Contact the French and Italian Department at 262-6971 to arrange for the exam, which is given in October and March. Participation in an intensive immersion experience is one of the most important and meaningful ways of developing competence in a foreign language. In preparation for the proficiency exam, students seeking certification in French must participate in an approved immersion experience which emphasizes prolonged and intensive interaction within the target language and culture. Students must have completed and documented the immersion experience before the first semester of the secondary sequence. This experience should be completed as close to the first student teaching semester as possible.
Most students choose to participate in a structured educational or exchange immersion program.
The Office of International Studies and Programs in 252 Bascom Hall offers information on many of these programs. Simply traveling or touring in a French speaking country will not satisfy the immersion requirement. Please see an adviser in Education Academic Services for additional information about this requirement. As part of professional preparation, prospective teachers should seek opportunities to increase oral mastery of the language. One such opportunity is La Maison Franaise.