Students must take PPST Reading, Writing, and Math, the Praxis I Exams currently required for Formal Admission to Teacher Education, listed as zero credit EDF 030.

Additional requirements for formal admission and certification include two math courses and two English courses, one in composition and one in literature, for a total of 12 credits. You may test out of these if you are already a college graduate. You must take both Praxis II tests and the ACTFL OPI and WPT tests, the Praxis before student teaching and the others during that semester.

World Languages PRAXIS/Certification Testing Requirements

A. The exams listed in GROUP A must be taken and scores provided in order to apply for FORMAL ADMISSION into Teacher Education at WCU. [Note: candidates will not be permitted to enroll in EDS 306/505, LAN 401/503 or EDS 411/412 until they have taken and passed the PRAXIS I series.]

GROUP A: PRAXIS I

þ PPST Reading [Test #10710] or Computerized PPST Reading [Test #5710]

þ PPST Writing [Test #20720] or Computerized PPST Writing [Test #5720]

þ PPST Mathematics [Test # 10730] or Computerized PPST Mathematics [Test #5730]

B. The exams listed in GROUP B must be taken in order for candidates to be able to enter EDS 411/412 (Student Teaching) at WCU. [Note: Candidates will not be permitted to student teach if they have failed to take the PRAXIS II series.]

GROUP B: PRAXIS II

þ K-12 PA Certification – Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge [Test #0511]

And, the appropriate language content exam(s), which correspond(s) to the candidate’s certification program(s): [þ check one or more]

¨ FRENCH: Content Knowledge (includes listening) [Test #20173]

¨ GERMAN: Content Knowledge (includes listening) [Test #20181]

¨ LATIN [Test #0600]

¨ SPANISH: Content Knowledge (includes listening) [Test #10191]

C. The ACTFL OPI and WPT should be taken during the final semesters of language study or shortly after returning from a study abroad experience.

GROUP C: Oral and Writing Proficiency Testing through ACTFL/LTI

French, German and Spanish candidates are also required to demonstrate ADVANCED LOW Proficiency on the following proficiency measures:

þ ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and

þ Writing Proficiency Test (WPT).

Advanced low proficiency must be demonstrated via OPI and WPT by the end of the student teaching internship.

Consult individual program descriptions for further information and advising contacts.

West Chester University Dept of Foreign Languages Frequently Asked Questions regarding Certification

Q. If I graduated college elsewhere but didn't finish certification in my language, do I transfer credits to West Chester?

A. No, you will enroll in the specific courses you need to complete certification. You are not working for another college degree, just to meet the requirements for PA State K-12 Certification in Foreign Languages and in your language certification.

Q. Can I start graduate level courses at the same time?

A. You can't do graduate work in the foreign language until you have completed the undergraduate major, which is also the requirement for certification in a particular language. If the College of Education determines that you are qualified to do graduate level coursework, you may do the required courses (listed above) taught in English at the graduate level.

Q. Will graduate work cost me more?

A. If you enroll in even one graduate course, then you must pay graduate tuition for all your courses. The good news is that at the graduate level you only pay for the first three courses (about $2900 total a semester plus fees), and the next two are free. So if you go full-time, there is virtually no difference from undergraduate tuition, which is cheaper course by course, but you pay for the first four courses. If you are out of state, graduate and undergraduate tuition are almost the same.

Q. What tests do I have to take to get certified?

A. A series of tests call the Praxis I exams are administered regularly. They are required for formal admission to the certification program and the higher level education courses, so you want to take them early. The final tests for certification must be taken before and during student teaching. They include both the Praxis II and the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and Written Proficiency Test.

Q. I didn't finish my college degree and I want to do so now and get certified. How do I go about this?

A. You apply for undergraduate admission to West Chester as a transfer student. Have your official transcripts sent to admissions or directly to the registrar for transfer credit analysis. We will give you credit for all the requirements for the B.A. that you have already completed, and you will do the rest at West Chester. You must do half of your foreign language coursework and a certain percentage of your general education coursework at WCU to receive certification from us. Your certification will be part of a B.A. in a foreign language, which may include study in a second foreign language, a big asset for your future career.

