Graduate Certificate in Teaching Language, Literature & Film

The Graduate Certificate in Teaching Language, Literature & Film prepares doctoral students to teach French or Spanish language at all levels, and literature and film at the undergraduate and graduate levels, through both pedagogical courses and in-class experience. Doctoral students who complete the certificate receive extensive mentored guidance, pedagogical instruction, professional training, and teaching experience, which gives them an expertise valued in language and literature programs.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be prepared to teach French or Spanish language, literature, and film classes at all undergraduate levels and at the graduate level.
• Students will understand key concepts of second-language acquisition theory and practice.
• Students will be able to articulate—for example, to prospective employers—their knowledge of the teaching of language, literature, and film, as well as their principles and practices in the field of language teaching.
• Students will be able to describe their research and its importance to the field.

Requirements

• Successfully complete at least one graduate course in the relevant literature (Spanish or French) and at least one graduate course on film. Below is a list of approved film courses:
  • CAS LF 569 Algeria in Words & Images
  • CAS LF 586 Narrative Film
  • CAS LS 579 Hispanic Cinema
  • CAS LS 580 Mexico City in Literature & Film
  • CAS LS 581 The Mexican Revolution Revisited
  • Any CIMS graduate-level film course
  • The Romance Studies Director of Graduate Studies may also approve other film courses on a case-by-case basis.
• Teach French/Spanish courses in the Romance Studies Department for four terms (4 courses).
• Successfully complete CAS LL 690, a 4-unit seminar and methods course geared to standards- and proficiency-based instruction, diverse practices for foreign language instruction, assessment, and the development of effective lesson plans in preparation for the student’s first term of teaching.
• Successfully complete CAS LL 691 A, a 2-unit teaching practicum seminar that fosters a professional outlook on language teaching and learning while applying course content from CAS LL 690 to the first-year teaching experience.
• Successfully complete CAS LL 691 B, a 2-unit seminar on professional development for literature/film and language instructors, which includes preparation of CVs, mock interviews, and other groundwork for the job search, as well as examples of teaching performance and materials, such as video clips of class and syllabi.
• Create a teaching/research portfolio to be reviewed by a committee of faculty members.