Bachelor's Degree Program
Foreign Language, BS
Crossing Cultural Boundaries
As communications technologies shrink the world, teaching a foreign language becomes a skill increasingly in demand. In business, travel, technology, law, government, entertainment, and other endeavors, people now interact daily, even hourly, over all parts of the globe. In New York City alone, more than 200 languages are spoken in the public schools. Teaching another language often becomes the key to understanding another culture and finding ways for all people-children, adolescents, and adults-to live and work together.
Multiple Perspectives on Language Development
The Bachelor of Science Programs in Teaching a Foreign Language, Grades 7-12 interact with the foreign language programs in Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish in the College of Arts and Science and the graduate-level international education program at The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
As a consequence of this interaction, students mix with a diverse group of students to gain multilingual and multicultural awareness and appreciation.
Distinguished Faculty
Among our gifted faculty in foreign language education is Professor Frank Tang. He is deeply committed to bringing all voices into the increasingly complex urban educational setting, studying ways in which second and foreign language instruction are most effectively pursued, as well as the intimate connection between language and the study of culture. Professor Miriam Eisenstein Ebsworth brings her expertise in intercultural communication and linguistics to enrich the students' experience. Professor Lorena Llosa's extensive background in second language assessment provides a crucial component for the foreign language teacher in today's competitive setting.
A Broad Education
Our goal is to provide learners with a broad education in language development and a deep understanding of speakers and their cultures. Participants in the baccalaureate program are exposed to current research and diverse approaches to language acquisition; they are prepared to make appropriate instructional choices in the classroom and develop the cross-cultural sensitivity so critical in this field.
Language Options
Students may specialize in one of several languages: Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish. Most language courses are taken in the College of Arts and Science. Course taken in The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development focus on teaching techniques and methods; creating curricula, materials, and audiovisual aids; and testing for language proficiency.
Please note that we are not accepting applications for Teaching German, Hebrew, Latin, or Russian, Grades 7-12 while these programs are under faculty review.