Studying a foreign language strengthens communication skills, heightens awareness of the diverse influences on American culture, and promotes precision in thought and expression. The Spanish education curriculum provides you with the opportunity to sharpen your conversational proficiency while exploring Spanish culture and literature in electives that range from Cervantes to contemporary Spanish theater. You will broaden your horizons through the study of relevant works from world literature past and present. As a future teacher, you will be prepared to communicate to young children the fundamental concepts of reading, writing, listening and speaking in Spanish. You will take 30 credits in Spanish to satisfy the liberal arts and sciences requirements for the B.S. in Early Childhood Education degree program.<br><br>In addition to a thorough curriculum in Spanish, you will take specialized education courses and participate in student-teaching. To prepare you for the classroom environment, your coursework will emphasize effective teaching techniques, innovative lesson planning, motivation strategies and student assessment. Your education classes will examine ways that you can use your knowledge to maximize learning outcomes for young students. You will learn how to understand the intellectual, physical and emotional development of teenagers, to encourage peer cooperation and collaboration, to foster student self-esteem and moral development, and to empower parents. You will explore issues of race, ethnicity and gender as they apply to the classroom. The program includes supervised practice teaching in actual classrooms, allowing you to observe certified teachers and interact with children. LIU Post teacher education students enjoy close personal contact with faculty who are dedicated to mentoring the next generation of highly skilled teachers.