Department of Bilingual Education, TESOL, and World Languages
The Department of Bilingual Education, TESOL, and World Languages prepares students to be the educators of tomorrow. Elementary bilingual educators promote learning opportunities for students from diverse cultural backgrounds. They mentor, instruct and ease the transition for English-language learners by creating a safe academic environment for them.
Our students acquire the tools they need to find meaningful work in diverse and inclusive school environments. We focus on teaching best practices so our students have confidence to take the state teacher certification exam and pursue the career of their dreams.
Undergraduate programs:
- Elementary Bilingual Education
- K-6
- K-6 and 5-8
- Spanish and Spanish Education
Graduate programs:
Our graduates teach in front of classrooms across New Jersey and beyond, leaving an impact on thousands of young people each year.
Every Spring, Kean University’s Department of Bilingual, TESOL, and World Language Education hosts two events highlighting excellence in language education and academic achievement.
Professor Monica Luzardo’s (Adjunct, Bilingual Education) annual exhibit of Bilingual Undergraduate students’ thematic unit projects highlights their skills for curriculum development. Through engaging group work, students create units that include both language and content objectives, and topics such as sustainability, holidays, and fairytales. These projects incorporate interactive activities and digital learning tools. The event drew alumni and district leaders, many of whom attend annually to recruit future bilingual educators. This initiative was originally founded by Dr. Gilda Del Risco, Coordinator of Bilingual Education. Below is a slide show of the 2025 event.
Under the guidance of Dr. Gregory Shepherd, Coordinator of Spanish Programs at Kean University, a select group of students majoring in Spanish or Spanish Education are inducted annually into the Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Honor Society. This is a significant honor as students must meet rigorous criteria to qualify for induction. Sigma Delta Pi was established in 1919 at the University of California, Berkeley...as a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, a partner of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, and the North American Academy of the Spanish Language, Sigma Delta Pi continues to support excellence in Hispanic studies. Learn more at www.sigmadeltapi.org. Below is a slide show of the 2025 event.