World language teachers are in high demand in Pennsylvania. PSMLA offers many programs that inspire future educators and support those who are new to or interested in the profession.
High School Students
World language teachers can encourage their students to explore teaching as a career in the following ways:
- Engage students through the PSMLA Global Scholars Program.
- Promote and honor language proficiency with the PA Seal of Biliteracy.
- Nominate students for PSMLA awards.
- Incorporate ready-to-use modules on language teaching from ACTFL’s Educators Rising.
- Review a list of PA institutions of higher education offering world language teacher certification.
- Encourage participation in co-curricular activities such as language clubs, honor societies, national language exams, guest presentations, community engagement, cultural field trips, travel abroad, and exchange programs. Examples of such activities can be found in PSMLA’s World Language Resource Hub and the PSMLA Exemplary Program (PEP) Showcase.
- Involve students in professional learning events and conferences.
- High school students have attended PSMLA workshops with their teachers.
- Teachers have presented PSMLA conference sessions with their students.
Undergraduate Students
- Join PSMLA at a discounted student member rate.
- Attend PSMLA professional learning events.
- Submit a proposal to present a research project at a PSMLA conference.
- Apply for the PA Student Teacher Support Program through PHEAA.
- Explore opportunities for scholarships and study abroad in PSMLA’s World Language Resource Hub.
Early Career Educators
- Join PSMLA at a discounted new to the profession rate.
- Attend PSMLA professional learning events.
- Seek funding for PSMLA conference attendance from the Nancy Zimmerman PSMLA Scholarship for Beginning Teachers.
- Apply for the PSMLA Xperitas Language Matters Award to fund classroom needs.
- Seek the support of an experienced educator through the PSMLA Peer Mentoring Program.
- Read about innovative programs and emerging issues in world language education in the Pennsylvania Language Forum.
- Nominate yourself or a colleague to be the Early Career Educator Representative on the PSMLA Executive Council.
- Explore opportunities for scholarships and study abroad in PSMLA’s World Language Resource Hub.
Career Changers
Pennsylvania’s Instructional Experience-Based Certification is a professional certificate that entitles the holder to fill a full-time professional teaching position. The Instructional Experience-Based Certification program is an alternate route to certification through an approved Pennsylvania program provider. In short, this allows a college graduate able to pass the content test in the area of certification to enroll in a university preparation program and be hired into a paid teaching position. See PDE’s Instructional Experience-Based Certification page for more information and the list of participating universities. There is no cost to apply for this certificate.
Instructional Add-Ons
Pennsylvania educators who hold any Instructional or Experience-Based certificate may add any world language certificate—except ASL—by testing alone with no additional coursework required. For example, a certified Social Studies teacher can add a French certificate by passing the appropriate certification test in French. It is not necessary to complete a practicum or additional coursework.
Certification in ASL requires the completion of a state approved certification program including testing. Hearing Impaired PK-12 instructional certificate holders who pass the ASL content test may add the subject area to their certificate through testing only.
See PDE’s Instructional Add-Ons page for more information.
Resources
- PDE Certification FAQs
- PDE Out-of-State Educators Certification Information
- PDE Report on Educator Preparation and Certification
- PDE Staffing Guidelines for World Languages
Questions
Submit questions via our Contact Us page.