Degree Options

The TESOL program aims to prepare graduates who will be successful teachers of English to speakers of other languages in a wide variety of institutional settings and cultural contexts.

Organizing Themes

Both degree options seek to fulfill the mission of the College of Education by infusing the TESOL curriculum with the following themes:

Collaboration

Students collaborate with classmates on a range of activities and projects throughout their courses. In addition, faculty invites guest speakers from other SU units as well as from the larger community. Students will also be working closely with ESOL professionals in TSOL 5660 Internship in the TESOL setting.

Globalization

TESOL faculty members and many of the instructors at the School of Teaching ESL have experience teaching EFL abroad, in Germany, China, Russia, Japan, Colombia, Iran, Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, and other countries. Approximately 20% of the students in the TESOL program are international students; their expertise is sought in class discussions about ESOL teaching around the world. In the required TSOL 5330 Second Language Acquisition and TSOL 5360 Language in Society, you will be reading about and discussing the notions of "World Englishes," "Native Speaker," and "English as a Language of Wider Communication."

All students will also have the opportunity to increase global awareness outside class. The program occasionally sponsors special sessions on teaching English in various parts of the world, and everyone is encouraged to join the international professional association.

Technology

The TESOL program uses email for advising and job announcements, queries to students, setting up meetings and appointments, etc.

The faculty models the use of technology in instruction and the program arranges technology training for students, as needed. Through in-class activities and assignments, participants will have an opportunity to develop their own skills in the appropriate application of current and emerging technology, e.g., email, email discussion lists, use of Internet, electronic data bases, presentation software, web pages, etc.

Social Justice

In alignment with Jesuit values, the TESOL program is committed to justice education. Virtually every TSOL and EPDES class takes as its starting point the needs of the ESOL student, either abroad or in the U.S. Discussion of these needs entails an appreciation of the challenges for people of micro-cultures within the U.S. attempting to learn the language of the macro-culture and for non-native speakers of English learning a global language.

EDUC 5200 Social Justice in Professional Practice is required of TESOL students, as well as students in all other College of Education programs. TSOL 5330 Second Language Acquisition includes discussion and readings on language and identity, culture shock, and anomie of the second language learner. TSOL 5360 Language in Society takes as a major theme the issue of power imbalances as reflected in and perpetuated by use of language. An elective, TSOL 5240 Teaching English for Academic Purposes, considers the special challenges of students seeking academic success in a foreign university setting. Aside from coursework, students have an opportunity to reflect on issues of social justice as they volunteer in, observe, and complete their internships.