Teaching of Spanish Major

 

Required courses
Program Phases
Required tests
Applying for candidacy
Master's in Teaching
Master’s in Secondary Education
Finding a job
Upcoming Deadlines
Instructions for Student Teacher Application
Choosing a School for Student Teaching

Endorsement in the Teaching of Spanish

 

Council on Teacher Education:
www.uic.edu/educ/cte/index.html

 

Inma Taboada Program Director and Advisor UH 1726 (312) 996-9109 taboada@uic.edu

Required Courses

Note: If you already have a Bachelor's degree, see "Master's students."

Transfer students who have already completed some of these courses in their undergraduate studies: your transcript will be evaluated to determine how much credit you will receive and which courses you may still need to complete at UIC. You may send a copy of your transcript, plus printouts of  official course catalog descriptions, to Ms. Inma Taboada in the Department of Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese (address below).

Required Spanish courses:
202 Spanish Grammar in Practice
203 (non-native speakers) or 204 (heritage speakers) Extensive Reading and Writing
206 Introduction to Hispanic linguistics
210 Introduction to the formal analysis of Hispanic texts
212 Cultural and Literary Studies in Spain and Latin America
303 Advanced Oral Presentation, Writing, and Analysis
380 Professional Development
448 Foundations of Second Language Teaching
449 Teaching Second Language Literacy and Cultural Awareness
Two additional courses from among the following:
230, 231, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 375, 376,377, 378, 379

M.Ed. students must also take two (2) 400-level Spanish courses, one in linguistics/language and one in literature.

Required College of Education courses:
ED 200 Educational Policy Foundations (Graduate students take ED 402 or 403 instead)
ED 210 The Educative Process (Graduate students take ED 421 or 445 instead)
ED 330 Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation in the Secondary School (ED 432 for grad students)
SPED 410 Survey of Characteristics of Learnerswith Disabilities
SPAN 451 Educational Practice with Seminar I (Student Teaching)
SPAN 452 Educational Practice with Seminar II (Student Teaching)

 

Program Phases

Phase 1

1. Be admitted to UIC. 
2. Graduate students: You must have already passed the Basic Skills Test in order to be admitted to the Teacher Education program.  Register online at http://www.icts.nesinc.com/ 
3. Meet with an LAS advisor about required coursework. Enroll in General Education Requirement courses and in Spanish courses. 
4. It is suggested that you participate in activities related to teaching (tutoring, working with youth) to consider whether you have a vocation to teach.

Phase 2
(Graduate students skip this phase)

1. Declare a Teaching of Spanish major.
   See Ms. Inma Taboada, 1726 University Hall, taboada@uic.edu.
2. Take the Illinois Basic Skills Test. Register online at http://www.icts.nesinc.com
3. Take ED 200 and ED 210 (Graduate students: ED 402 or 403 & 421 or 445).  To get permission, go to the College of Education's Student Services Office in Room 3145 EPASW.  You must have declared a Teacher Ed major to sign up for these courses.
4. When you have completed 45-60 semester hours, you must apply for Candidacy. 

 

Phase 3

1. Finish General Education Requirements and Spanish courses.
2. Take SPED 410 and ED 330 (Graduate students take ED 432).
3. To enroll in ED 330, go to the CTE website to download the registration form (look under “Certification Programs,” then “Secondary Education and Foreign Language Certification Seekers”). 
   Note: You may only take ED 330/432 the semester immediately prior to student teaching, and with a maximum of 13 hours of coursework that semester. Also, you need a 3-hour block of time every day during the week, at the same time each day. Remember that you must be accepted to candidacy prior to submitting this form.
4. Take the methodology courses Spanish 448 and 449 during your last two semesters prior to student teaching.. Students cannot register themselves; you must send e-mail to Ms. Inma Taboada.  You will be added by June 20 for Fall courses and by December 20 for Spring courses.
   Note: You should take Ed 330 (or 432) at the same time as one of these methods courses (448 or 449).

5. Take the Content Area Test in Spanish. Register online at http://www.icts.nesinc.com/
   You will need to plan to take the test so that your scores will be received by UIC in time to approve your student teaching application. You can obtain a study guide in 3015 EPASW.
6. Take the Spanish  Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).  ISBE has determined that you must reach the level of Intermediate High.  You must do this before you can begin student teaching.
   Spanish: Contact Inma Taboada.
7. Take the TB test.  It is valid for one (1) year.
8. Submit your Student Teaching application: by the first Friday in MARCH for all fall student teaching  by the first Friday in MAY for all spring student teaching  It is available on the CTE website (look under “Certification Programs,” then under “Secondary Education and Foreign Language Certification Seekers.”)
9. Be sure to read the instructions for submitting the Student Teaching application, and advice on choosing a school for your student teaching. Remember, you must have a 3.0 GPA in your major courses and a 2.5 GPA overall in order to student teach. 

