Foreign Language teacher candidates will develop a comprehensive approach to designing curriculum, instruction and assessment for foreign language programs K-12. Teacher candidates will build a conceptual framework for second language teaching based on theoretical insights and research/inquiry from a broad range of empirical and qualitative studies. Teacher candidates will develop a contextualized, integrative approach to language teaching that is based on meaningful language use, real-world communication, interaction among language learners, and learning new information. Teacher candidates will use best practices to design curriculum organized around the Standards for Foreign Language Learning (National Standards in Foreign Language Education Project, 1996) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Program Standards for the Preparation of Foreign Language Teachers (ACTFL, 2002) by linking theory and practice via teaching applications. What should students know and be able to do with another language serves as the guiding question for making curricular, instructional, and assessment decisions about classroom foreign language learning.

Teacher candidates will demonstrate teaching and learning principles that lead to a learner-centered, interactive classroom. Effective use of small group, pair work, and cooperative learning techniques will be emphasized as well as optimal integration of instructional technology/digital media.