Programs Preparing Foreign Language Teachers

At Warner, we prepare foreign language teachers who find innovative ways to make language meaningful, authentic, and relevant to their students. They have real enthusiasm for and knowledge of the language and cultures they are teaching, and they know how to translate that passion to their students. They also help students discover that learning a foreign language is more than memorizing the words.

Our graduates become teachers who are committed to helping their students understand the larger world and learn about cultures through the lens of another language. They also help students understand global issues related to languages and cultures. These powerful experiences give students the knowledge and skills they need to understand the larger world.

Our program aims to prepare teachers who understand that learning a foreign language includes communicative competence, cultural expertise, and mastery of the structural complexities of a language. Throughout the program, our graduate students deepen their understanding of linguistics, foreign languages, and language acquisition while learning innovative and effective ways to teach. They become classroom teachers who create curriculum and instruction around authentic materials, contexts, and purposes that engage students in language and cultures while also learning about the world. And, they also bridge planning and teaching strategies with theory and research that supports them, and they are familiar with best practices for teaching a foreign language.

Social justice is lived out in foreign language classrooms as Warner faculty and graduates are committed to giving all students access to high-quality foreign language education. They understand how to develop appropriate curriculum and instructional strategies for meeting the diverse needs of students from every background. And, they seek out and develop habits of reflective practitioners and collaborate with other professionals to improve learning opportunities for all students.

 

A more flexible 30-credit master’s program not leading to NYS certification, for people interested in teaching English to speakers of other languages in contexts other than NYS public K-12 schools – such as independent, private or charter schools, community colleges, professional schools, schools, colleges and universities outside the United States, or a variety of informal settings (such as after-school programs, enrichment programs, summer camps, etc.).

Check program-specific requirements for our master's program in TESOL.

Warner offers EdD and PhD programs that can be customized to include a focus on foreign language education, by:

• Choosing foreign language education courses for program core choices and electives.
• Constructing independent studies and projects in research methods courses related to foreign language education.
• Conducting a dissertation project in the field of foreign language education, sponsored by a faculty member with expertise in foreign language education research and practice.

Learn more about our doctoral programs in teaching.

While Warner offers teacher preparation programs only at the graduate level, interested undergraduate students can achieve early admission to Warner and start taking some courses to get a significant jump start. Contact admissions for more information.

If you are a high school student looking for colleges that will allow you to become a NYS certified teacher in five years, while also completing a rigorous liberal arts undergraduate major, you should consider our GRADE program.  Offered by Warner in partnership with the University of Rochester's College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering, this program allows undergraduate applicants to be directly admitted to graduate studies at the Warner School. This provides them the opportunity to anticipate some of their graduate coursework and engage in experiences that can help them decide if teaching is indeed for them. For more information, visit the GRADE Program page on the UR Undergraduate Admissions website.