Spanish Teaching
Available as a major or minor
Students gain mastery of the language, understanding of various cultures and histories, and pedagogical knowledge as a Spanish teaching major.
They not only learn to speak, write, read, and understand the spoken and written language, they must also learn the special techniques required to teach Spanish as a foreign language.
As an interdisciplinary major, students will take courses from the School of Education and College of Arts and Sciences. Graduates will be prepared to teach Spanish grades 1-12.
Our Christian mission is also integrated into the program, making it unique in that we prioritize teaching our majors to embody the love of God in their teaching –– treating learners fairly, believing in their ability learn, and teaching them respect for people and God’s creation.
The department works in cooperation with the School of Education to meet the requirements for certification for the State of Illinois. In addition to field experiences within the classroom, students will complete a professional semester while student teaching.
To further enrich their learning, students are required to study abroad. While abroad, students will study language while experiencing the history and culture of the country. Students will have the opportunity to live with native speakers, fully immersing themselves in the language. They can also participate in mission and service projects while abroad.
Students must take a language proficiency exam recognized by the American Council on the Teachers of Foreign Languages via the telephone. This is a national exam that certifies student proficiency for teaching.
Spanish Teaching is part of the Department of English and Modern Languages within the College of Arts and Sciences.