In today’s global environment, more and more people are studying languages in an ever-wider variety of settings, and the demand for competent language teachers is strong. The Monterey Institute's Master of Arts in Teaching a Foreign Language (MATFL) combines strong academic preparation with practical pedagogical training. The MATFL program equips teachers with the ability to be flexible and innovative as they respond to various types of learners' needs, cultural differences, and language program requirements.
The 40-unit MATFL degree is typically completed in four academic semesters with a course load of 12-13 units/semester. Students may also elect to pursue one of the certificate options in conjunction with their MATFL coursework (LPA, CALL or TESOL) to supplement their learning and gain additional qualifications to reach their professional goals.
The MATFL degree program provides a solid foundation in the fields of linguistics, language pedagogy and applied linguistics research, as well as advanced language coursework. Students receive training in a broad range of topics important to the development of language education professionals. As a graduate of the MATFL program, you will learn how to tailor your instruction and materials to all the learners and learning situations you will encounter in a lifetime of teaching foreign language.
Another feature of the program is the project work completed by students throughout their program of study. Every course requires students to complete one or more projects as a means of academic and professional growth and for course evaluation. An example is the project completed in the Curriculum Design seminar in which students are asked to develop a complete curriculum for a language course of their choice. For example, a student enrolled in MATFL - Spanish would work independently or in a group with other TFL - Spanish students to evaluate and design a Spanish curriculum. The project requires students to complete a thorough needs analysis of the student population and program administration; evaluate the results of the assessment; craft the course outline and lesson topics, according to the results of the evaluation; and to create several lesson plans and activities for the curriculum. Often, the curriculum is later implemented by students and alumni in their language classroom.
Part of the degree requirements for MATFL students is to enroll in between 8 to 12 units of appropriate language study courses, one of which may include the one-of-a-kind Monterey Model course, a content-based course that incorporates several languages in one large course. In addition, MATFL students enroll in a cross-linguistic pedagogical grammar course which explores the use of grammar in authentic discourse and examines ways of effectively teaching grammar in the foreign language classroom. Current research on the topic is discussed during the seminar while students are asked to consider the role of grammar instruction in the classroom. As part of the course students review and create materials for grammar instruction in their teaching language, combining the theoretical with the practical.
While the majority of the MATFL coursework is conducted in English, MATFL students design language lessons, develop curricula, create assessment tools, and conduct research projects focused on their particular language of study. For example, a student focusing on Chinese language will develop materials in Chinese specific to their future teaching needs. The international community found in Monterey provides a wealth of observation and teaching opportunities in a multitude of languages.
The MATFL program at the Monterey Institute program successfully prepares individuals for doctoral studies. Many alumni have attained a doctoral degree or are currently enrolled in doctoral programs at such prestigious institutions as Harvard, Oxford University and Georgetown.
In addition to the MATFL degree described above, the Middlebury Language Schools offer a Master of Arts in Chinese that can be earned either entirely at the Language Schools or jointly with the Monterey Institute. You can find more information on Monterey Institute's Monterey Option webpage and on Middlebury's Chinese Language School website.
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