2025 Bilingual Authorization Summer Intensive
Spanish, Mandarin, or French

Earn your Bilingual Authorization this summer

Are you a credentialed in-service K-12 teacher with expertise in Mandarin, French, or Spanish? Earn your Bilingual Authorization over your summer break in just six weeks!

The UCLA Summer Intensive for Bilingual Teachers (SIBT) meets all Bilingual Authorization course requirements, is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), and is led by faculty from UCLA’s Center X in the School of Education & Information Studies and experts in K-12 language teacher training.

About the Program

The UCLA Summer Intensive for Bilingual Teachers (SIBT) is an approved California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) program that gives K-12 educators in California the opportunity to earn a Bilingual Authorization in Mandarin, French or Spanish. This intensive program enables in-service teachers to complete the requirements for the Bilingual Authorization over the summer. The SIBT program consists of three UCLA graduate-level courses, including classroom observations and a teaching practicum. Students are required to enroll in all three courses. Enrollment in individual courses is not permitted.

To be eligible to be recommended for the Bilingual Authorization, participants must satisfy all the following requirements:

• Possess a valid California Teaching Credential and
• Valid Language Development Specialist (LDS) Certificate, CLAD Certificate, teaching credential with an English Learner Authorization or CLAD Emphasis, or passing scores on all subtests of the California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL) Examination. Scores used for certification purposes may be no older than ten years from the individual passed exam date.
• Successful completion of the summer coursework
• For French and Mandarin Authorizations, language proficiency must be proven through personal interview and the successful passing of CSET Subtest III in the appropriate language. (see Demonstrating Proficiency below)

 

Why Earn a California Bilingual Authorization?

K-12 educators can teach the subject area(s) covered by their primary credential (Single or Multiple Subject) in two languages with a Bilingual Authorization.  With growing research demonstrating the benefits of bilingual education, the number of immersion language classrooms is increasing nationwide. As a result, teachers who are qualified to teach in two languages are now in high demand. Out-of-state teachers should check with their state’s Department of Education to confirm if a CA credential with an English Learner Authorization is accepted.

Coursework

Students in the UCLA Summer Intensive for Bilingual Teachers (SIBT) are required to complete with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the three courses below:

413A. Lecture 1:  Language and Culture: Mandarin | Lecture 2:  Language and Culture:  Spanish (2 units) | Lecture 3:  Language and Culture:  French: Focus on language of emphasis for bilingual teachers. Practice in listening, reading, speaking, and writing competencies required for bilingual classrooms. Assessment made at end of the course to determine the language proficiency of Bilingual Authorization Program candidates.

413B. Lecture 1:  Methodology for Mandarin Language Instruction in a Bilingual Setting | Lecture 2:  Methodology for Spanish Language Instruction in a Bilingual Setting (2 units) | Lecture 3:  Methodology for French Language Instruction in a Bilingual Setting (2 units): Consideration of models for developing cultural and language skills of home speakers of the language of emphasis; practice in the use of activities to develop student ability to use language for real-world and academic purposes in culturally appropriate ways. Consideration of models for teaching academic content in primary language for delivery of core curriculum to bilingual students.

413C. Lecture 1:  Culture of Emphasis:  Chinese in California | Lecture 2:  Culture of Emphasis:  Spanish-Speakers in California (2 units) | Lecture 3:  Culture of Emphasis:  French in California: Discussion of commonalities of culture of emphasis in its home country or countries; major historical periods and events; values, belief systems, and expectations; migration and immigration; historical and contemporary demography. Letter grading.

Program Structure and Coursework Requirements

Pre-Assignments 
Before the beginning of the 10-day synchronous Intensive, students will independently complete readings and reflections and language development and assessment assignments for 413A.

10-Day Intensive 
During the 10-day synchronous Intensive, students will participate all day (8 am – 5 pm) in an integrated model delivered through a combination of lecture and classroom observations and a teaching practicum.

Final Assignments  
Following the 10-day Intensive, students will independently complete and submit final course assignments to the instructor, including developing an integrated bilingual unit of instruction, lesson plan portfolio, instructional materials resource binder, cultural mapping project, course readings, reflections, and a final project. All assignments and evaluations of teaching practicum during the 10-day intensive will comprise the final grade.

Admission

The program is open to educators from across California who possess strong English language skills and proficiency in Spanish, French, or Mandarin. Before being admitted to the program, candidates will be asked to participate in an online interview to assess speaking and writing proficiency. The instructors will evaluate language proficiency to determine eligibility. Demonstrating advanced proficiency is a prerequisite to participation in the Bilingual Authorization. See the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Standards Descriptions found in Appendix C.

 

Demonstrating Language Proficiency and Preliminary Registration

French*
The California CTC requires candidates for the French authorization to prove language proficiency by passing Subtest III of the CSET French examination. CSET dates, fees, and sample tests can be found on the website. We recommend that SIBT participants take the French CSET III before starting the program. To begin registration for the French Bilingual Authorization, please complete the Preliminary Registration Form. Once completed, an online interview will be scheduled.

Mandarin*
The California CTC requires candidates for the Mandarin authorization to prove language proficiency by passing Subtest III of the CSET Mandarin examination. CSET dates, fees, and sample tests can be found on the website. We recommend that SIBT participants take the Mandarin CSET before starting the program. To begin registration for the Mandarin Bilingual Authorization, please complete the Preliminary Registration Form. Once completed, an online interview will be scheduled. 

Spanish
According to the California CTC, candidates seeking the Spanish Bilingual Authorization must demonstrate a range of language competence equivalent to passing the CSET. While passage of the CSET Spanish is not required for the UCLA SIBT program, candidates must pass a language assessment as evidence of advanced language proficiency before enrolling in coursework. To begin registration for the Spanish Bilingual Authorization, please complete the Preliminary Registration Form. Once completed, an online interview will be scheduled

* Mandarin and French teachers who hold a three-year or higher degree from a foreign institution in which all instruction is delivered in a language other than English also do not need to take Test II or III to qualify for a bilingual authorization in that language. The foreign institution must be equivalent in status to a regionally-accredited institution of higher education in the United States.An official full-transcript evaluation from a CTC authorized transcript evaluation agency is required. The transcript evaluation must state that instruction was delivered in French or Mandarin.. You can refer to the Commission Approved Foreign Language Transcript Evaluating Agencies site to view the list of CTC authorized transcript evaluation agencies.

Program Fee Estimates

This fee information is only an estimate and will need to be adjusted once fees are published for 2025. Please visit the UCLA Summer Sessions website for fee details, important policies, and deadlines.

Questions

Please contact Jo Ann Isken at .

 

A partnership program of Center X  and UCLA School of Education and Information Studies

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