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Teaching World Languages Online - Carolina Online Teacher Program

Developed by Bobby Hobgood

This course is part of LEARN NC's catalog of online courses for teachers. Please see the current offerings at the bottom of this page for information about when it may next be taught.

About this course

  • Audience: teachers (grades K–12)

Disability Statement

If you have a learning or other disability and you want to request special accommodations to ensure equal access to education through LEARN NC, then please contact your instructor. The information that you provide will be kept confidential.

Program for current and future online world language teachers

LEARN NC is proud to offer an online instructor preparation program designed for world language teachers. This program provides professional development for licensed North Carolina world language teachers to either become or improve their understanding and skills for teaching a world language online.

Course abstract

Foreign language methodology has been transformed by the online environment. This course is intended for language teachers who are or who will teach an online, asynchronous foreign language course.

You'll explore how language teachers can take advantage of a new environment and new technology tools to provide an authentic context for language learning. During this course, you’ll problematize what we already know about language instruction and learning in order to address the needs of globally focused students.

You will be required to reflect on your current pedagogy to inform your understanding of foreign language pedagogy online. Course topics include balancing L1/L2, preparing students to become language learners, opportunities for language learning, technology tools for language learning, creating engaging L2 experiences, and monitoring student progress online. The course is organized according to ACTFL’s Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century, known as the The Five C’s: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities.

Course goal

Participants will learn how to take advantage of technology tools and of the online environment to create a language-learning environment that fosters student self-direction through collaborative activities and a student-centered focus.

Prerequisites

In addition to completing the above courses, participants must be world language teachers who have taught online or who will teach a foreign language online in the near future.

Course objectives

Participants in this course will

  • Identify opportunities to use functional language in an online course
  • Develop techniques for fostering student independence as language learners
  • Practice techniques for engaging students in language learning
  • Use technology tools and resources to target specific language learning skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture
  • Create an authentic language learning activity
  • Identify opportunities and techniques for monitoring student progress, including Linguafolio

Audience

This course is appropriate for world language instructors who wish to teach online.

Standards Alignment

This course addresses the following North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards:

  • Standard II: Teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students.
    • a. Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults.
    • b. Teachers embrace diversity in the school community and in the world.
    • c. Teachers treat students as individuals.
    • d. Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs.
  • Standard III: Teachers know the content they teach
    • a. Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
    • b. Teachers know the content appropriate to their teaching specialty.
    • c. Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.
    • d. Teachers make instruction relevant to students.
  • Standard IV: Teachers facilitate learning for their students
    • c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods.
    • d. Teachers integrate and utilize technology in their instruction.
    • e. Teachers help students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
    • g. Teachers communicate effectively.
    • h. Teachers use a variety of methods to assess what each student has learned.
  • Standard V: Teachers reflect on their practice
    • c. Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment.

Time commitment

Participants should plan to devote approximately 6-8 hours over the course of the week. Coursework can not be completed in a single session!

Current offerings

Begins April 14.

This course is open for enrollment. Enroll in this course