Technology in Second Language Teaching: Graduate Certificate and Ph.D Minor

SLAT offers a Ph.D. Minor and a Graduate Certificate in Technology in Second Language Teaching. This program offers students an introduction to various language-learning classroom technologies and how they are used to assist second language acquisition and teaching. Upon completion, students should have a basic understanding of current technology available to support second language teaching and learning, and have gained relevant practical experience. 

At completion, students are expected to:

  • Understand the technology available to support foreign language teaching and learning, and criteria for their critical assessment, 
  • Learn to evaluate various approaches to computer-assisted language teaching and learning, on the basis of theories and research in the SLA field, 
  • Be aware of the current and emerging technologies in the field of language pedagogy
  • Have gained knowledge and skills pertaining to integrating technologies in curriculum and syllabus design and adaptation where appropriate, 
  • Show ability to implement a variety of technologies in the foreign/second language classroom. 

Technology in Second Language Teaching PhD Minor and Certificate

This program is offered as a PhD Minor for doctoral students enrolled in the SLAT Ph.D. program or another PhD program at the University of Arizona, or as a stand-alone Graduate Certificate. Individuals interested in the stand-alone certificate should have a graduate degree in teaching a second or foreign language. The program focuses on various language learning technologies and how they are used to enhance and support second language teaching and learning. Students will learn about current technologies available to support second language teaching and learning, and gain practical experience in their uses. 

Course Requirements

Part A
Core courses, select 2 or 3 of the following courses (6-9 credits)

  • ENGL 589 Internet Technologies in Second/Foreign Language Education
  • FREN 581 Technology and Foreign Language Learning
  • TLS 530 Literacy Technology
  • TLS 645 Research Methods and Technologies

Part B
Electives, select 1 or 2 of the following courses (3-6 credits)

  • LING 508 Computational Techniques for Linguistics
  • LING 538 Computational Linguistics
  • LING 539 Statistical Natural Language Processing
  • LING 578 Speech Technology
  • LING 581 Advanced Computational Linguistics
  • SPAN 581C Online Course Design for Advanced Language Courses
  • TLS 515 Learning and New Media (usually offered in summer 7.5 week session)
  • TLS 547 Data Literacy
  • TLS 555 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Meets User Experience (UX)
  • TLS 561 Multimodal Literacies
  • ENG 596O* Corpus Linguistics
  • INFO 551 Game Development
  • INFO 524 Virtual Reality
  • RSSS 597 Language & Digital Media

Advising

Students are advised by Dr. Jill Castek, the SLAT Area Chair in Technology in Second Language Teaching. The Area Chair reviews and approves any requested course substitutions. Transfer coursework (i.e. non-UA coursework) will typically not be accepted. However, in special circumstances, the Area Chair may approve up to 3 units of transfer coursework.

Application instructions for the Certificate

To access the online application for SLAT’s Graduate Certificate in Technology in Second Language Teaching, please go to https://apply.grad.arizona.edu and follow the instructions to create an account and submit your materials. Application questions may be directed to GIDP-SLAT@arizona.edu.