Global Cultures & Languages
Teacher certification
Welcome to World Language Education at UWL!
Photo of a UWL World Language Education Student During Classroom Field Experience
We are excited to offer students many opportunities to learn and teach French or Spanish.
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Requirements for Wisconsin Teacher Education Certification
To certify to teach a world language in Wisconsin, the Department of Public Instruction requires the following:
- Complete an extended immersion experience prior to Spring of your junior year.
- Pass the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test with a minimum level of proficiency at Intermediate-High. These tests should be completed upon return from study abroad. Please read this document for instructions on registering and completing these exams.
- Complete the edTPA exam to certify as a world language educator.
- Complete the following list of core courses and field experiences:
| World Language Education Majors |
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K-12 Spanish/French K-12 Spanish/French & TESOL Dual Certification |
Elementary Middle Education (EME) & Spanish/French Dual Certification |
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(3) GCL 400 (Teaching WL 1: Methods & Approaches) Offered Spring |
(3) GCL 400 (Teaching WL 1: Methods & Approaches) Offered Spring |
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(3) GCL 420 (Teaching WL 2: Design & Application Offered Fall |
(3) GCL 310 (Theories & Research in SLA) Offered Fall |
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(3) GCL 310 (Theories & Research in SLA Offered Fall |
*EME/WLE have other requirements and complete other methods courses and field experiences in SoE. |
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(3) TSL 345 (Intercultural Interactions Offered Spring |
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(3) GCL 300 (Field 1, housed in GCL) Offered Spring (with Methods I) |
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(3) GCL 320 (Field 2, housed in GCL) Offered Fall (with Methods II) |
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(12) EDS 492 Student Teaching |
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Study Abroad Requirements
All certifying majors and minors must successfully complete an extended study abroad program(s) that is pre-approved by the Department of Global Cultures & Languages. UWL offers a variety of options for study abroad, and students can find information on existing programs on the International Education & Engagement webpage.
Field & Student Teaching Experiences
Teacher education students are required to have experience teaching at the elementary, middle, and/or high school levels.
K-12 WLE Major (French or Spanish) or WLE/TESOL Dual Certification
Teacher candidates certifying in either K-12 French or Spanish or WLE/TESOL Dual Certification will be able to teach the target language in grades K-12. Therefore, students will have a range of field and student teaching experiences at all levels including elementary, middle school, and high school. Teacher candidates should plan to enroll in their field and student teaching experiences during the following semesters:
- Field Experience I (GCL 300) - Spring of junior year
- Field Experience II (GCL 320) - Fall of senior year
- Student Teaching (EDS 492) - Spring of senior year
EME/WLE Dual Certification
Teacher candidates certifying in Elementary-Middle Education and World Language Education Dual Certification will be able to teach the target language in grades K-9. Therefore, students will have a range of field and student teaching experiences at elementary and middle-school levels.