Secondary Education - Message from the World Language Program Director

Dear Prospective Student,

In the context of globalization and in the post-9/11 environment, the usefulness of studying languages other than English is no longer contested. In May 2005, Senator Daniel Akaka stated:

"Americans need to be open to the world; we need to be able to see the world through the eyes of others if we are going to understand how to resolve the complex problems we face."

One question this statement raises is, Who is going to prepare U.S. students to attain this goal? Who will prepare them to see and understand the world through the eyes of others? Given the significance of language in communicating one's beliefs and world view, foreign language teachers play a critical role in developing the language skills and cross-cultural understandings today's students need to prepare for the global community in which we all live.

Fairfield University's Secondary Education World Language Program is nationally accredited by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Initial K-12 certification at the graduate level is offered in French, German, Italian, and Spanish and in Latin grades 6-12. As part of your planned program, you'll complete fieldwork experiences in local secondary foreign languages classrooms, coming face-to-face with the daily challenges and exciting possibilities of teaching world languages in urban and suburban settings. You'll also have rich opportunities to increase your knowledge of world languages and cultures through study abroad programs. In addition, the licensure program culminates in a semester-long student teaching experience, where you'll develop and deepen your abilities to facilitate world languages learning in 7-12 classrooms.

Students interested in teaching foreign languages at the elementary level can complete requirements for a cross-endorsement in elementary foreign language teaching by taking additional coursework and completing fieldwork in local schools.

As you explore our website further, please contact me by e-mail or phone, (203) 254-4000 ext. 2873, if you have any questions or would like to schedule a time to meet with me.

Anne E. Campbell, Ph.D., Director
TESOL, World Languages, and Bilingual Education