Program offered is a Certificate.

TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES PROGRAM (TESOL)

Mission Statement

The mission of the TESOL Program is to prepare professional English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers who support and promote school and social responsiveness to the unique needs of first time learners of the English language both in the United States and worldwide. SMC offers high quality education from highly qualified professors who have significant years of experience in teaching English to speakers of other languages. They use a combination of research and practice with the goal of educational improvement, respect for diversity, and the recognition of individual language rights.

The TESOL Programs are designed to meet the needs of three distinct professionals:

• Supplementary TESOL Certificate - Candidates in pre-service credential programs or credentialed teachers who recognize the need to enhance their knowledge and improve their skills for educating English language learners in K-12 settings.
• TESOL Certificate - Individuals who desire to teach English abroad or teach adult immigrants.
• MA-TESOL – Individuals pursuing a Masters degree in teaching English with the goal of either teaching abroad or in the US, possibly in an institution of higher learning, such as a community college, college, or university. The Master's Project may be completed abroad.

TESOL Courses

TESL 410 Language, Culture and Equity

This course covers the nature of culture, ways teachers can learn about their students' cultures and use cultural knowledge to enhance learning. Cultural contact and cultural and linguistic diversity in California and the United States are examined. A major focus is the role of languages and cultures within the classroom, the sociopolitical context of schooling, the role and definition of race and ethnicity and the impact of these on classroom equity, student self-esteem and empowerment/disempowerment. Historical perspectives and social issues are explored and examined in relation to issues of power and status as they are manifested in the classroom and school culture.

TESL 420 Second Language Acquisition

This course covers both theories and methods of second language development and gives a solid background in theory and research. The relationship between language, thought, and culture will be examined for its application to second language learning and teaching.

TESL 430 Foundations in English Language Teaching

This course introduces participants to the basic principles and central guiding hypotheses behind teaching English to high-intermediate to advanced English language learners.

TESL 440 English from the Inside Out (3)

This course is will prepare teachers of speakers of other languages to teach English as a system. It will both cover and uncover grammar through an inductive, step-by-step approach. This course encourages discovery as well. Language teaching is the focus of the class. The course will provide introductions to several concepts that must be understood in order to grasp more complicated works. In addition, teachers will learn to analyze errors in student work. Overall, the course will provide teachers with the linguistic perspectives that will help them become successful in teaching English.

TESL 450 Systematic Language Development (3)

Building on the students' developing knowledge of the theory and research related to first and second language acquisition, a combination of readings, lecture, discussion, small group work, activities, and video presentations will provide students with the necessary knowledge and practice so that they can create comprehensible, multi-modal language lessons at appropriate levels of complexity for each state of acquisition, modify speech to be understood by the learner, create a low-stress environment, and give timely and appropriate feedback. The relationship between language, thought and culture will be examined for its application to second language learning and teaching. We will explore the elements of various language activities and how they relate to the development of language proficiency. After reviewing basic exemplary instructional factors, most of the course time will be spent on demonstrations of and participation in practical classroom strategies. This course is appropriate for teachers in grades K—12, as well as teachers in adult education programs.

TESL 610 ESL Testing and Assessment (3)

This course examines a variety of ESL tests and types of ESL student assessment. It is designed for students and practitioners who are or will be working with ESL or EFL population pre-K through adult. Formal assessments such as TOEFL and teacher-designed assessments are covered. Students will learn to assess an ESL/EFL student and to construct an ESL test for use in their classrooms.

TESL 630 Sociolinguistics (3)

This course is an introduction to anthropological sociolinguistics. It will provide a basic familiarity with different aspects of linguistics theory and the study of the origin and development of language. Relationship between language and culture, language and society, and language mobility and social theory will also be discussed.

TESL 640 Preparation and Evaluation of ESL/EFL Materials (3)

This course focuses on the preparation and evaluation of ESL/EFL materials; books, tapes, videos, machines, kits, etc. The role of the teacher, the needs of the students, the development of lesson plans, and the selection of texts is discussed. At the completion of the course, the students will understand the relationship between theories of second language acquisition and materials selection, be able to select, evaluate and adapt appropriate materials for a given level.

Campus Offerings