UNK Spanish Education MAE Program

07/08/2026

Hey, Spanish MAE students, future, students, and alumni! I’m CJ, , the new graduate program chair and the new face behind this account. For my first first post, I thought I would tell you a little about myself!

A native of the Mid-Atlantic states, I have taught Spanish, French, Italian, and classes about language teaching in contexts ranging from elementary school to graduate school since 2011. This includes six years at UNK, where I also research why people (do not) take language classes and succeed in them.

As a language learner, I have discovered that motivation matters—perhaps more than all else. I learn languages to pursue my passions of travel, food, and fashion. My favorite international travel destinations include Paris, Milan, and Barcelona, while my favorite U.S. destinations include NYC, DC, and San Francisco!

What about you? Why do you learn and teach languages?

03/31/2026

GET THEM TALKING! In the comments, tell us your best strategies for encouraging spontaneous, meaningful speaking in your target language/s!

03/16/2026

It's worth it! Spanish teachers: Get that Master's degree. Start this summer, you'll be glad you did!

02/26/2026

Did you know that UNK's Spanish Education MAE program is specifically designed for working Spanish teachers? That's right, unlike traditional MA's in Spanish, we focus on coursework that helps our students deepen their practice as language educators while at the same time exploring a wide variety of topics in their Spanish graduate electives that align with their goals and interests. You get the best of both worlds!! Check it out:

Required courses (18 hours) - all about Language teaching - with assignments you can use!
MODL 800 - Curriculum & Assessment
MODL 810 - Second Language Acquisition
MODL 820 - Methods of World Language Instruction
MODL 840 - Research Methods in Teaching and Learning Languages
MODL 850 - Teaching Heritage Languages in the US, or, SPAN 865 Teaching Spanish as Heritage Language
MODL 880 - Professional Development

Spanish electives (18 hours) - YOU CHOOSE 6 classes - with enough credits to qualify to teach Dual enrollment coursework:
- Topics in Latin American, Peninsular or US/Chicano Literature, History and Culture
- Topics in Linguistics, Sociolinguistics and Pegagogy
- Can include Graduate Study abroad
- Can include independent or thesis study

What's more, our courses are online and asynchronous, but intentionally build community and interaction - so we get to learn from each other!

Through the program, you will gain advanced pedagogical strategies as well as linguistic and cultural fluency to enhance your teaching in middle school, high school or college-level Spanish classrooms.

02/17/2026

Give it a listen: We Spanish teachers already know how much language learning improves our lives - being Bilingüe is life-changing. How has language learning changed your life? How do you talk about the reasons to learn language with your students?

Drop us your ideas in the comments👇

Translation tech has improved a lot. So why learn a language?A lot of people around the world speak English. For those who don’t, AirPods offer live translation – and Google Translate can fill in gaps, too. So as English-speakers, why learn a second language? Well, it’s hard – but translatio...

01/23/2026

🥶❄️⛄️ Winter got you dreaming of summer travel? 🌞✈️ Us, too! We're mostly daydreaming about our upcoming faculty lead study abroad in México. You, too? Join current and future Spanish teachers for two unforgettable weeks in Oaxaca this June and earn 3 to 6 graduate credits! 🥳

01/09/2026

Classes start Monday! 🍎💻🤩—and we know how much intention you bring to your teaching.

Our online graduate program brings together Spanish teachers to think deeply about their practice in community. Together we tackle how we support proficiency growth, how we work with heritage and bilingual learners, and how research and theory actually play out in real classrooms.

We’re looking forward to another amazing semester learning together and continuing the work we all care about—supporting students, strengthening programs, and growing as professionals.

Have a great semester!!