World Languages Education--Teacher Licensure and Certification

General Requirements for Foreign Language Certification

The teaching major or minor in a language has six requirements to be met:

1. competency in using the language
2. understanding of the culture
3. understanding of basic linguistics and second language acquisition
4. methodology (instruction and assessment)
5. an immersion experience (often satisfied through study abroad; alternatives can be approved)
6. a measure of the candidate's oral proficiency

Certification for Teaching Foreign Languages in Elementary School (FLES)

1. The FLES teacher needs to be certified in the specific language and at the grade level(s) being taught. Licenses are offered based on the recommendation for certification from an approved program at a college or university. Most institutions offer foreign language certification for grades 6-12. Licenses are also available, depending on the institution, for grades 1-6,* 1-9,* 9-12, or PreK-12. The license says:
   • Elementary (1-6), Language (e.g., French, Japanese, Spanish)
   • Elementary/Middle (1-9), Language
   • Middle/Secondary (6-12), Language
   • Secondary (9-12), Language
   • PreK - Grade 12, Language
2. The FLES certification requirements depend on what it is in conjunction with, either an elementary or a secondary certification.
   • Basically, the routes for FLES certification are
     • complete an elementary education major (1-6 or 1-8) with a teaching minor in the language (1-6 or 1-9)*
   • complete a middle/secondary certification (6-12) in a language through either a teaching major or a teaching minor and add three components for a 1-6 add-on in that language:
     • elementary foreign language methods course,
     • a course in child development/psychology appropriate for elementary teachers, and
     • practicum (which does not need to be a full semester of student teaching if the candidate has already done so in another language or for other grade levels).

   * May currently teach foreign language at the kindergarten level with the kindergarten teacher present. In the future, the foreign language license may be extended to PreK-6, PreK-9.

For more information, contact:  

Pam Delfosse or phone: (608) 266-3079
FAX: (608) 266-1965

Last updated on 10/27/2008 7:54:21 AM