Oakland University K-12 Modern Language Teacher Education Program
Offered by the Department of Teacher Development and Educational Studies
A field-based firth-year curriculum
State certification to teach in grades K-12
A year-long, developmental experience supports learning to teach from within the culture of the school district
Promotes collaboration and understanding of diversity in urban and suburban schools
K-12 Modern Language Teacher Education Program
In a competitive marketplace, the best jobs go to those who are well prepared. The Oakland University K-12 Modern Language Teacher Education Program is designed to prepare you to take your place as a teacher-leader in today's schools. This program educates a comparatively small number of high quality reflective practitioners who will have the knowledge, skill and capabilities needed to help children and adolescents achieve the highest levels of intellectual, social and moral development appropriate to life's rapidly changing, multi-cultural world.
Participants will be well prepared as teacher-leaders through:
- Completion of strong degree major in the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Immersion in a one-year, field-based internship in an area school district.
- Participation in in-service workshops and seminars.
- Association with peers across disciplines who have strong academic backgrounds and a similar desire to excel at teaching.
- Interdisciplinary team placement for the internship.
- Professional Studies
The K-12 Modern Language Program was developed through the collaboration of the School of Education and Human Services and the College of Arts and Sciences. Teaching majors may be earned in Spanish, French, German, or Japanese. Teaching minors are available in these subjects plus dance, political science, sociology, economics, biology, chemistry, physics, history, English, and mathematics.
To be Michigan certified students must earn (or have earned) a baccalaureate degree with at least one teaching major and one minor, and have passed the MTTC tests for both. Additionally, as of July 1, 2004, the state now requires, through House Bill No. 4038, that candidates for initial teaching certification must present evidence of satisfactory completion of a course in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including a test demonstration on a mannequin, and successful completion of instruction in foreign body airway obstruction management, holding valid certification in these topics issued by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
Field-Based Teacher Education
This program uses a field-based model in which the issues and topics that make up the university curriculum are immediately put into practice in public school, public school academy, or selected private school classrooms. Conversely, students' real-life experiences in actual classrooms become the basis for further discussion and study.
Students in the program have a field placement in a public school, public school academy, or selected private school during the semesters they are enrolled in Introduction to Secondary Education (50 hours), and (30hours) each semester they are enrolled in professional education coursework. This time is in addition to regular class hours, and must be planned for.
Commitment to Diversity
Oakland University is committed to preparing teachers who are capable and willing to meet the needs of students with diverse cultural, ethnic and national origins. To this end, students are required to have field placements in both urban and suburban setting, in their major and minor areas, and at high school, middle school, and elementary school levels. Coursework within the program is designed to foster a positive attitude toward multicultural education, an appreciation of the importance of gender equity and an awareness of global issues in the schools.
Professional Course Requirements: The program requires 42 credit hours of professional education course work.
Pre-Internship Courses (credits)
- Introduction to Secondary Education (4)-plus 50 hours of field experience in major area
- Teaching Reading in Content Areas (4) -plus field hours
- Educational Psychology for K-12 Educators (4)-plus 30 hours of field experience in the minor area
- Managing the Classroom Community for Diverse Learning (4)-plus 30 hours of field experience at the elementary level
- Methods (Minor) of Teaching Secondary Students (4)-plus 30 hours of field experience in the minor area
- Introduction to Students with Special Needs (4)-plus field hours
Fifth-Year Internship (credits)
- Modern Language Teaching Methods K-5 and 6-8 (3) -Internship functions as the field hours
- Modern Language Teaching Methods 7-12 (3) -Internship functions as the field hours
- Internship Fieldwork (12)
School and Field Services
All field placements and student teaching assignments are arranged by the Office of School and Field Services. Informational meetings for students at various stages of the program are held each semester, with the dates of these meetings published on this website. The Director of Field Services is available to resolve any problems involving placements in the public schools.
Information
New courses offered at the graduate level will meet the needs of foreign language teachers wishing to extend their levels of certification, teachers wishing to change fields, and teachers working on an advanced degree with a focus area in modern language.
For additional information contact:
- Teacher Development and Educational Studies: Department Office 248-370-2613
- Department of Modern Language: Fran Meuser, Associate Professor 248-370-2068
- School and Field Services: