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French or Spanish with K-12 Education Certification

 

Help students harness the power of language.

At Grove City College, you can earn a French or Spanish degree with a K-12 teaching certification and be equipped to inspire students with the power of language. As a French or Spanish education major in our four-year program, you will receive excellent instruction in your target language and develop teaching skills through robust coursework and fieldwork beginning freshman year. You will also benefit from experienced faculty mentors, exceptional resources for teacher preparation, unique immersion opportunities, and a deep-rooted learning community where every individual is valued as an image bearer of God. It’s no wonder most of our students pass their teacher certification exams on the first try and obtain full-time positions within six months of graduation!

Combined Program Distinctives
  • Rigorous, Christ-centered education – You will be well prepared academically and gain compassion for others, emboldening you in your calling.
  • Accessible faculty mentors – Highly accomplished, experienced, and well-traveled Christian faculty will encourage your growth as a French or Spanish speaker, collaborator, educator, and critical thinker.
  • Dynamic classroom environment – You will enjoy fun and creative learning experiences with encouragement and support from peers and faculty that will grow your confidence. You will also gain teaching field experience in real-world classrooms.
  • Excellent language and education preparation – Prepare to pass state language proficiency exams and national teacher exams by the time you graduate, thanks to thorough training in both education and the target language.
  • Study abroad opportunities – Experience culture and language immersion around the globe.
    • The Office of Global Programs – Consult seasoned advisors to explore program options and map out a plan that will serve your academic and personal goals while allowing you to graduate on time.
    • Variety of abroad experiences – You can also enjoy an immersive experience over the summer or for a semester – or take advantage of faculty-led trips. Students have recently studied in France, Spain, Ecuador, and Guatemala.
  • Education resources – Take advantage of these tools for success every step of the way toward your teaching career.
    • Education Career Services – The ECS offers exceptional career development and networking opportunities for you as both a student and alumnus of Grove City College, fostering relationships with private, public, charter, and international schools, as well as other education employers.
    • Hamilton Curriculum Library – Curated by a certified teacher, this hub for education majors contains a wealth of education materials and serves as an ideal space to collaborate with fellow students and tackle lesson planning.
    • Certification services – You will have help as a student and as an alumnus to fulfill state certification requirements, meet testing requirements, and pursue additional certifications as desired.
  • Extracurricular opportunities – Collaborate with peers and enrich your professional profile.
    • Develop educational leadership skills working with our national and international partners in areas such as urban education, gifted education, youth theater programs, ESL programs, and more.
    • Attend education conferences and events such as the National Council for Teachers of English, Ed Camp, and various high school outreach programs.
    • Join one of our active student-led groups, like our award-winning chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (an international education honorary), the Secondary Education Society, the Council for Exceptional Children, French Club, Spanish Club, Alpha Mu Gamma national foreign language honorary, and our chapter of MuKappa.
  • Vocation-enriching humanities core courses – Deepen your critical thinking, writing, and other communication skills while cultivating empathy and a well-rounded worldview.
Career Opportunities & Outcomes
  • Career paths: With a modern languages degree from Grove City, you will be well equipped to work in a wide variety of school settings — from public to private, domestic to international — or with global education organizations and other companies and nonprofits in related fields.  
    • Our education majors become certified and licensed teachers around the country and all over the world, typically recruited well ahead of graduation.
    • Our graduates pursue ongoing professional development throughout their careers via graduate-level education in Spanish, French, special education, ESL, curriculum and instruction, and school administrative leadership and policy.
  • Outstanding career outcomes – Like 96% of Grove City College graduates, you will be prepared to compete for top full-time positions and launch into your career or a graduate program within six months of graduation.
  • Valuable skills for any vocation – Wherever you are called to teach, you will make a lasting impact on students’ lives as an excellent communicator with an inspiring love of language, mature cultural awareness, and advanced ability to connect with people of different ages and backgrounds.
Program Specifics
  • 75-78 major credit hours of undergraduate courses leading to a comprehensive degree in French or Spanish combined with extensive preparation to teach the target language in K-12 settings. For detailed course descriptions, refer to the College Catalog.
    • French core requirements are the same as those for a French major and include: Intermediate French I and II (or six hours of 300-level French if you have already completed the intermediate equivalent), Understanding France & the French, French Composition and Style, Applied Phonetics, Aspects of Language Learning, Topics in French Studies or Moments in French and Francophone History, and elective options in French literature, as well as any six hours of 300-level French.
    • Spanish core requirements are the same as those for a Spanish major and include: Intermediate Spanish I and II (or six hours of 300-level Spanish if you have already completed the intermediate equivalent), Intro to Literature and Film, Conversation, Applied Phonetics, Advanced Communication, Advanced Grammar, Aspects of Language Learning, Hispanics in the United States, and elective options in Spanish/Latin American literature and culture.
    • Professional education requirements include Introduction to the Teaching Profession, Technologies of Instruction, Educational Psychology, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Aspects of Language Learning, and Methods of Teaching Modern Languages.
  • Substantial on-site practical experience.
    • Field experience – Every education course takes you into the classroom where you will learn firsthand about classroom management, student motivation, best practices in pedagogy and assessment, and inclusive teaching strategies.
    • Student teaching – You will spend a full semester during your senior year as a student teacher in nearby schools, guided by highly accomplished faculty advisors in Modern Languages and Education, as well as professional partners in the field, to prepare for a smooth transition into the role of an independent instructor after graduation.

Student & Alumni Stories

Megan Gagnier '24
B.A. in Spanish & K-12 Education Certification

“The professors here do a great job of connecting class content to the Christian worldview and directly to the Bible. For example, just being able see how the Bible fits into the secular version of ancient history that I was taught in high school has been wonderful.” — Jessica (Mattson ’18) Thomas, B.A. in Spanish with K-12 Education Certification

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