T E S O L MIN
Program Purpose
Overview
The Undergraduate TESOL Minor is intended for students who wish to develop foundational experience in teaching English to speakers of other languages and combine this knowledge and skill with the knowledge, skills, and experience gained in their undergraduate major. TESOL minor students are qualified for many overseas positions teaching English as a foreign language. They may also work in various ESL programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries. Possible teaching settings include adult education classes, intensive English programs, and English language learning programs around the world. Students in any major may apply for the TESOL minor.
BYU's Department of Linguistics offers an undergraduate minor and a certificate in teaching English to speakers of other language (TESOL). Students may earn a minor or a minor plus a certificate.
Note: For education majors, the TESOL K-12 minor offered through the McKay School of Education is available to those earning a teaching major and leads to an ESL endorsement. Contact the David O. McKay School of Education Advisement Center for the Teaching English Language Learners (TELL) Program.
Difference between the TESOL Certificate and the TESOL Minor
The TESOL minor consists of 18 credit hours of coursework and will be indicated on a student's official transcript, whereas the TESOL certificate will not. Students should apply to the minor program by going to their college advisement center. Requirements will be tracked by the MyMap system and the student's progress report. If all requirements are met, the minor will be awarded at the time of graduation. Students who want to earn the TESOL certificate must complete the 18 hours of TESOL minor classes plus two additional requirements. These requirements include showing evidence of a second language learning experience equivalent to 4 semesters of a second language (through classes or challenge exams) as well as completing ELang 496R - TESOL internship (3 cr.). Once the student has provided evidence to the Linguistics Department that these additional requirements have been met, the department will prepare and mail a paper certificate to the student. Choosing whether or not to complete the certificate depends largely on the student's career goals. A TESOL certificate is a term that is recognized around the world. While this TESOL certificate is not a credential for teaching in the public schools, it is frequently required for teaching adult ESL and teaching abroad.
Curricular Structure
TESOL Minor - Total Hours (18) - Effective Fall 2013
1. Complete the following prerequisite to all core courses:
• ELANG 223 (Introduction to the English Language, 3 hours). LING 201 (or LING 330) fulfills this requirement for Linguistics majors
2. Complete the following core courses:
• ELang 325 - (The Grammar of English, 3 credit hours)
• ELang 375 - (TESOL Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation, 3 credit hours)
• ELang 376 - (TESOL Reading, Writing, and Vocabulary, 3 credit hours)
3. Complete the following additional courses:
• ELang 477 - (TESOL Course and Lesson Planning, 3 credit hours)
• ELang 478 - (TESOL Practicum, 3 credit hours)
Recommendations:
• Courses for the TESOL minor are designed to be taken in the following sequence (from left to right):
ELANG 223 --- ELang 325, 375, 376 --- ELang 477, 478 --- ELang 496R (certificate only)
• Students pursuing the TESOL minor should start with ELANG 223 in spring or summer
• It is also best to begin ELang 496R at least one semester before graduation
Undergraduate TESOL Certificate
Program Requirements
1. Complete a TESOL minor (18 hours)
2. Complete ELang 496R - TESOL Internship (3 cr.)
3. Provide evidence of the following:
a. Evidence of a second language learning experience equivalent to 4 semesters of a second language (through classes or challenge exams)
b. For students whose first language is not English, evidence of English language proficiency (a minimum of Advanced-low on the ACTFL OPI)
4. Contact Dr. Nancy Turley (nancy.r.turley@gmail.com) if you are planning on completing the certificate in addition to the minor.
Learning Outcomes
English Language Fundamentals
Students will demonstrate a foundational knowledge of the English language systems of phonology, morphology, grammar, semantics, and pragmatics and how these systems are integral to the language learning competencies of listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
With a foundational knowledge of the English language systems and language learning competences, students will demonstrate fundamental competence in lesson planning, teaching strategies, and language testing when teaching English as a second or foreign language.
Evidence of Learning
Direct Measures:
1. A written teaching philosophy (ELang 477)
2. A professional teaching portfolio (ELand 477 & 478)
3. Supervisory observation and mentoring reports of students' tutoring and teaching (ELANG 478)
4. A creative and well-organized teaching materials file (ELang 477 & 478)
5. Traditional course-level assessment tools including quizzes, oral and written exams, essays, research papers, projects, lesson plans, and oral presentations (All courses)
6. Second language proficiency exams (required language courses or exemption exams)
Indirect Measures:
1. Focus groups with graduating students
2. Surveys of students in the TESOL practicum course (ELang 478) and TESOL intership (ELang 496R)
3. Individual course / instructor evaluations
4. Faculty / student advisement interviews
5. University administered alumni survey
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
1. The TESOL Minor Curriculum committee meets annually to review data collected from focus groups of graduating students, alumni surveys, and feedback received from students by faculty advisors. This data, along with data captured from the practicum course is being used to review the program structure, course offerings, and course learning outcomes. Feedback received from internship surveys and course evaluations as of spring 2020 indicate that the revised curriculum is working well and students are being prepared for the practicum and internship teaching opportunities.
2. The new TESOL minor curriculum that started in fall 2013 appears to be providing a more comprehensive training program for undergraduates than in years past. Learning outcomes were revised and feedback received from students participating in internships report a high degree of satisfaction with the preparation they are receiving.