to their individual goals.

Coursework includes a core of languages, literatures, and linguistics courses plus one (or more) of the following concentrations:

• Spanish Teaching
• World Languages (French, German, Latin)
• Teaching English as a Second Language

In addition, students complete a sequence of professional courses offered by the Bayh College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences to prepare for teaching. Students gain teaching skills through classroom and field experiences and through their required student teaching experience.

• The department sponsors a variety of activities such as conversation tables, international films, lectures, and field trips to museums, art exhibits, musical performances, restaurants, and cultural sites in Indiana and Illinois, including Indianapolis and Chicago.
• Other opportunities include Phi Sigma Iota (the national foreign language honor society) and Eta Sigma Phi (the national classics honorary society). Students also may earn the 12-credit TESL/TEFL Certificate (opening opportunities for teaching abroad) or may volunteer as language instructors at local elementary schools, where they work with teachers and students in a specific language. They may also have opportunities for internships with practical experience.
• Students access the Center for Language Education and Research for a variety of educational and research activities, including cultural programming.
• Language proficiency is expanded through the University's extensive array of study abroad opportunities, which range from summer programs to a single semester or a full academic year in over 56 countries. Many cost only the equivalent of tuition, room, and board at ISU, making study abroad an affordable experience. In addition, financial aid and scholarships can be used for ISU programs and additional scholarships are available through the office of Academic Programs Abroad. With the exception of double-majors or students with extenuating circumstances, all Language Studies majors are required to study abroad; language studies teaching majors are required to participate in study abroad. Study abroad must be in an approved program, at least 6 weeks in duration and for a minimum of 6 credit hours.

Special Note:

Students should be aware that in the case of less commonly taught languages some courses may not be routinely available on campus. Credit can be earned via appropriate study abroad or transfer work.

Students who enter with a strong language background are eligible to receive credit by examination through various sources such as the University's placement test or CLEP tests for beginning and intermediate level credit, and the ACTFL test for advanced level credit.