EIU Department of
World Languages and Cultures

Integrative and Service Learning

Spanish/French/German 3401/3501 Languages for Young Learners

Our Department offers a unique course where you share your language with first through fourth graders in our after school program. 

You do not have to be a Teacher Education student or World Language Major to take this course. It is open to all language students who have completed 2202G (intermediate level) of a language.

Students earn up to 3 credits in their language (Spanish, French, or German) by teaching a 6-7 week after-school program in local and area elementary schools. Each student has a group of 7-10 young learners, designing activities to teach basic language skills and to promote cultural understanding. The program is directed and supervised by our faculty.

In fall of every year, we teach fourth graders at Jefferson Elementary School in Charleston. In spring, we teach first through fourth-grade students at Hume Elementary School (Shiloh School District).

The success of the program has attracted students from across many majors. Students teaching this program have included majors from Communication Disorders and Sciences, Communication Studies, Special Education, Elementary Education, Music, History, Psychology, English, Philosophy, Political Science, and Family and Consumer Science.  Many of them are language minors, gaining 3 credits towards completing their Minor.