A year ago, the Modern Language Association (MLA) delivered sobering news about the state of language study in higher education, along with valuable insights for overcoming the challenges we face:
Language enrollments are declining even as the need for knowledge of world cultures and languages grows across many sectors of the workforce… Departments that thrive are those that actively seek internal and external collaborations, update their programs to attract interest and meet student needs, and celebrate student success through scholarships, awards, and social events. (Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in United States Institutions of Higher Education, MLA, 2023)
In response to the MLA’s findings and recommendations, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) and Klett World Languages recently hosted the AATSP Virtual Programs Fair (VPF). This groundbreaking event in language education featured presentations by 66 university programs in Spanish and Portuguese.
For students, the VPF provided an unprecedented opportunity to explore academic and professional pathways in Spanish and Portuguese. To accommodate their busy schedules and allow for flexible participation, the VPF was designed as a drop-in event with required preregistration and included special activities to help students maximize their experience.
For educators and practitioners at all levels, the presentations offered insights into successful innovations in curriculum and program design. The VPF also served as a platform for professional development, networking, and collaboration across the educational spectrum and geographical distances.
This virtual event opened with welcome remarks by directors of leading organizations in language education, including the MLA. Other events included two keynote presentations and a closing roundtable discussion where attendees reflected on key takeaways and explored future collaborations.
For more information, visit www.aatsp.org/page/programsfair2024.
Insights Gained from the Virtual Programs Fair
The presentations and roundtable discussion underscored the critical role that professional training opportunities and certificates play in today’s Spanish and Portuguese programs. Fields such as health care, business, and translation and interpretation are well known to be especially prominent in this regard. However, these are not the only areas where students can apply their language skills. During the VPF, new awareness was also gained about programs of study in fields as diverse as forestry, hospitality, social work, and pastoral care.
Other highlights discussed at the VPF include community engagement and service-learning opportunities, a varied array of opportunities for studying and working abroad, online and hybrid degree options, and combined degree options (such as MA programs with teaching credentials, and BA–MA pathways).
To better understand student interests, the AATSP conducted a special survey, the results of which revealed high levels of interest in combining language study with career preparation in the STEM fields and in business. The results also point to interest in training programs for STEM teachers to deliver instruction to immigrant children in Spanish. Relatedly, several university presenters underscored the need for training programs and certification in teaching languages for specific purposes (LSP).
The key takeaway from the inaugural AATSP Virtual Programs Fair is that Spanish and Portuguese education is increasingly aligning with real-world applications, reflecting a strong trend toward integrating language study with practical career pathways and supporting lifelong use of these languages. A secondary takeaway is that there are many professional fields that remain untapped for LSP studies.
Next Steps
The Virtual Programs Fair is part of a broader effort by the AATSP to promote the study of our languages by (1) collecting and disseminating information about programs of study, (2) fostering innovation in program and curriculum design, and (3) facilitating collaboration among practitioners across educational levels.
In keeping with the first of these goals, the AATSP is preparing to launch Academia: A Catalogue of Higher Education Programs in Spanish and Portuguese Studies. With this, the organization aims to create a much-needed repository of information on programs of study in our languages and to make this information widely available to students, teachers, and other stakeholders in language education. Colleges and universities are invited to submit information about their programs to this database. More information will be released about this soon on the AATSP website.
Supporting the second goal is the newly established Klett Award in Leadership and Program Innovation in Spanish and Portuguese. This initiative aims to celebrate successful innovations in the teaching of these languages and, through them, inspire further advancements. Three awardees will each receive $1,000, with one award specifically designated for a Portuguese program. More information on this award is available on the Klett World Languages website.
Finally, in line with the MLA’s emphasis on seeking internal and external collaborations, the AATSP welcomes Spanish and Portuguese educators at all levels to join in advancing the pioneering initiatives outlined here. We also look forward to forging collaborations with colleagues from other languages and fields of study to create a brighter, more unified future for language education.
María Carreira, PhD, is executive director, American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
