The Master of Arts in Education (MAE) degree at Truman State University
is an advanced degree program which provides its students the opportunity
to gain the training necessary to become outstanding teachers at the elementary,
junior or senior high school levels and advanced training in their chosen
foreign language. Please read on for further information about some benefits
to teaching a foreign language and earning your certification at Truman
State University.
Why teach
a foreign language?
Teachers of foreign languages have the opportunity of exposing
their students to a different language and culture, and opening their minds
to many of the wonders in the world outside of the United States. Below
is a list of some of the great rewards of being a foreign language teacher:
-
Foreign language teachers enhance the cultural awareness of their students,
who become more aware of the value of their own culture while learning
to appreciate other cultures.
-
Foreign language teachers help their students learn not only the grammar
of the language studied, but also the grammar of their native language.
-
Foreign language study provides the learner with access to the great art
and literature of that culture.
-
Foreign language skills are highly sought after in many industries as the
world becomes a smaller place through increased travel and improved communication.
Business and industry need people who have advanced communication skills
in a foreign language. As a teacher, you are preparing your students
to enter the workforce with better training.
(The above were taken from Standards for Foreign Language
Learning in the 21st Century, a publication of The National Standards in
Foreign Language Education Project, 1998, pgs. 11-12.)
-
Teaching a foreign langauge requires great creativity and gives you (the
teacher) a lot of flexibility in your classroom. In short, it can
be very fun!
-
Foreign language teachers are in great demand throughout the US.
In some states, FL teachers earn higher salaries because of their ability
to communicate and teach in a second language.
-
As a foreign language teacher, you have the opportunity to participate
in student clubs, travel abroad, and you may be able to work with native
speakers of your language.
Why
is a teaching certificate from Truman State University different?
-
You earn a Master's degree which generally leads to better pay.
-
You become more knowledgeable in the field you teach, making you a better
teacher.
-
You develop a strong literary and cultural base in your language.
-
You are trained through extensive classroom experiences in addition to
traditional coursework.
-
Over the last 5 years, 100% of MAE graduates in foreign languages have
been employed.
Following
are some testimonials of former Truman State Foreign Language MAE students
who are now working as teachers.
"I believe that choosing the MAE program to become a foreign
language teacher was a wise choice on my part. Because of the extensive
coursework in my major field, Spanish, I feel extremely competent and confident
about my ability to both communicate and teach the language. At the
same time, the education courses that I completed as requirements of the
program have given me the necessary preparation to enter the field of public
education as a professional. I realize that some aspiring teachers
are unsure about the idea of pursuing a Master's degree, as they worry
that their demand for a higher salary would make them undesirable to school
districs, and not very competitive on the job market. Nonetheless, in my
experience, school districts are mostly interested in finding well prepared,
competent teachers. This is what the MAE foreign language program
has been producing for years." -Marzia Corni-Benson, Class of ‘99
Further information
If you have any questions or want more information on the Foreign Language
Education program, e-mail Dr.
Tim Farley or Dr. Eric Jewell and
they will answer your questions.
Students entering Truman State as undergraduates in the Fall of 1998
or later should use the Liberal Studies Program (LSP) Advising Guides and
the LSP worksheets together to develop their course plans. You will need
Adobe Acrobat Reader (Download
here) to view them.
BA French; pk-12
LSP Advising Guide
LSP worksheet
BA Spanish; pk-12
LSP Advisng Guide
LSP worksheet
Students who entered Truman State prior to the Fall of 1998 should use
the standard worksheets (See link below) to develop their course plans.
Standard Worksheets pre-1998
If you would like to receive information on the Masters of Arts in Education
at Truman, visit the Graduate
Office home page and fill out the form. Under Graduate Program Interest,
select "Education".
Teaching
Area:
