Teaching English as a Second Language, MA (52-473)

Student Learning Outcomes - The graduate with a Master of Arts degree in Teaching English as a Second Language will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to provide instruction to English learners in accordance with the TESOL/CAEP Program Standards:

• Standard 1: Language - Candidates know, understand, and use the major theories and research related to the structure and acquisition of language to help English language learners (ELLs) develop language and literacy and achieve in the content areas.
• Standard 2: Culture - Candidates know, understand, and use major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to the nature and role of culture and cultural groups to construct supportive learning environments for ELLs.
• Standard 3: Planning, Implementing, and Managing Instruction - Candidates know, understand, and use evidence-based practices and strategies related to planning, implementing, and managing standards-based ESL and content instruction. Candidates are knowledgeable about program models and skilled in teaching strategies for developing and integrating language skills. They integrate technology as well as choose and adapt classroom resources appropriate for their ELLs.
• Standard 4: Assessment - Candidates demonstrate understanding of issues and concepts of assessment and use standards-based procedures with ELLs.
• Standard 5: Professionalism - Candidates keep current with new instructional techniques, research results, advances in the ESL field, and education policy issues and demonstrate knowledge of the history of ESL teaching. They use such information to reflect upon and improve their instruction and assessment practices. Candidates work collaboratively with school staff and the community to improve the learning environment, provide support, and advocate for ELLs and their families.

This program is designed to provide professional preparation for individuals who wish to teach English as a second language in the United States and/or abroad. For acceptance into this program, non-native speakers of English must score above 565 on the paper version or above 85 on the internet-based version of the International Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or earn a score of 7.0 or above on the academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). All applicants must have an undergraduate grade point average of 2.70 or above.

Before completion of the program, all students must fulfill the language requirement. Native speakers must have completed two semesters of a college level foreign language or successfully achieved a Level II on the CLEP Foreign Language Examination. Non-native speakers must have passed the university administered exam in spoken and written English. A thesis is optional and requires prior approval from the M.A.-TESL faculty.