Natalie Tran, professor of educational leadership and secondary education at Cal State Fullerton.
Newswise — To address the statewide shortage of K-12 credentialed teachers who teach Asian languages, Cal State Fullerton’s College of Education will lead the California State University Asian Language Bilingual Teacher Education Program Consortium.
The consortium received $5 million from the California Legislature to increase the number of educators with bilingual authorization in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, Hmong, Tagalog and Khmer (Cambodian).
Teacher candidates interested in earning a credential and bilingual authorization in Asian languages are eligible for $20,000 scholarships. Current teachers can receive either a $2,200 scholarship or enroll in the required courses for free.
Natalie Tran, professor of educational leadership and secondary education at Cal State Fullerton, is leading this statewide effort and is an advocate for providing instruction in both English and an Asian language in California schools and beyond.
Tran said: “This funding benefits CSU bilingual authorization teacher candidates, faculty and school districts across the state. The consortium plays a critical role in addressing the growing demands for Asian dual-language immersion programs and teacher shortages in Orange County and California as a whole.
“In CSUF’s bilingual authorization program, about 20 students complete the Asian language authorization each year. We expect this number to grow with an increasing number of school districts offering Asian language dual-language immersion programs in the region and across the state.”
Read more about Tran and her work with the National Resource Center for Asian Languages. Information on the California State University Asian Language Bilingual Teacher Education Program Consortium can be found here.
About Cal State Fullerton: The largest university in the CSU and the only campus in Orange County, Cal State Fullerton offers 110 degree programs and Division 1 athletics. Recognized as a national model for supporting student success, CSUF excels with innovative, high-impact educational practices, including faculty-student collaborative research, study abroad and competitive internships. Our vibrant and diverse campus is a primary driver of workforce and economic development in the region. CSUF is a top public university known for its success in supporting first-generation and underrepresented students, and preparing all students to become leaders in the global marketplace. Our It Takes a Titan campaign, a five-year $250 million comprehensive fundraising initiative, prioritizes investments in academic innovation, student empowerment, campus transformation and community enrichment. Visit fullerton.edu.
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