Q. I have a university degree with a major and certification in a foreign language and some additional coursework in a second foreign language. How do I get additional certification in that second foreign language?

A. You take the placement test if necessary (for students with elementary or intermediate experience) or you enroll with advisement in our 300 and 400 level courses to complete the 30-hour undergraduate major in that language. You do not need another full foreign language certification. If you never took linguistics or a foreign language methods course, we will ask you to do so. You'll be glad you did. You may obtain certification in the second language by obtaining a certain grade on the Praxis II tests, which we recommend you take at the end of your coursework.

Q. What about student teaching?

A. That is a full semester full time (so you can still qualify for financial aid if that is an issue), 12 hours of undergraduate credit, in two 6-credit courses. You get a placement in a local school (remember we are K-12) and have a series of Practicum sessions here at the university with your supervisor, a faculty member of our department. The supervisor will also visit you in the classroom at your school several times over the semester. If you hold a university degree already, you may be able to get emergency certification at the beginning of your semester of student teaching, which would enable you to receive a full-time salary from the school district, usually in a full one-year contract. We recommend this only for people with teaching experience!

Q. What do I need for a GPA to get into the program?

A. It is 2.8 for formal admission to the certification program and 3.0 at completion for K-12 certification. Graduate admission minimum GPA requirements will also apply.

Q. I have a degree in elementary education. What do I need to do to get certified in foreign languages?

A. There are two levels: 1) certification in foreign languages ONLY at the elementary level, which involves six courses in the language. We also strongly recommend our LAN 401 Foreign Language Teaching Methods course. You can take the placement test (see hotlink on our department homepage) if you have already done some study in the language, to see where you should start. 2) full K-12 PA State Certification in Foreign Languages, which involves completing the 10-course major and taking the courses for secondary certification that weren't part of your elementary ed certification. See the list of courses above.

Q. I have a college degree with a major in the language. Can I get certified at the graduate level?

A. Yes, absolutely. You apply for admission to the graduate certification program through our Office of Graduate Studies. In fact we recommend that you do your graduate certification as part of an M.Ed. if you are working in either French or Spanish. Remember when calculating the cost that you may get a higher salary later on because of graduate work completed. You will have to complete any requirements (linguistics, anthropology, 6 hours English, 6 hours math for instance) in place now in PA that you didn't do as an undergraduate elsewhere. We recommend that you complete those courses first before enrolling at the graduate level.

Q. What about certification as part of work for a master's degree?

A. Absolutely. You may apply for admission to the Master's in French or Spanish from the College of Arts and Sciences and complete the certification courses as part of your degree. We recommend that you finish the certification courses early and take the rest of your 6 or 7 graduate seminars in the foreign language over a longer period of time. You have six years in all to finish. It is to your advantage to get a permanent teaching job before you finish the master's, as you will jump much higher on the salary scale once you have the degree. Some school districts are willing to pay the higher entry line salary for the master's with no teaching experience, but most aren't.

Q. I really want an M.A. rather than an M.Ed. How does certification fit into that degree?

A. There is in reality not too much difference in the coursework. You must complete 7 seminars in the foreign language for the M.A. and then you have three electives, which may include courses in English required for certification, particularly LIN 501 (intro to linguistics) and LAN 503 (foreign language teaching methods) and one other. The additional required courses from the College of Education are not part of your M.A. Once again, you may want to finish certification and get a job before finishing the degree. If you are preparing a career in college teaching, the straight 10-course M.A. with three electives or a thesis is definitely the way to go.

Q. Are there any special requirements for certification in foreign languages?

A. Aside from fluency, enthusiasm, and cultural competency, yes. The state has mandated anthropology and adolescent psychology in addition to the regular certification requirements. We also require linguistics and foreign language teaching methods, courses which are important to your future success. Not to worry, a little extra coursework will go a long way toward making you an organized and competent professional when you step in front of the classroom.

Q. What level courses count toward the master's degree?

A. Normally, just the 500-level courses, but you may count two 400-level courses if they are not already part of an undergraduate degree, and are not offered here at the 500 level. Remember that you can take a couple of the required certification courses at the undergraduate level if you wish, for scheduling purposes, but they will not count in the courses for your graduate degree.

