Foreign Language, M.A.T. (P-12 Certification)
Each M.A.T. degree in a foreign language area prepares graduates for teaching with professional licensure at the K-12 levels in a specific language. M.A.T. degrees are available in the foreign language areas of French, German, and Spanish.
Learning Outcomes
- Candidates (a) communicate at a high level of proficiency in the target language, and they select opportunities to strengthen their proficiency; (b) identify the linguistic elements of the target language system, recognize the changing nature of language, and modify for gaps in their own knowledge of the target language system by learning on their own; and (c) examine the similarities and differences between the target language and other languages, identify the key differences in varieties of the target language, and select opportunities to learn about varieties of the target language on their own.
- Candidates (a) demonstrate that they understand the connections among the perspectives of a culture and its practices and products, and they integrate the cultural framework for foreign language standards into their instructional practices; (b) appraise the value and role of literary and cultural texts and apply them to interpret and reflect upon the perspectives of the target cultures over time; and (c) integrate knowledge of other disciplines into foreign language instruction and identify distinctive viewpoints accessible only through the target language.
- Candidates will be able to (a) demonstrate an understanding of language acquisition at various developmental levels and use this knowledge to create a supportive classroom learning environment that includes target language input and opportunities for negotiation of meaning and meaningful interaction and (b) develop a variety of instructional practices that reflect language outcomes and articulated program models and address the needs of diverse language learners.
- Candidates will be able to (a) demonstrate an understanding of the goal areas and guidelines of the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standard for World Language Proficiency and they integrate these frameworks into curricular planning; (b) integrate the Standards for Foreign Language Learning and their state standards into language instruction; and (c) use standards and curricular goals to evaluate, select, design, and adapt instructional resources.
- Candidates will be able to (a) explain how assessment is ongoing, and demonstrate knowledge of multiple ways of assessment that are age- and level-appropriate by implementing purposeful measures; (b) interpret the results of student assessments, adjust instruction accordingly, analyze the results of assessments, and use success and failure to determine the direction of instruction; and (c) interpret and report the results of student performances to all stakeholders and provide opportunity for discussion.
- Candidates will be able to (a) take part in professional development opportunities that strengthen their own linguistic and cultural competence and promote reflection on practice and (b) illustrate the value of foreign language learning to the overall success of all students and identify with the need to become advocates of the field with students, colleagues, and members of the community.
Degree Requirements (45 Hours)
All candidates must complete 21 hours of graduate course work focusing specifically on their respective language and specific language-teaching area, and 24 hours of graduate course work in professional education more generally, as well as fulfill all other requirements for Class I licensure. Course work in a respective language should cover a range of topics in the areas of linguistics, literature, culture, and the teaching of the respective language, and should be taken in consultation with the student’s academic advisor in order to prepare for the MAT comprehensive exam. A breakdown of required courses across the Spanish, French, and German programs are as follows:
Specific Language and Language Teaching Requirements (21 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FREN/GERM/SPAN 500+ — Three courses approved by academic advisor | 9 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| French Linguistics | ||
| Introduction to German Linguistics | ||
| Introduction to Spanish Linguistics | ||
| FREN/GERM/SPAN 700+ — Course approved by academic advisor | 3 | |
| FORL 510 | Teaching Second Languages to Young Children (with focus on student’s respective language) | 3 |
| FORL 776 | The Teaching of Foreign Languages in College (with focus on student’s respective language) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
Professional Licensure Course Requirements (24 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following courses focusing on teaching literacy, reading, and/or writing: | 3 | |
| Content Area Literacy PK-12 | ||
| Teaching Reading in the Content Area to Adolescents with Reading Disabilities | ||
| Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas | ||
| Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas | ||
| EDPY 705 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| or EDPY 707 | Growth and Development: Middle Childhood and Adolescence | |
| FORL 511 | Teaching Foreign Languages in Secondary Schools | 3 |
| FORL 772 | Technology in Foreign Language Education | 3 |
| FORL 774A | Teaching Internship (Foreign Languages) | 3 |
| FORL 774B | Teaching Internship (Foreign Languages) | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |