Teaching World Languages in K-12 Schools

3 credits · Peabody College - Professional

This course provides students with an opportunity to examine the theoretical and pedagogical relationships that exist in the teaching of world languages. Students in this course will learn about approaches to teaching that are guided by empirically informed research in the language education field that lends focus to how educators support students in K-12 settings as they embark on language learning journeys and exploration. This requires the development of a nuanced and careful understanding of the language learning and acquisition process as well as the cultivation of intercultural competence that attends to issues of equity and social justice in the world language classroom. Students will consider the perspectives and resources necessary for developing a meaningful teaching practice through reflective inquiry and a deepening capacity for designing learning experiences. Reading assignments and class discussions will help students explore concepts and practices that constitute thoughtful, purpose driven, and empirically informed teaching with student thinking positioned as a central resource in the classroom. [3]