Bilingual Education for Social Transformation: Bilingual Authorization in Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese

San Francisco State’s Elementary Education Department offers a multiple subject credential with added bilingual authorization in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin (with multiple subject teaching credential). The Bilingual Education for Social Transformation or BEST program is dedicated to preparing bilingual candidates to become competent bilingual, biliterate and bicultural teachers in a variety of school settings.

Our aim is to develop effective and reflective teachers who have strong foundations in critical pedagogies and culturally responsive teaching. These pedagogies are pathways to engage bilingual-bicultural students and their families in becoming agents of change in their communities.

The program consists of three semesters of coursework and fieldwork. We encourage fall applications, though we can accommodate spring starts. Applicants to this program must demonstrate a high level of Spanish or Chinese proficiency. Language skills are assessed at the beginning of the program and students must pass a language proficiency examination (listening, speaking, reading and writing) to be recommended for the bilingual authorization.

We are actively recruiting potential applicants who are Spanish or Chinese bilingual, fluent speakers and biliterate. There is a great need in California for bilingual teachers in Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese.