Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Undergraduate

The minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) requires 18 hours coursework. Students enrolling in this program must have at least 2 years of a foreign language or equivalent at the college level in the case of a native speaker of English, or demonstrated proficiency in English at a level commensurate with the student’s role as a language model and instructor in the case of a non-native speaker of English. Students who wish to enroll in this minor should first meet with the undergraduate English Department advisor.

Course Requirements

• ENG 341 Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics (completed by end of Fall semester of Junior year);
• ENG 343 Cross-Cultural Aspects in TESOL (take in Spring semester of Junior year);
• ENG 344 TESOL: Theoretical Foundations (take in Spring semester of Junior year);
• ENG 345 TESOL: Methods and Materials (take in Fall semester of Senior year);
• ENG 346 Assessment and Testing in ESL (take in Fall semester of Senior year);
• 3 hours selected from ENG 241 Growth and Structure of the English Language, ENG 243 Traditional and Non-Traditional Grammars, ENG 310 History and Development of the English Language, and COM 370 Psychology of Language.
• An optional TESOL practicum, English 394, may be taken in addition to these 18 hours.

Approval Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Students of both graduate and undergraduate standing may obtain a state endorsement for Teaching English as a Second Language by fulfilling the following requirements:

• Fulfill Teacher Education Certification requirements of either the Standard Elementary and/or High School Certificate;
• Complete the 18 hours of required coursework as listed in the minor in TESOL above;
• Obtain 100 clock hours of ESL Clinical Experience or 3 months of teaching experience in English as a Second Language at the appropriate level. This practical experience may be obtained by enrolling in English 394.

Please note that these requirements are for students who enrolled under the 2003-2004 catalog or later. Students who enrolled under prior catalogs should check with the English Department advisor for those requirements.

Graduate

Graduate students in the English Department who wish to study TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) may choose either the Master's degree with a concentration in TESOL or the TESOL graduate certificate. The Master's in English Studies with a concentration in TESOL requires the following courses:

• ENG 401 Introduction to Graduate Studies (Required)
• ENG 402 Introduction to the Composing Process (Required if you have a teaching assistantship in the Writing Program.)
• ENG 341 Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics (Required)
• ENG 441 The Linguistic Structure of English for the TESOL Professional (required)
• ENG 440 Studies in English Linguistics OR 342 Sociolinguistics (required)
• One Literature Course
• One course emphasizing pedagogy
• 3 TESOL courses, chosen from among 343, 344, 345, 346
• One elective course.

How to Get Started

You can start the program in the fall or spring semester. Contact Dr. Chris De Santis, Director of Graduate Studies in English, for registration information.

More Information

For more Information about the graduate programs in TESOL, please contact the ISU English Department Graduate Office at 309/438-3651. (Ask for Dr. Susan Burt, Dr. Hyun-Sook Kang, or Dr. Aaron Smith.)