Illinois State University offers a nationally recognized K-12 teacher education program in French, German, and Spanish. Although the certification program is an undergraduate program, it is possible to complete the requirements for teacher certification while working on a M.A. in French, German, or Spanish. Those who already have a B.A. degree may wish to return to the University to complete a second Bachelor’s degree to obtain certification or they may take classes for teacher certification only, depending on the courses still needed to complete the certification requirements.

French, German and Spanish Teacher Education Program Earns National Recognition

In the fall of 2011, the French, German, and Spanish teacher education programs earned national recognition from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). All teacher education programs at Illinois State University seek accreditation from NCATE, which involves a “voluntary peer review process that involves a comprehensive evaluation” of programs that preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel. The review is based on the performance-based NCATE/ACTFL Program Standards, a set of research-based national standards developed by the world language teaching profession, and teacher candidate assessment tools in line with those standards. This assessment process included a review of seven key assessments, which include assessments from world language specific pedagogy courses, the Oral Proficiency Interview, the State of Illinois Content Test, and a student teaching assessment, among other tools.

Helpful Links

LAN Teacher Education Guide. Updated August 2011. Contains all information for LAN Teacher teacher candidates. Please consult this document as a first step when you have questions.

February 10, 2012 - Teacher Education informational meeting audio file - Listen to this BEFORE your interview for admission to Professional Studies if you weren't able to make it to the meeting in person.

OPI exam preparation presentation audio file (wma). Requires an ULID and password

Language proficiency self-assessments: Using the LinguaFolio checklists, go through each mode (focusing on the Interpersonal and Presentational) from Novice Low to the highest level you can reach. If you can check off most of the can-do statemetns within the proficiency level, then you are performing at that level of proficiency and can progress to the next level. Continue until you reach a level where you cannot yet check the majority of the items. Advanced Low or higher should be your proficiency goal.

ISU Teacher Education Requirements, including gateway information, requirements documents, advisement information, certification information, and more

Teacher Education Major Requirements

To see the requirements for the teacher education major, visit the following sections of the language pages:

Contact Information

After you have read and understood the LAN Teacher education guide, please contact:

Laura Edwards
LAN Academic Advisor
Office: STV 231B
Phone: (309) 438-3279
Email: foradvisor@ilstu.edu

Approximately a year and a half to two years before student teaching, contact:

Nancy Ferrill, M.A.
University Supervisor of Student Teaching
Office: STV 203K
Phone: (309) 438-7960
Email: nferril@ilstu.edu

Coordinator of teacher education:

Susan Hildebrandt, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics and Spanish
Office: STV 209
Phone: (309) 438-7874
Email: shildeb@ilstu.edu