Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Minor

Program Description

The minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) provides students, regardless of academic major, with basic professional knowledge and skills in the teaching of English as a second language (ESL) in adult programs in the United States and English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) in settings abroad. It is also excellent preparation for graduate work in TESOL and Applied Linguistics.

The program of study includes an introduction to the study of language use, culture, and social interaction from a variety of perspectives, to the role of English in globalization processes and to how globalization changes the structure, norms, and usage of English. It also provides students with an overview of current theories and practices in the teaching of English language and culture, and practical experiences in and basic tools for planning, delivering, and evaluating instruction.

Individuals who obtain a minor in TESOL may participate in one of the teaching exchanges sponsored by the Department of Applied Linguistics upon graduation. They may also find teaching positions in private language institutes or as private language tutors in the United States and abroad as well as through organizations such as the Peace Corps and the Fulbright Exchange.

This minor does not duplicate other undergraduate degree programs within the department, college or University. It may be pursued concurrently with any undergraduate major.

What is Teaching English To Speakers of Other Languages?

The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Minor prepares you to teach adult English language learners (ELLs) in the U.S. and abroad. Through the coursework and hands-on experiences, you get the practical knowledge and skills you need to work with culturally and linguistically diverse adults in entry-level teaching and tutoring opportunities. As a speaker of English, regardless of where you go or why you go there, you may be asked to teach or tutor ELLs. The TESOL Minor can be a valuable addition to any major as you can from this list of majors our TESOL Minor students represent: Anthropology Arts and Architecture Asian Studies Community, Education and Development Communication Sciences and Disorders Education and Public Policy English Journalism Psychology We would like to add your major to our list!

You Might Like This Program If...

• You enjoy working with people from other cultures and language backgrounds.
• You want to go abroad, join the Peace Corps, apply for a Fulbright Exchange Program or Critical Languages Scholarship.
• You want to work with adult English language learners in the U.S. or overseas.

Program Requirements

The minor consists of 18 credit hours. All students are required to take four three-credit courses, for a total of 12 credits in the study of language use, culture and interaction, English as a global language, functional grammar and teaching methods.

Requirements for the Minor

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
APLNG 200	Introduction to Language, Culture, and Social Interaction	3
APLNG 210	The Ecology of Global English	3
APLNG 484	Discourse-Functional Grammar	3
APLNG 493	Teaching English as a Second Language	3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 6 credits of the following:		6
APLNG 83	First-Year Seminar in Applied Linguistics: Language as Social Practice
APLNG 220N	Multilingual Lives: Stories of Language and Culture Learning
APLNG 250	Peer Tutoring for Multilingual Writers
APLNG 410	Teaching American English Pronunciation
APLNG 412	Teaching Second Language Writing
APLNG 482Y	Introduction to Applied Linguistics
APLNG 491	Theory: Second Language Acquisition

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Majors and Minors web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program

Abington

Roxanna Senyshyn
Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics and Communication Arts and Sciences
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7827
rms42@psu.edu

Career Paths

The TESOL Minor provides you with foundational knowledge, skills, and experiences for teaching English with adult English language learners in programs in the U.S. and around the world. These programs may be offered by literacy councils, non-profit or government organizations at the local, state, national or international level, public and private schools, faith-based groups, and other community-based organizations. The TESOL Minor is also excellent preparation for graduate work in TESOL and Applied Linguistics.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATE WITH A MINOR IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS
234 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7365
lals@psu.edu

http://aplng.la.psu.edu/programs/tesol-minor

Abington

DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7827
rms42@psu.edu

http://abington.psu.edu/person/roxanna-senyshun-ph-d