Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The TESOL Program offers a four course, 16-credit graduate certificate that prepares future teachers of English to speakers of other languages. Students are exposed to a theoretical introduction to the nature and structure of language, key factors affecting second-language acquisition, and communicative approaches to the teaching of English as a second or foreign language. This certificate is most appropriate for those who already hold advanced degrees, individuals making mid-career changes, and those who are already volunteering or working in this field.

The certificate consists of the following courses:

SED LS 565 A1 Applied Linguistics: Language and Linguistics Survey—An introduction to contemporary linguistics, including phonological and syntactic theory, sociolinguistics, first- and second-language acquisition, and discourse theory. Also covers applications of various branches of linguistics to education, including issues of different cultures in the classroom, the role of language in education, and the development of literacy.

SED LS 567 Structure of English—Linguistic analysis of English grammatical structures and pedagogical application of linguistic concepts in preparation for teaching English as a second or foreign language. Coursework extends implicit linguistic knowledge of English to explicit metalinguistic knowledge necessary for grammar sequencing and instruction.

SED LS 658 A1 Second–Language Acquisition
—Research and theories of second-language acquisition. Includes research on naturalistic and classroom second-language learning.

SED TL 509 A1 Foundations of TESOL Pedagogy—Current theories of second-language teaching, analysis of materials, and practice in adapting and expanding textbook lessons. Focuses on adult, college, and international teaching.

*International applicants will not be able to acquire a student visa through this course of study. International students in a certificate program must be on a valid visa that allows for part-time study. International applicants seeking a course of study that is permissible for a full-time student visa should review information on our master’s, CAGS, and Doctor of Education graduate programs.

Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will be able to:

• Develop original curriculum materials to supplement or supply curricular instruction to learners of English as an additional language in a variety of postsecondary settings domestically or internationally.
• Explain and provide examples of the forms and meanings of basic structures of English that are known to pose problems for learners and teachers of English.
• Apply pedagogical knowledge of the grammatical system of English to the preparation and delivery of instruction that reflects contemporary usage and discourse conventions.
• Explain, analyze, and apply knowledge of the structure and functions of language from the various subfields of linguistics (i.e., articulatory phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, discourse pragmatics, and sociolinguistics) to addressing the intelligibility and communicative needs of English language learners.
• Identify, explain, and critically analyze major theories, models, and hypotheses of second-language acquisition and discuss implications of each of these for classroom assessment and instruction.
• Analyze and explain features of language variation, including the use of register, as these apply to oral and written social and academic language.
• Engage in ongoing inquiry and reflection about teaching practice.