Foreign Language Teaching
Master of Arts
Online
Course Delivery
30
Total Credits
$700
Credit Hour
2 Years
Minimum Duration
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching (MAFLT) is a distance-based graduate program designed to meet the needs of current and aspiring language educators around the world. Unlike other professional development options for language teachers, this degree offers a multilingual approach grounded in applied linguistics. Over 20 languages have been represented by students, alumni, and faculty. Our students explore current proficiency-based approaches while building an international community with other engaged and inquisitive educators. Courses in the MAFLT make it a priority to keep content close to the classroom while also addressing a wide range of theory and practices, incorporating national and international standards, and encouraging leadership in the field. The online format allows busy professionals to add a credential while continuing in their current positions. Time to completion ranges from 5 semesters to 5 years. Class size is typically capped at 15, which allows for frequent and substantial interaction with peers and faculty. Fully accredited, with flexible options for pacing.
Program Outcomes
We know that not everyone who speaks a language can teach it effectively. We also know that many language teachers move into the classroom immediately recognize that they would benefit from further guidance and inspiration. Proficiency in the target language is expected; what our students gain is a greater ability to articulate their beliefs, values, and practices and then to promote excellence in themselves and others. The 8 required courses in the program offer a coherent and balanced set of tools for curriculum design, assessment, teaching intercultural competence, instructional technology, and research methods. The capstone Experiential Module project is uniquely customized for each student in consultation with a faculty mentor. Graduates walk away with an online teaching portfolio that demonstrates and presents their accomplishments long after the program ends.
Related Program: Graduate Certificate, Foreign Language Teaching
Career Outlook
MAFLT students and alumni include current K-12 teachers with an undergraduate degree in education, career changers, international teachers who are changing countries, and more. Whether their primary goal is moving into the language teaching profession, maintaining excellence in their current role, moving up the pay scale, shifting into administration, developing skills for supervising other teachers, continuing to a doctoral program, or exploring other roles in language education, our students consolidate existing experience and develop a wider range of awareness and skills. Final projects and portfolios vary depending on the career goals of the student and can focus on action research, program administration, materials design, community engagement, language immersion, and more.
A Top-Ranked Education
- 1st Best in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 4th Best Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 5th Best Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 7th Best in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 10th Best Online Master's in Education Programs for Veterans — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 24th Best Online Master's in Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
Dr. Amanda Lanier
Assistant Professor and Director of MAFLT program
Dr. Amanda Lanier is an applied linguist who focuses on social and cultural aspects of language learning, teacher cognition, and corpus-based analysis of language in use. She has her primary appointment in the Center for Language Teaching Advancement (CeLTA) and is affiliated with the MSU Second Language Studies (SLS) program. Over the years she has studied four additional languages; taught English as a foreign and second language; and conducted research involving teachers of Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, German, and Spanish, as well as working with teachers of 18 languages (and counting) in the MAFLT. She is a member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL), the National Council for Less-Commonly-Taught Languages (NCOLCTL), and the Michigan World Language Association (MiWLA) and presents regularly at those and other conferences with students and alumni.
Course Information
Required courses for master’s degree:
FLT 807 - Foreign Language Teaching Methods (3 Credits)
FLT 817 - Foreign Language Program Development and Administration (3 Credits)
FLT 808 - Assessment for Foreign Language Teaching (3 Credits)
FLT 815 - Teaching Culture in Foreign Language Courses (3 Credits)
FLT 845 - Language Concepts for Foreign Language Teaching (3 Credits)
FLT 860 – Foreign or Second Language Acquisition (3 Credits)
FLT 881 - Teaching Foreign Languages with Technology (3 Credits)
FLT 841 – Special Topics in FLT (topics may include Sociolinguistics, Biliteracy, etc.) (3 Credits)
FLT 885 – Experiential Module (Master’s Project) (5 credits)
FLT 898 – Comprehensive Exam / Final Portfolio (1 credit)
A maximum of 9 credits may be transferred for credit in the MA program.
Admissions and Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
- A personal statement summarizing your background and interest in the program;
- An academic statement summarizing your prior schooling and preparation for graduate coursework;
- An updated resume or CV;
- 3 Letters of recommendation. Contact information for three individuals who know you in academic or professional settings and will write recommendation letters;
- GRE scores or application for GRE waiver, if your prior schooling was conducted in English;
- Test scores (TOEFL or IELTS) and/or writing sample demonstrating advanced English language proficiency, if your prior schooling was NOT conducted in English; and
- Official transcripts sent directly from all prior institutions, with professional translations if needed.
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application.
- Experienced teachers may submit an academic writing sample to be considered for a waiver of the test score requirement. The program allows transfers of up to 9 credits of graduate coursework.
Key Dates
Fall Semester
Application Deadline
June 1st
Spring Semester
Application Deadline
October 15th
Summer Semester
Application Deadline
April 1st
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
International Tuition
$700
$700
$700
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible.
