TESOL (BA)

Program Requirements

TESOL Prerequisites - 6 Credits

After successful completion of TESOL 240 and LING 210 (the introductory core classes) with a C+ or higher, the student will submit application form for acceptance into the major.

TESOL Sophomore - 13 Credits

TESOL Junior and Senior - 13 Credits

Choose at least 12 credits - 12 Credits

Choose One

Additional Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements

TESOL majors are required to complete three semesters of a foreign language. Non-native speakers may fulfill the language requirement by either completing EIL or demonstrating proficiency above the EIL level.

No grade below C- accepted

Program Learning Outcomes

The purpose of the TESOL program is to prepare students to confidently teach English to speakers of other languages within a variety of settings (e.g. ESL, EFL, school, business) and to a variety of student populations (e.g. children, adolescents, adults). In order to accomplish this, we believe students need training in three broad areas: knowledge, experience, and professional identity. The TESOL program learning outcomes clarify these areas:

Knowledge

• Students can articulate a knowledge of human language and how it is learned and taught.

Experience

• Students demonstrate they can apply what they have learned within a teaching situation.

Professional Identity

• Students demonstrate a sense of professionalism through improving personal language proficiency.
• Students participate in TESOL professional communities and utilize TESOL resources.
• Students display a sense of self-awareness and efficacy by demonstrating an understanding of what strengths and weaknesses they bring to the TESOL professions and how they can capitalize on their strengths and improve upon their weaknesses.

The Discipline

The discipline or profession of teaching English as a second language is a fairly new one, dating back no more than 50 years. Historically, the discipline has been seen as either a part of linguistics (applied), English, or foreign language education. Taking insights from these disciplines and others, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) is now recognized as a distinct discipline with its own professional organizations, journals, conferences, publishers, and bodies of literature. Given the global influence of English-speaking countries and peoples in the areas of entertainment, politics, and technology, the demand for English is ever-increasing, thus creating a fast-growing industry

Career Opportunities

With the high demand for English instruction around the world, there are many career opportunities for those who are qualified in TESOL. Public school systems in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries find themselves with an increasing number of second language speakers, due to high immigration patterns in Western industrialized nations. Thus, there are many jobs available to those who are trained and certified (See TESOL Education major for more information on becoming "certified" or licensed to teach in the U.S. public school system).

In addition to opportunities to teach in the public school systems of English speaking countries, there are many jobs in other nations, both in the public and private sectors. Many graduates in TESOL go on to work for multinational corporations (English for Business Purposes), or set up their own private language institutes.

Those who may not be interested in teaching may find that their interests lie in materials development or computer software development. Others find that their interests lie in pursuing further education in various applied fields of linguistics, multicultural education, speech pathology, educational psychology, testing and assessment, counseling, instructional technology, or social services.

TESOL Program

David O. McKay made a prophetic statement when he referred to the graduates of this school as international peace-makers. English is the language of international communication in business, higher education, science, technology, travel, as well as in the Church, and hundreds of millions of people are in need of prepared English language teachers.

The TESOL program at BYU–Hawaii is an established and much-respected program that offers a major, a minor, and a certificate. The minor and certificate in TESOL are meant to complement most any major on-campus, adding an extra-major skill area to one’s portfolio and marketability. The minor is particularly helpful to education majors destined for U.S. public schools, while the Certificate is more widely recognized in Asia. Coursework and training are greatly enhanced by the campus environment (half the student population claims some language besides English as their mother tongue). Our graduates successfully secure admission into graduate programs and teaching positions in places as diverse as North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific. They work with a variety of students of varying ages and proficiency in both public and private schools and in the workplace. They teach immigrants, refugees, prospective university students, business executives, as well as secondary, elementary, and preschool children.

At BYU–Hawaii, the TESOL program emphasizes practical preparation for teaching and provides students with a variety of experiences leading toward this goal. TESOL majors can strengthen their professional preparation by choosing a minor in linguistics, education, international cultural studies, English, or a foreign language. Certifying to teach in American public schools is another highly recommended option (TESOL education major). Undergraduate experiences in the TESOL Society and employment at the Language & Speech Lab, the Reading Writing Lab, or in the ESL Program (University Scheduling department) complement coursework.

D credit is permitted for major classes, except for the TESOL education B.A., unless specifically limited or prohibited.