School of Education offers second language certificate
Program will give students travel opportunities, global employment choices
Alix Syragakis
Issue date: 9/30/08 Section: News
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Students who complete this program will receive a TESOL certificate, which allows its participants to teach English in the U.S. and abroad. TESOL certificate holders may work in community colleges, adult education centers and many other entry level English as a Second Language (ESL) positions.
The program does not require its students to be fluent in a foreign language. Rather, TESOL advances the students' understanding of English grammar and construction while attuning them to the needs of ESL learners.
Professor Gail Kirby of the TESOL Department described the program's advantages. "It's a fun way to support yourself while you're traipsing around the world," she said. The TESOL certificate gives students the opportunity to travel, with the potential to earn money at any destination. Students vacationing or studying abroad can use their TESOL certificate to gain temporary or long-term employment overseas, without a teacher's accreditation.
Originally, the TESOL certificate was only available through an extension of UC Berkeley. But next spring, students at Saint Mary's will be able to earn both the TESOL certificate and partake in the M.A. program on their home campus.
The TESOL certificate is a requirement for entry into the TESOL master's program. A bachelor's degree in any field is also required.
For example, a student with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology could complete the certificate program and go on to enter the master's program, even though they have no prior experience in teaching.
The TESOL certificate and the graduate program are both great opportunities for those pursuing a teaching credential at any level. Both TESOL programs add evidence of diverse and unique teaching experience to one's course of study and resume.
Professor Sadique Popal teaches a graduate level TESOL course and explained what tactics help students learn the material the best. "We focus on teaching about grammar, spelling and the basics of the English language. Then we introduce methods of how to teach these principals to a non-English speaker."
TESOL provides its students with small class sizes, and dynamic teachers. This is evidenced in class exercises.
In one example, Popal used Arabic in one particular lesson to describe the challenges non-English speakers confront when attempting to learn the language.
The new TESOL certificate program not only provides convenience to those pursuing a TESOL MA, but also provides many new opportunities for Saint Mary's students.
Additional information about the TESOL program can be found on the School of Education website.