Date of Award

5-2-2025

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT)

Department

World Languages and Cultures

Committee Chair(s)

Sarah O'Neill (Committee Chair)

Committee

Sarah O'Neill

Committee

Ko-Yin Sung

Committee

Elena Taylor

Abstract

This portfolio documents the author's journey through the Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program at Utah State University, highlighting the evolution of their teaching philosophy and pedagogical practices through theoretical exploration, hands-on classroom experiences, and reflective practice. It details the integration of current research, collaborative learning, and innovative assessment strategies, such as self-created rubrics, to foster student engagement and agency in teaching German as a second language. Additionally, the portfolio includes a co-authored research study that examines the motivational factors influencing university students’ decisions to continue learning Arabic, French, and German. This study explores how personal, academic, and social influences shape sustained language learning by employing Dörnyei’s Second Language Motivational Self System (L2MSS) framework with modifications for the university context, thereby contributing to the limited research on language continuation beyond initial motivations.

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