Phase 4

1. Student teaching.  Note that students cannot register themselves for Span 451 and 452 .  You will be added by June 20 for Fall courses and by December 20 for Spring courses.
2. Take the Illinois Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT).  It is required for obtaining a teaching certificate.  See http://www.icts.nesinc.com/ and www2.uic.edu/stud_orgs/prof/ftc/apt.html
3. File your "Intent to Graduate" online. 

Required Tests

Scores on all tests must be sent directly to the CTE with two exceptions: the OPI results are sent to you (and a copy is given to Inma Taboada), and the tuberculosis lab results must be included in your student teaching application.

You should take this test immediately! One test is required in order for you to apply to candidacy: Test of Basic Skills, administered by the Illinois Certification Testing System.

You must pass (i.e., receive passing scores) the following three tests by the time you turn in your application to student teach:

1. Subject Matter/Content Test (Spanish or French), administered by the Illinois Certification Testing System.
Take the Foreign Language test, *not* the Target Language Proficiency test.
2. Oral Proficiency Interview, Contact (Inma Taboada).
3. Tuberculosis test. You must also pass this before you can apply to student teach. Original lab results are required; photocopies are not accepted. Turn in the original lab results with your student teaching application.

Assessment of Professional Teaching, administered by the Illinois Certification Testing System. This test should be taken while you are student teaching. Passing scores must be received at the CTE before certification applications can be processed.

Applying for candidacy

Deadlines:

October 1 and February 1.
All Teacher Education students are required to apply for candidacy. At the latest, you must apply for candidacy the semester immediately prior to taking SPED 410. [Graduate students: Please see your program advisor. You should apply for candidacy immediately.]
At the earliest, undergraduates may apply for candidacy only when the following requirements are met:

1. Student has passed the Basic Skills Test.
2. Student has taken (or is currently enrolled in) ED 200 and ED 210.
3. Student has taken 12 hours in the Spanish major, or is currently enrolled in 12th hour of Spanish major coursework.
4. Major GPA is 3.0/4.0 and overall GPA is 2.5/4.0.

The application is found on the CTE webpage, under the “Quick Links” drop-down menu at the top of the page.

Tips for the interview:

This is a serious evaluation of your potential to teach high school students. Do your best to convey maturity and professionalism.

1. Be very familiar with UIC's Conceptual Framework because you will be asked to speak convincingly about your reasons for wanting to become a teacher and how they fit with the conceptual framework.
2. Think about the Spanish courses you have taken in your major and the concepts that you would most like to teach your future students.

Good answer #1: "I would like to teach about the political structure of the Aztec empire using a video and internet research."

Good answer #2: "I really like short stories. I'd like to have students read Borges' "El jardín de senderos que se bifurcan" and break into groups to produce a drawing of the garden in the story."

Good answer #3: "I'd like to teach about major dialect differences between Western Africa, France, and Quebec by bringing in songs from all three regions."

Not very good answer #1: "I'd like to teach about history." This is too general.

Not very good answer #2: "I'd like to teach about culture (or grammar, or literature)." Again, too general.

3. Do not use slang words or casual conversation fillers such as "like," "you know" and "stuff" during your interview.
4. Dress "semi-professionally;" suits/dresses are not required, but overly casual attire is not appropriate.
5. Arrive on time for your appointment

Master's in Teaching Spanish (MAT)*

(* Only for applicants who ALREADY HOLD STATE K-12 TEACHER CERTIFICATION)

See the Departmental website for information on admission requirements, curriculum, and a link to the online application. 

Master’s in Secondary Education (M.Ed.)*

(* For applicants who hold a Bachelor’s degree, but no state teacher certification)

See the College of Education website for information on admission requirements, curriculum, and application procedures. Applicants may choose a specialization in Spanish, and will be required to complete all of the Spanish courses required of undergraduate Teaching of Spanish majors.

If you have already completed some of these in your undergraduate studies, your transcript will be evaluated to determine which courses will receive credit and which courses you may still need complete at UIC.
Additionally, Spanish M.Ed. students must complete two (2) Spanish courses at the 400- or 500-level, one about linguistics/language and the other about literature.

Finding a Full-Time Teaching Position

1. There are many local job fairs. Joining the Future Teacher's Association listserv will keep you informed of these.
2. Try the Recruit Illinois webpage. The website is being brought to you by Lyons Township High School through a five year U.S. Department of Education grant. It will help teaching graduates:
   • Conduct targeted job searches
   • Apply for vacant positions across Illinois with a single application
   • Access relevant, practical, and up-to-date information about teaching
   • Prepare for an interview
   • Learn the best tips to land a teaching position
     
   • Find a job fair near you
3. National Educators Employment Network: A free on-line resume service.

