World Language Endorsement
Inservices/College Course Work/Demonstrated
Competency
(July 2007)
A specific language endorsement is required to teach any world language course in Utah public schools grades 6-12.
Minimum Requirements:
- University: complete an approved Utah institution of higher education program for a world language, including a current speaking proficiency rating. OR
- Demonstrated Competency: licensed teachers who have acquired world language skills through university credit or means other than university credit can earn a world language endorsement by successfully completing the three areas below:
To apply for a world language endorsement under demonstrated competency, you must already have a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 License with an Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, or Special Education Area of Concentration.
Demonstrated Competency Checklist (see form for passing scores)
- Content: Praxis II test where required or university course work and ACTFL WPT
- Methods of teaching a world language course or equivalent
- A speaking proficiency rating within the last 3 years
A minimum current speaking proficiency rating of advanced-low for level 1 and 2 languages (e.g. French, German, Italian, and Spanish), or intermediate-high for level 3 and 4 languages (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian) is required of all candidates. Instructors of indigenous languages (e.g. Navaho and Ute) must meet the tribal council requirements for speaking proficiency. The Utah State Office of Education has approved for the speaking proficiency rating either the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) oral proficiency interview (OPI) or the Utah Foreign Language Association (UFLA) language proficiency certification. Please see links below for more information.
Candidates who are currently assigned to teach a world language and have at least nine semester hours of applicable credit (3000 or above) qualify for a State-Approved Endorsement Program (SAEP) which enables them to teach while completing endorsement requirements. The initial SAEP authorization expires on Sept. 30 of the second full year of authorization. With documentation of sufficient progress, the eligibility may be renewed for one or two more years. While in the SAEP, the teacher meets state requirements for professional staff cost (WPU) but not NCLB “highly qualified” definition.
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The Educational Testing Service (ETS) has tests in French, German, Latin, and Spanish (http://www.ets.org/praxis/prxut.html)
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The Japanese Language Foundation provides a Japanese Proficiency Test (www.jflalc.org/proftest/index.html)
- The Utah Foreign Language Association (UFLA) provides an language proficiency certification rating for most languages taught in Utah schools (http://organizations.weber.edu/ufla/certification.htm)
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The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) provides an oral proficiency interview rating for 48 languages (http://www.languagetesting.com)
For more information contact Gregg [dot] Roberts [at] schools [dot] utah [dot] gov (Gregg Roberts) World Language Specialist, (801) 538-7743.
