Achieving National Board Certification in World Languages: Proven Strategies and Tips for Accomplished Teaching

by Erin E. H. Austin, Lisa Bartels

Overview

Achieving National Board Certification in World Languages is the essential companion for World Language teachers who are currently working on, or considering working on, the National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) process with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

Written by two secondary teachers who are both NBCTs, the book provides candidates with support and guidance through the process of obtaining National Board Certification, as many candidates in world language certify alone without a mentor teacher. The process to become an NBCT is rigorous and there is minimal support available to help teachers through this process. This book offers a solution to this as an in-hand and in-print mentor for candidates. Case studies and Your Turn segments provide space to brainstorm, plan, and measure the candidate’s work against the National Board rubrics. This book will ensure candidates can have greater peace of mind that they submitted the best possible portfolio and that they responded to the prompts in the way that most accurately reflects accomplished teaching.

This is an essential resource for secondary World Language teachers who are working on or considering National Board Certification.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781041205357
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/18/2026
Pages:	158
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Erin E. H. Austin is a National Board Certified French teacher, a 2018 NEA Foundation Global Fellow, and the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers' 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Lisa Bartels is a National Board Certified Teacher and the 2023 Teacher of the Year for the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina. She is a veteran teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience on three continents.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Section 1: Before You Begin 1. Starting Your Journey 2. Planning Your Portfolio 3. A Specific Kind of Writing 4. Bookends: Knowledge of Students and Reflection 5. Common Overall Pitfalls Section 2: The Four Components 6. Component 1: Content Knowledge 7. Component 2: Differentiation in Instruction 8. Component 3: Teaching Practice and Learning Environment 9. Component 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner Section 3: What’s Next? 10.  After Submitting Your Portfolio 11. Maintenance of Certification. Glossary. Resources

Editorial Reviews

“Thinking about pursuing National Board Certification in World Languages, but not sure where to start? Look no further than this clearly laid out, often hilarious primer! The authors’ expertise shines through the pages - there are many reflective questions sprinkled throughout every chapter, as well as personal anecdotes from their own classrooms. As someone who loves checklists, I was delighted to see the comprehensive approach to completing every component.  If you are searching for a friend to hold your hand as you complete the process, buy this book!”

Heather Tedder, National Board Certified Teacher since 2010, PhD candidate in French and Francophone Studies at Louisiana State University, 2020 NC World Language Teacher of the Year, US.

“A straightforward and practical guide that gives you clear instructions for the hard but career-changing work of becoming a NBCT.”

Liz Matchett, Executive Director, California Language Teachers’ Association; Stanford Teacher Education Program Lecturer; National Board Certified Teacher since 2005, US.

“This book is a no-nonsense approach to National Boards in World Languages that embodies ‘clear is kind’—no sugar-coating, just honest guidance about a transformative journey. The authors don't suggest that it will be easy but they promise it will be worth it. This is both a guidebook and a workbook that informs what it really takes to achieve National Board Certification.”

Thomas Soth, Past President of The Foreign Language Association of NC (2007-2008) and the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (2017-2018), AP Spanish Language and Culture and AP Spanish Literature and Culture Consultant, National Board Certified Teacher since 2006, US.

“This book is an essential resource for any world language educator pursuing National Board Certification. The authors break down all four components in a way that is both clear and approachable, taking what can feel like an overwhelming process and making it manageable.It is a great guide for anyone on this journey and will serve as a trusted guide from start to finish.”

Mirta Valdés-Bradner, National Board Certified Teacher, North Caroline High School, Maryland, Maryland Foreign Language Association 2024 Language Educator of the Year, Fund For Teachers Fellow 2025, US.

“The authors have masterfully captured the spirit of National Board Certification for World Languages in this invaluable guide. From start to finish, the book delivers a clear, practical breakdown of the entire reflective process. The detailed explanations of each component, paired with the interactive “Your Turn!” segments, make you feel like you’re part of the book and set you up for a reflection journey throughout each chapter. This resource is sure to be a trusted companion for any World Language teacher pursuing certification. I only wish a book this thorough and supportive had existed when I completed my own initial certification!”

Carmen Scoggins, National Board Certified Teacher in Spanish since 2010 and renewed in 2019, Past President of The Foreign Language Association of NC and the Southern Conference on Language Teaching, ACTFL Award for Excellence in World Language Instruction Using Technology (K-12) 2015, ACTFL Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in World Language Education (K-12) 2020, US.

From the Publisher