Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Certificate
The TESOL Certificate Program provides a firm grounding in both linguistics and pedagogical theory paired with practical teaching experience. It prepares future teachers of English as a second or foreign language to apply their skills in settings around the world. Because the TESOL Certificate is a six-course program and because all six graduate courses from this certificate may apply towards an M.A., a student can earn a TESOL Certificate in conjunction with an M.A. in Linguistics with just one additional year's coursework.
The Certificate Program has close relationships with the English Programs for Internationals (EPI) at South Carolina, which is among the top-ranked adult ESL programs in the nation. EPI faculty members typically are responsible for the instruction in pedagogically-oriented ESL theory courses, as well as for the practical training component of the Certificate Program.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of general linguistics and proficiency in problem-solving skills.
- Students will demonstrate understanding of second language acquisition theories.
- Students will demonstrate professional competencies in planning, implementing, and assessing English as second language instruction appropriate for specific groups and settings.
Certificate Requirements (18 Hours)
The program in linguistics offers a graduate certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) — a six-course, 18-semester-hour program. There are two tracks, the EFL track for post-secondary ESOL and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teaching and the K-12 ESOL track for elementary and secondary ESOL teaching. Course requirements for each track are as follows:
EFL Track
Primarily for post-secondary ESOL and EFL teaching
Required Courses (12 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LING 600 | Survey of Linguistics | 3 |
| LING 790 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| LING 795 | Principles and Strategies for Teaching ESOL | 3 |
| LING 798 | Practicum in Teaching ESOL | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Elective Courses (6 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Contrastive English-Spanish Phonetics and Phonology | ||
| Theory and Methodology in Second Language Acquisition | ||
| Teaching Reading and Writing to ESOL Learners: Theory and Practice | ||
| Seminar in Language Acquisition | ||
| Seminar in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) | ||
| Cultural Perspective on Psychological and Social Foundations of Literacy Learning | ||
| Classroom Assessment Methods | ||
| Survey of Composition Studies | ||
Or any other course in English as a second language or in second language acquisition | ||
| Select one additional LING course 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
| 1 | Selected in consultation with the academic advisor. |
K-12 ESOL Track
For elementary and secondary ESOL teaching
Required Courses (12 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LING 600 | Survey of Linguistics | 3 |
| LING 795 | Principles and Strategies for Teaching ESOL | 3 |
| LING 796 | Teaching Reading and Writing to ESOL Learners: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| LING 798 | Practicum in Teaching ESOL 1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
| 1 | The practicum may be waived based on one year’s experience teaching ESOL and replaced with an elective course. It is recommended that the practicum, if waived, be replaced with one of the following courses: |
Elective Courses (6 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from two of the following areas: | 6 | |
1. English Grammar/Structure | ||
2. Second Language Acquisition for Teachers of Elementary and Secondary Learners | ||
| Second Language Acquisition | ||
3. Cultural Diversity in Education | ||
| Developing Integrated Curricula | ||
4. Testing/Assessment for Language Minority Learners | ||
| Classroom Assessment Methods | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Additional Information
For this program, no courses may be transferred from another university, although up to 9 semester hours of overlapping course work from another program at the University of South Carolina may count toward completion of the certificate. For full-time students, the certificate course work and practicum can be completed in one academic year.