News and Events
World Languages Student Teacher Seminars
This spring, the World Languages Teacher Education Program has 13 amazing preservice teachers in the field completing their Student Teaching experience
. As shown in the photo, students will come together three times a semester for a Student Teaching Seminar where they can get support, share their experiences, reflect, and discuss important teaching topics.
The World Languages Teacher Education Program Receives Distinguished Service Award
On November 11, 2022, The World Languages Teacher Education Program received the 'Unity Community Center Distinguished Program' Award. As part of their pre-student teaching clinical experiences, our students complete a total of 150 hours of clinical hours. During these hours, candidates have ample opportunities to observe, tutor, and assist small group and whole class instruction in schools and other agencies. These experiences include urban, suburban, and rural settings, and at least 50 hours must be completed in diverse settings. Hannah Jones and Natalie Graetz (in the picture above), and Darby Gladson received a distinguished volunteer certificate for outstanding service also awarded by Unity Community Center. The Unity Community Center is a multicultural center that provides programming for youth from families with limited resources. As an after-school site, Unity offers a positive, structured learning environment for youth 5-18 years old.
World Languages Teacher Education at the Future Teacher Conference
On October 21, 2022, the World Languages Teacher Education program participated in the Future Teacher Conference organized by the College of Education. With 1,300 high school students in attendance, the conference informs and inspires students about the process of becoming a teacher, and what to expect after graduation as they enter the classroom.
In the picture, senior Maria Ramos discusses the Spanish program with two high school students.
Seniors Attend the ICTFL 2022 Fall Conference in Naperville, IL
On October 14, 2022, our World Languages teacher candidates attended the annual ICTFL Fall Conference in Naperville, IL. Successful teacher candidates engage in ongoing professional development opportunities that strengthen their own linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical competence and promote reflection on practice. During the day, ISU students attended sessions related to culturally responsive teaching; diversity, equity and inclusion; Facilitated Interdependent Language Learning (FILL); and novice teacher support groups among others. The keynote speaker was Dr. Florencia Henshaw from the University of Illinois, who discussed general aspects of Second Language Acquisition in the light of her newest publication Common Ground. Second Language Acquisition Theory Goes to the Classroom (Focus, 2022).