Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Certificate)

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Program Summary

Although a TESOL Certificate can take many different forms, this credential is desirable for those who plan to teach in ESL Adult and Community Education programs in the USA, as well as EFL teaching positions overseas. The most respected and reliable TESOL Certificates require training in linguistics, intercultural communication, and education. The TESOL Institutional Certificate program (18 credits) at SUU provides candidates with a solid foundation in the essentials of the TESOL academic field along with practical experiences in ESL classroom observation, tutoring, lesson planning, and teaching.

Candidate Eligibility

The TESOL Institutional Certificate is targeted primarily at SUU undergraduate students who are in a degree-seeking program. The TESOL Institutional Certificate is an add-on program that students complete in addition to their existing program of study.

This program is not intended for K-12 US school teachers. The SUU Department of Teacher Education has a separate program for teaching ESL in the K-12 US schools context.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the coursework for the TESOL Institutional Certificate will be able to:

Identify the main systems of the English language and processes through which they are acquired;
Articulate cultural differences among global communities and how those differences impact language learning contexts; and
Design and deliver effective English language teaching based on sound research and appropriate instructional strategies.

Program Information

Candidates choose one course (3 credits) from each of the two strands, Teaching and Culture, for a total of 6 credits. It is recommended (but not required) that candidates complete all three of the core courses before enrolling in the Teaching strand and Culture strand courses.
The applied skills portion of the certificate is primarily provided through 3 credits of practicum experience; in general, most candidates will complete 1 credit of practicum experience per semester, so the program will usually be completed in a minimum of three semesters.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Curriculum (18 Credits)

Core Requirements (9 Credits)

ENGL 1410 - Introduction to Grammar 3 Credit(s)
LANG 3030 - Introduction to the Study of Language 3 Credit(s)
TESL 1010 - Principles of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 3 Credit(s)

Teaching Focus (3 Credits)

Select one course from the following:

EESL 4340 - Integrating Language Acquisition and Content Instruction 3 Credit(s) *
ENGL 2030 - Methods of Teaching Grammar 3 Credit(s) **
ENGL 2900 - Methods of Teaching Writing 3 Credit(s) **
FREN 4900 - Methods of Teaching Foreign Language 3 Credit(s)
GERM 4900 - Methods of Teaching Foreign Language 3 Credit(s)
SPAN 4900 - Methods of Teaching Foreign Language 3 Credit(s)

Notes

* This course is normally for Education students; however, the prerequisites for this course can be waived if students have already completed TESL 1010 , ENGL 1410 , and LANG 3030 .

** These courses are designed for specific programs, so enrollment may be limited. TESOL Certificate students need instructor permission to enroll.

Culture Focus (3 Credits)