MATSL FAQ

Can't find your question about MATSL? Call Nancy Pearlman, MATSL assistant director, at 802-440-4710 or email matsl@bennington.edu.  

Questions:

• What types of teachers is the MATSL program designed for?
• What are the dates of the program?
• What is the application deadline?
• What is the time commitment for work during the school years between the residency summers?
• Tell me about the distance learning courses.
• Do you offer a wholly online program?
• Are the GREs required to apply for the MATSL?
• How do I go about arranging an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)?
• May I transfer credits from courses I have taken in the past into MATSL?
• Can I enroll in a class without matriculating in the MATSL?
• Can MATSL students return home on the weekends?
• May I bring my family or pets with me to campus?
• What is the cost of the MATSL, and is room and board included?
• Do you offer scholarships or financial aid?
• What do MATSL students say about the program?

What types of teachers is the MATSL program designed for? The MATSL program is designed for and beneficial to working K–12 French or Spanish teachers who have had some classroom experience and are committed to working intensively on their language, teaching, and researching skills.

What are the dates of the program? In 2008, the Summer Term residency dates are July 6–27. The Nonresidency Term (which is the online component of the MATSL) runs from September 1, 2008–June 1, 2009.

What is the application deadline? The preferred deadline is April 1. Students who apply before April 1 have the best chance of getting into the program. But we will continue to accept applications after that date.

What is the time commitment for work during the school years between the residency summers? Over the course of the 9-month Nonresidency Term (September–June), students can expect to spend 12–14 hours a week on the distance learning courses. About half of that time is spent on language development and the other half on an action research project that is integrated into your classroom practice.

Tell me about the distance learning courses. MATSL students take 7 credits of distance learning courses each Nonresidency Term (September–June). One of those courses is an action research course in which students are assigned a mentor who will support them through the research process. The other is a language and culture course, offered in both French and Spanish. This course allows students to explore cultural issues in the target language through online publications or through off-line literary or historical texts.

Do you offer a wholly online program? No. The MATSL degree program requires the summer residency periods. However, it is possible to take the language and culture course and action research course as a nonmatriculating student. Contact the MATSL Office for more information.

Are the GREs required to apply to the MATSL? No, but an Oral Proficiency Interview is required.

How do I go about arranging an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)? The OPI is administered by Language Testing International (LTI), the language testing office of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). There are OPI appointment and proctor forms in the application package. The test administrator/proctor mentioned on the forms is a person at your location (school principal or office manager, for example) who can take a pre-arranged phone call from the interviewer, vouch for your identity, and then allow you to take the test on that phone line. Call LTI at 914-963-7110 or visit www.languagetesting.com for more details.

May I transfer credits from courses I have taken in the past into MATSL? As a rule, we do not expect to accept transfer credits because we are functioning under a very different paradigm from traditional master's programs. Our approach to teaching and learning is immersion-oriented: that is, we're dissolving the boundaries between the courses we teach in the summer to enable our students to speak the target language continuously and to experience first-hand the kind of progressive teaching we advocate here at Bennington. It is difficult to carve out a course equivalency from an immersion experience. However, we will consider each request on a case-by-case basis. Please send us the syllabus(i) from the course(s) you would like us to consider.

Can I enroll in a class without matriculating in the MATSL? Yes, we accept nonmatriculating students in some MATSL classes. Enrollment is contingent upon availability and language level of the applicant. Room and board are available should you decide to live on campus. July 2008 course information can be obtained from the MATSL Office. The online language and culture course and action research course are also available from September through June of each year. A nonmatriculating student who later applies to the MATSL may request to transfer in a maximum of six Bennington College credits.

Can MATSL students return home on the weekends? No. MATSL students must be in residence during the whole three-week summer residency period, as weekends will involve action research seminars and other activities.

May I bring my family or pets with me to campus? No. Families may not stay on campus with MATSL students due to the intensity of the residency period. Students are expected to devote themselves fully to the program. Pets are not allowed in any of the campus residences.

What is the cost of the MATSL, and is room and board included? The total cost to complete the MATSL program, covering the two-year span of the program, including tuition and room and board is approximately $25,000. Tuition is set annually, and may increase year to year.

Do you offer scholarships or financial aid? Financial aid, in the form of federal student loans and grants, is available to eligible applicants. The financial aid instructions are enclosed with the MATSL application. The MATSL program awards grants to a limited number of students, which are based on both financial need and merit. If you wish to be considered for a grant, you must complete the process of applying for financial aid. Deadline for grant consideration is April 1. We also recommend that you check with your state and regional foreign language associations, some of which offer scholarship funds to teacher members. Finally, some school districts subsidize advanced degrees and/or courses. Check with your district office.

What do MATSL students say about the program? MATSL students have praised the program, reporting that the summer terms are very demanding and intensive but very worthwhile, and that the program as a whole is well designed and fits what they need as working teachers. Here is what some MATSL students say about their summer residency terms:

• "When I arrived I knew I was a good teacher but that I wasn't a 'great' teacher. What MATSL has given to me is a glimpse of that great teacher I now know I have the ability to become. Thank you."
• "I love the schedule because it is challenging. I am amazed to see what I've been able to accomplish."
• "I wish all teachers of all disciplines could go to a similar program."
• "I am very pleased with the program. It suits me perfectly. I enjoy the self-exploration, that is, we were made to self-reflect quite a bit. I feel I grew tremendously throughout the month."

Helpful Links

• Information about the Oral Proficiency Interview: www.languagetesting.com
• Information about scholarships: www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com