Students who want to declare a French, German, or Spanish education major should fill out an application which can be found on iCampus or in Stevenson Hall 114. Applicants will be notified by email when they are accepted to the major.

What are the GPA requirements for French, German, and Spanish education?

All LAN education majors must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a major GPA of 3.0. The major GPA includes all language courses in the plan of study. These same GPA requirements are also necessary to be admitted to the program.

I took the OPI for Spanish last week and received an Intermediate-High rating. How do I improve to qualify for student teaching?

There is a strict OPI requirement of Advanced-Low for student teaching.

To prepare, you might want to watch a lot of Spanish television and/or movies, listen to Spanish podcasts and find friends and coworkers to speak with. You may want to look for an immersion experience for the summer or for a job that would place you with Spanish speakers.

I am a Spanish / French / German Teacher Education minor. Do I need to take the OPI exam?

Yes, you do. The requirement of Intermediate-High on the OPI is a course requirement for LAN 319.11, not a major requirement, so you must take the OPI and score an Intermediate-High or better.

Which certification tests do I need to take and when do I take them?

Please visit Certification Tests for more information.

How do I get admitted to Professional Studies?

Please visit Admission to Professional Studies for more information.

Which teacher education technology orientations (TED) are required for Admission to Professional Studies, and how do I sign up for them?

Students must complete two technology orientations: a PBA orientation that explains the performance-based assessment system, and a LiveText orientation that explains the electronic portfolio system used by ISU. Please visit Admission to Professional Studies for more information.

How do I get departmental approval for Admission to Student Teaching (gateway two)?

Departmental approval is based on three factors: Advanced-Low score on the OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview), your GPA, and passing the state certification Content Test. In order to get departmental approval for admission to student teaching, you need to have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 and a major GPA of at least 3.0 (the major GPA is based on the LAN courses in your plan of study). Contact Nancy Ferrill if you have questions concerning departmental approval for Admission to Student Teaching. You can also visit Admission to Professional Studies for more information.

If I already have a bachelor's degree in French, German, Or Spanish. how can I get certified to teach?

There are two programs for certification: a second bachelor's degree and a certification-only program. In each program, students must complete all of the required courses for the French, German, or Spanish Education major at ISU, the three state certification tests, all of the gateway requirements, and a full semester of student teaching.

To earn a second bachelor's degree in LAN education, students must also complete at least 32 hours at ISU. To earn certification only, there is no minimum number of hours that must be completed. ISU does not have a teaching certification program in LAN at the graduate level. However there is the possibility of working towards your masters and certification simultaneously. This will usually take about a year longer than the regular masters.

How do I know if I need a Second Bachelor's degree or just Certification Only?

If you already have a Bachelor's in the language (and have met all of our requirements in the language (see major requirements under the teacher education section of French, German, or Spanish) then you will only need certification only. If you do not already have a bachelor's degree in the language then you will go for a second bachelor's degree.

When am I eligible to take the LAN methods courses (LAN 319.11 and 320.11)?

The LAN methods courses (LAN 319.11 and 320.11) are restricted to students who have been admitted to professional studies and who have scored Intermediate-High or better on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). You must have completed C&I 216 or be registered for it. You take LAN 319.11 (a fall-only course) one semester before student teaching. You take LAN 320.11 (and 321.11, if needed, both spring-only classes) for the first 6 weeks of the spring semester, which is usually the semester in which you will student teach (for 12 weeks after LAN 320.11 and 321.11). It is also possible to complete additional courses during the spring semester and then student teach the following fall semester.

When and how do I apply for student teaching?

Please visit Student Teaching for more information.

Who do I contact with more questions?

For more information, please contact Nancy Ferrill or Dr. Susan Hildebrandt.