Language Studies Teaching (BA)

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Expand your knowledge of foreign languages and prepare for a career as a foreign language or English as a Second Language instructor, with a language studies teaching degree from Indiana State.

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Why Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Language Studies Teaching at Indiana State?

Learning a new language promotes empathy and fosters a more interconnected global society. Studying foreign language teaching at Indiana State builds cultural understanding, enhances communication skills, and opens doors to exciting professional and travel opportunities around the world.  

Learn and Teach Foreign Languages

As a language-studies teaching major, you will have the option to focus on learning one foreign language or multiple languages at once. Teaching options include French, German, Latin, and Spanish.

Our language studies teaching program prepares you to obtain a teaching license in middle schools and high schools in Indiana. Study-abroad experiences will help you improve your language skills and deepen your understanding of other cultures.

Other learning opportunities include: tutoring students; meeting professional linguists; teaching internships; practicing translation skills with community partners; and presenting research at conferences.

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty

Instructors in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics are dedicated lifelong learners of language and linguistic studies. They are committed to helping you excel academically as you work toward fluency in your preferred language.

Small class sizes allow you to work one-on-one with your professors and collaborate with classmates. Faculty often lead field trips to museums and cultural sites of interest, including art exhibits, musical performances, restaurants, and other cultural areas in the Midwest. Your instructors will also host conversation tables and viewing parties for international films.

Practice Intensive Learning in Our Language Center

Learn more about language and culture in the Center for Language Education and Research. In this state-of-the-art language center, you will have access to specialized software, tutoring opportunities, and additional cultural programming for advanced education in all areas of language and linguistics.  

What You’ll Learn in the Language Studies Teaching Program

The BA in language studies teaching introduces you to a variety of subjects in linguistics, language, and teaching. You will complete language studies classes as well as education classes in the Bayh College of Education. You can complete our Bachelor of Arts in Language Studies Teaching in four years of full-time study.

Your education in the language studies teaching program concludes with a semester-long student teaching experience. The experience may be completed in a high school or middle school setting, and it will focus on your preferred area of foreign language studies.

View required courses.

In addition to general language studies classes, you will choose a concentration in language studies teaching.

NOTE: In the case of less commonly taught languages, some courses may not be routinely available on campus. Credit can be earned via appropriate study abroad or transfer work. 

Language Studies Teaching Concentrations

Study the Spanish language, Spanish and Spanish American history and culture, and learn to analyze Hispanic literature. This concentration is well-suited for students interested in becoming Spanish teachers in high school foreign language classes.

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Prepare to teach English to non-English speaking students. This concentration is ideal for students interested in learning English analysis, language differences and diversity, multicultural studies, and for those who wish to work with students of all language and ethnic backgrounds.

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Study the variety of languages that make up the world’s population, including French, German, Japanese, and more. Learn advanced grammar, cultural studies, and world language literatures, and develop conversation skills to speak with individuals from across the globe.

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Transfer Credit

Indiana State University accepts credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities within the United States, and from selected schools located outside the United States. Credit also may be granted for military training and experience. Previously earned college credit can be applied toward completion of the program per Indiana State's transfer guidelines.

Transfer Guidelines

Career Possibilities for Language Studies Teaching Majors

Our bachelor’s degree in language studies teaching prepares you to teach foreign languages, especially Spanish, in schools across the United States and abroad. Graduates at Indiana State find teaching jobs in Indiana and beyond, and many pursue advanced degrees.

In addition to teaching, language studies teaching leads to career opportunities in international business relations, law, military intelligence, healthcare fields, finance, the U.S. Department of State, and state and local government agencies.  

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Supporting Students Through ESL Teaching

Language studies alumnus Orion Hall (’21 BA, ’23 MA) polished his teaching skills in Spanish and teaching English as a Second Language during an internship program. Hall advanced his skills in teaching foreign language and offered support to high school students and non-native English speakers.

Read about Orion Hall’s journey to a language studies teaching career.

Accreditation

Indiana State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Higher Learning Commission

In addition, the Language Studies Teaching program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and Indiana State Board of Education. 

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