 

 

Upcoming Deadlines

 

To take ED 330 in the Fall
Undergraduates seeking to take Ed 330 in the Fall must:

1. Already be accepted to candidacy, -OR- Apply for candidacy by Feb. 1 *AND* take SPED 410 during the following Fall.
   Note: If you haven't taken SPED 410 (which requires being admitted to candidacy), you will not be allowed to register for Ed 330.
2. Fill out a request to take Ed 330 by March 15. Application form is available at CTE website (Click on the “Certification Programs,” then on “Secondary Education and Foreign Language Certification Seekers.”).

 

STUDENT TEACHING - FALL
Students who wish to student teach in the Fall must turn in their applications by March 1. In order to do so, passing results on the following exams must have been received by March 1. *NO EXCEPTIONS* Please see see required tests for more details.

 

	Date the results are needed	Latest you can take it in order to turn in an application on time
Basic Skills	ASAP
Content/subject matter (Spanish)	March 1	January
Oral Proficiency Interview	March 1	Mid January

 

STUDENT TEACHING - SPRING
Students who wish to student teach in the Spring must turn in their applications by May 1. In order to do so, passing results on the following exams must have been received by May 1. *NO EXCEPTIONS* Please see information on Required Tests for more details.

 

	Date the results are needed	Latest you can take it in order to turn in an application on time
Basic Skills	ASAP
Content/subject matter (Spanish)	May 1	March
Oral Proficiency Interview	May 1	Early March

 

 

Instructions for Filling out the Student Teaching Application

Before turning in your application, you must meet with Inma Taboada to review it. You must bring two things to that appoinment:

1. A completed application.
   
2. A completed checklist.

 

Remember that when you turn in your application, you will need original lab results less than 12 months old stating that you have passed the T.B. test. Photocopies are not accepted.

You also need passing scores on the Content/Subject Area Test, the Basic Skills Test, and the OPI (see Required Tests).

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download the application form and save it to your server space (usually the H drive) or to your portable storage device.
   
2. Open it in the full Adobe Acrobat program (not the free "Acrobat Reader" program). If you only have the free "Reader" program, go to a UIC computer lab equipped with the full program.
3. Start typing your information into the document. Note: Write your essays in Microsoft Word first so that you can spellcheck them. Then, cut and paste them into the application. Essays that are brought to us with spelling errors will not be read. You are preparing to become teachers and should use this technology to maximize your written expression.
4. Save frequently as you work. Be sure to save the final version to your personal storage device.

Remember: you can read this application using the free Adobe Reader, but in order to type your answers into it, you will need the full program containing Adobe Acrobat Writer.

 

 

Choosing a School

Here are a few ideas for you to think about as you try to decide which twelve schools to apply to for your 14-week student teaching experience.

1. Consider the type of environment you'd like: Urban or suburban? Private or parochial? Public or magnet? If you are a Spanish teacher, would you like to try teaching Spanish to Native Speakers? I will ask you some questions about your own educational experiences and the kinds of things you would like to learn, in order to help you make some of these decisions.
2. Think about location. Consult a map of Chicago Public Schools on-line.
3. Remember that you cannot student teach at the high school from which you graduated.
4. If you have a few school names in mind, look up that school's webpage at the Chicago Public Schools website and its evaluations at the CPS Office of Research, Evaluation and Accountability.
5. Contact the schools you have in mind.  Explain that you are a UIC teacher education student looking for potential Student Teaching sites.  Ask if you can visit one day for an hour.  On that day, check in at the main office, get a Visitor's Pass, and spend some time in the building.  It would be ideal if you can contact the Foreign Language Department Chair and get permission to visit a Spanish class.  Remember to make your visit as brief and unobtrusive as possible, and remember to thank the person very much for their time.
6. Sometimes CPS offers guided bus tours of several schools in the district.  Keep checking this webpage for more information.

 

 

Endorsement in the Teaching of Spanish

Endorsement is available to students obtaining full certification in an approved UIC Teacher Education major. To teach Spanish as a second subject in Illinois public schools one must apply for and receive an Endorsement from the State Board of Education and meet all of the additional course and other requirements the Board has established.

The number of credit hours required for a second subject endorsement in Spanish is 24.

The teaching certificate is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of certification and degree requirements. Before the certificate is issued, the candidate must file an application with the State of Illinois and take a subject content examination administered by the State Board of Education. For information on application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education in the College of Education.