Q. Can I student teach in a private school or in another state?

A. Generally, private schools do not offer the environmental experience that we require for certification, regardless of their academic quality. Out of state placement is granted only on an individual basis, by exception, say if your family moves to Arizona. And under those circumstances you would probably want your certification in that state anyway. There are dozens of excellent public schools locally in our area, so student teacher placement is a privilege not a problem.

Q. I am a native of another country. Can I transfer in or submit coursework and/or university degrees for credit in your certification program?

A. Yes, and go through the Office of International Studies in Graduate Studies. They will guide you through the process of getting your transcript evaluated by an approved agency WES or ECE. If you already hold an undergraduate university degree in the foreign language, we will still have to evaluate the coursework relative to requirements for certification. That is, a degree in for instance biology in Spanish does not fulfill the requirements for certification in Spanish. You will be asked to take certain upper-level Spanish courses for their content value. It's good experience and you need to be familiar with the area of study that you will be teaching. There is one problem you need to know about: if you are a foreign national, you can be certified to teach in Pennsylvania ONLY if the foreign language you want to teach is an official language of your passport country. Alternately, you may become an American citizen. You must have a "green card" or resident alien permanent visa to work in the U.S. Without it, you may work just for a year as an "intern" after graduation.

You should obtain a copy of the department student graduate or undergraduate handbook once on campus and contact the language coordinator of your program of study, as well as the appropriate level advisor in the College of Education. Start with email. The graduate handbook is available here on line on this website.

Our philosophy for the preparation of teacher candidates:

In the Department of Foreign Languages at West Chester University, we believe that the preparation of highly competent language educators involves the simultaneous development of second language proficiency, linguistic, literary, and cultural content, and pedagogical skills and background. We offer rigourous training in K-12 second language acquisition in accordance with the mandates of the PDE (Pennsylvania Department of Education) and NCATE (National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education) organizations. We have received National Recognition by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Our program seeks to provide a balance of theoretical training, second language course work, and clinical experience, in which the process of becoming a critically reflective teacher is emphasized. Candidates must experience, appreciate, and cultivate the interconnectedness of content area knowledge with pedagogical knowledge, and of the role of the student with that of the teacher.

The Foreign Languages Certification program at West Chester promotes the philosophy of the University's Department of Professional and Secondary Education, which maintains that learning and teaching are active, collaborative, constructive, and continuous processes that enable faculty and students to reflect upon and analyze their own learning and teaching. We promote a student-centered model of instruction, where learners engage in developmentally appropriate activities that are challenging, personally meaningful and authentic. High standards of scholarship are essential for both faculty and students to remain at the forefront of sound educational practice and change.

Your preparation to teach a foreign language entails

· excellent content area and pedagogical preparation, along with an awareness of their interrelationship. A teacher is a scholar. Your training comprises a well-rounded foreign language major program, including opportunity for study abroad, and thorough pedagogical preparation reinforced by multiple clinical experiences. Excellent content knowledge is demanded of you in pedagogy courses. Assignments in methods courses, practica, and student teaching provide the framework within which you will reflect on the relationship between content and pedagogical challenges in the foreign language classroom.

· a judicious balance of theoretical training and clinical experience and an understanding of their reciprocal influence. A teacher is a problem solver. Methods courses introduce you to the body of theory and research on language learning and assessment, providing a theoretic base that you will examine and apply in a progression of observations, practica, and clinical experiences. Reflecting on your experiences in discussions and written assignments, you will grapple with the interrelationships between theory and practice and steadily develop your problem solving skills as teacher.

· an appreciation of the interlocking roles of student and teacher, in the context of your own transition from student to foreign language teacher and professional. A teacher is a partner. Training in foreign language methodology, classroom management, developmental psychology, and student diversity and special needs is designed to prepare you to meet the challenges of establishing constructive relationships with your students. During your training, you are nurtured as a student by your instructors, but you are also treated like the professional you are becoming. University instructors as well as the secondary teachers who work with you during clinical experiences (and who come to campus as guests in methods courses) model professional behavior and attitudes, including expertise in the content area, problem solving skills, and the ability to form partnerships with students, parents, and colleagues. It is important to appreciate that becoming a teacher also means remaining a student, with a lifelong commitment to learning and professional development.

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