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching (MAFLT) is a distance-based graduate program designed to meet the needs of current and aspiring language educators around the world. Unlike other professional development options for language teachers, this degree offers a multilingual approach grounded in applied linguistics. Over 20 languages have been represented by students, alumni, and faculty. Our students explore current proficiency-based approaches while building an international community with other engaged and inquisitive educators. Courses in the MAFLT make it a priority to keep content close to the classroom while also addressing a wide range of theory and practices, incorporating national and international standards, and encouraging leadership in the field. The online format allows busy professionals to add a credential while continuing in their current positions. Time to completion ranges from 5 semesters to 5 years. Class size is typically capped at 15, which allows for frequent and substantial interaction with peers and faculty. Fully accredited, with flexible options for pacing.
Program Outcomes
We know that not everyone who speaks a language can teach it effectively. We also know that many language teachers move into the classroom immediately recognize that they would benefit from further guidance and inspiration. Proficiency in the target language is expected; what our students gain is a greater ability to articulate their beliefs, values, and practices and then to promote excellence in themselves and others. The 8 required courses in the program offer a coherent and balanced set of tools for curriculum design, assessment, teaching intercultural competence, instructional technology, and research methods. The capstone Experiential Module project is uniquely customized for each student in consultation with a faculty mentor. Graduates walk away with an online teaching portfolio that demonstrates and presents their accomplishments long after the program ends.
Related Program: Graduate Certificate, Foreign Language Teaching
Career Outlook
MAFLT students and alumni include current K-12 teachers with an undergraduate degree in education, career changers, international teachers who are changing countries, and more. Whether their primary goal is moving into the language teaching profession, maintaining excellence in their current role, moving up the pay scale, shifting into administration, developing skills for supervising other teachers, continuing to a doctoral program, or exploring other roles in language education, our students consolidate existing experience and develop a wider range of awareness and skills. Final projects and portfolios vary depending on the career goals of the student and can focus on action research, program administration, materials design, community engagement, language immersion, and more.
A Top-Ranked Education
- 1st Best in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 4th Best Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 5th Best Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 7th Best in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 10th Best Online Master's in Education Programs for Veterans — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- 24th Best Online Master's in Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
Dr. Amanda Lanier
Assistant Professor and Director of MAFLT program
Dr. Amanda Lanier is an applied linguist who focuses on social and cultural aspects of language learning, teacher cognition, and corpus-based analysis of language in use. She has her primary appointment in the Center for Language Teaching Advancement (CeLTA) and is affiliated with the MSU Second Language Studies (SLS) program. Over the years she has studied four additional languages; taught English as a foreign and second language; and conducted research involving teachers of Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, German, and Spanish, as well as working with teachers of 18 languages (and counting) in the MAFLT. She is a member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL), the National Council for Less-Commonly-Taught Languages (NCOLCTL), and the Michigan World Language Association (MiWLA) and presents regularly at those and other conferences with students and alumni.
Course Information
Required courses for master’s degree:
FLT 807 - Foreign Language Teaching Methods (3 Credits)
FLT 817 - Foreign Language Program Development and Administration (3 Credits)
FLT 808 - Assessment for Foreign Language Teaching (3 Credits)
FLT 815 - Teaching Culture in Foreign Language Courses (3 Credits)
FLT 845 - Language Concepts for Foreign Language Teaching (3 Credits)
FLT 860 – Foreign or Second Language Acquisition (3 Credits)
FLT 881 - Teaching Foreign Languages with Technology (3 Credits)
FLT 841 – Special Topics in FLT (topics may include Sociolinguistics, Biliteracy, etc.) (3 Credits)
FLT 885 – Experiential Module (Master’s Project) (5 credits)
FLT 898 – Comprehensive Exam / Final Portfolio (1 credit)
A maximum of 9 credits may be transferred for credit in the MA program.
Admissions and Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
- A personal statement summarizing your background and interest in the program;
- An academic statement summarizing your prior schooling and preparation for graduate coursework;
- An updated resume or CV;
- 3 Letters of recommendation. Contact information for three individuals who know you in academic or professional settings and will write recommendation letters;
- GRE scores or application for GRE waiver, if your prior schooling was conducted in English;
- Test scores (TOEFL or IELTS) and/or writing sample demonstrating advanced English language proficiency, if your prior schooling was NOT conducted in English; and
- Official transcripts sent directly from all prior institutions, with professional translations if needed.
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application.
- Experienced teachers may submit an academic writing sample to be considered for a waiver of the test score requirement. The program allows transfers of up to 9 credits of graduate coursework.
Key Dates
Fall Semester
Application Deadline
June 1st
Spring Semester
Application Deadline
October 15th
Summer Semester
Application Deadline
April 1st
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
International Tuition
$700
$700
$700
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible.
The MSU Value Promise
You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.
As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years.
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MSU has been offering online degree programs for over 20 years. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.
MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.
MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.
MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.
Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.