TESOL Certificate
Teachers of English as a Second Language
Teaching English as a Second Language or Other Language (TESOL) Program: Part of the Intensive English Language Program
As English continues to expand as a medium for global communication, the demand for qualified English language instructors has increased. In addition, as non-native English-speaking immigrant populations increase in this country, teachers of English as a Second Language are needed to provide linguistic and cultural training. These developments have raised the awareness of the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL) here at Shepherd University.
Many job opportunities and graduate-level programs are dependent on TESOL certification, and even though students often have the necessary knowledge and skills for these opportunities, without a certificate, these students struggle to compete with other applicants whose institutions provide this certification. The Shepherd University TESOL program provides students with the knowledge and certification to help them meet the needs of English language learners.
The following intended student outcomes are specifically related to the curricular component of the program but involve all other features of the program as well. The TESOL Program at Shepherd University is an interdisciplinary program that seeks to:
- analyze critically current theories in second language acquisition
- review and analyze classroom issues related to Teaching English as a Second Language
- demonstrate an understanding of second language teaching methodologies, including the ability to communicate them to a range or audiences
- implement second language teaching methodologies in a wide range of classroom teaching scenarios
- examine current literature in the field of education with an informed, critical perspective
- evaluate and apply knowledge from a broad range of educational areas to TESOL theory and practice
- demonstrate mastery in the knowledge and skills of TESOL research
Shepherd University TESOL Program Course Offerings
ESL Methods 3 credits
Teaching writing and grammar 3 credits
ESL testing and assessments 3 credits
Language and culture 3 credits
Second language acquisition 3 credits