TESOL

The Linguistics Department offers a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. All students interested in completing the minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages must complete a minimum of 24 credits of course work. This program can also be completed by PreK-12 teachers as a post-baccalaureate. The courses required for the minor are:

• LIN 2201 - Introduction to Linguistics (4)
• LIN 4334 - Language Acquisition (4)
• ALS 4375 - Language and Culture (4)
• ALS 4418 - Teaching English to Multilingual Learners (4)
• ALS 4438 - Curriculum, Material Design, Assessment, and Compliance (4)
• ALS 4960 - Practicum (4; Please contact the Program Coordinator (Rebecca Gaydos) for more information)

Credit toward the minor will only be allowed for courses with a grade of 2.0 or higher. Students must satisfy the eligibility requirement described under Practicum Eligibility to obtain the minor.

Our TESOL coursework has been approved by the Michigan Department of Education and prepares student to take the PreK-12 Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in the ESL endorsement (NS) subject area. Please note that the Michigan Department of Education requires the following of Education majors working toward their PreK-12 ESL/NS endorsement:

• Completion of core content area program in conjunction with or prior to adding the ESL endorsement.
• Candidates for completion must have completed a core content program in Elementary Education, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, or Mathematics as a base for the ESL/NS endorsement.
• Students must demonstrate English language proficiency by meeting Oakland University's English language proficiency requirement upon registration for the program.
• Students must also have documented experience learning a second language equivalent to two semesters' worth of college-level study in order to gain an understanding and appreciation of the processes of learning an additional language.
• There is a required course ALS 4960 Practicum. Please contact the Program Coordinator (Rebecca Gaydos) for more information.

The Linguistics Department offers an Undergraduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. All students interested in attaining a Certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages must complete a minimum of 16 credits of course work. The courses required for the Certificate are:

• LIN 2201 - Introduction to Linguistics (4)
• ALS 4418 - Teaching English to Multilingual Learners (4)
• ALS 4438 - Curriculum, Material Design, Assessment, and Compliance (4)
• ALS 4960 - Practicum (4; Please contact the Program Coordinator (Rebecca Gaydos) for more information)

Credit toward the Certification will only be allowed for courses with a grade of 2.0 or higher. Students must satisfy the eligibility requirement described under Practicum Eligibility to obtain the Certification.

Please contact the Program Coordinator (Rebecca Gaydos) for more information.

The Linguistics Department offers a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. All students interested in completing the Certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages must complete a minimum of 24 credits of course work.

The following course is a prerequisite:

• LIN 2201 - Introduction to Linguistics (4; Course will be waived if the candidate has previously completed a course in Introduction to Linguistics)

The courses required for the Certificate are:

• ALS 5518 - Teaching English to Multilingual Learners (4)
• LIN 5534 - Language Acquisition (4)
• ALS 5538 - Curriculum, Material Design, Assessment, and Compliance (4)
• LIN 5575 - Language and Culture (4)
• ALS 5589 - Teaching English Language Learners with Special Needs (4)
• ALS 5960 - Practicum (4; Please contact the Program Coordinator (Rebecca Gaydos) for more information)

Credit toward the Certificate will only be allowed for courses with a grade of 2.0 or higher. Students must satisfy the eligibility requirement described under Practicum Eligibility to obtain Certification.

Our TESOL coursework has been approved by the Michigan Department of Education and prepares student to take the PreK-12 Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in the ESL endorsement (NS) subject area. Please note that the Michigan Department of Education requires the following of PreK-12 teachers working toward their PreK-12 ESL/NS endorsement:

• Completion of core content area program in conjunction with or prior to adding the ESL endorsement.
• Candidates for completion must have completed a core content program in Elementary Education, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, or Mathematics as a base for the ESL/NS endorsement.
• Students must demonstrate English language proficiency by meeting Oakland University's English language proficiency requirement upon registration for the program.
• Students must also have documented experience learning a second language equivalent to two semesters' worth of college-level study in order to gain an understanding and appreciation of the processes of learning an additional language.

These credits can also be applied to the M.A. Degree in Linguistics. Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator (Prof. Mike Smith) for more information.

"I am so fortunate that the ESL minor program was established the year I transferred to Oakland University.  Deciding to minor in ESL has made me a lot more aware of the diversity that we are immersed in throughout the United States. I have acquired a passion for teaching diverse students and enduring unique cultural experiences. I have learned about so many other cultures that are present in our country and also the difficulty of the English language. Not only do I enjoy teaching English to non-native speakers, but I also love that I learn about myself and broaden my own knowledge in doing so."
-BJ, TESOL Minor, K-12 Certification

La Casa Amiga Adult Education Program
Since 1998, the Linguistics Department at Oakland University in cooperation with La Casa Amiga (Hispanic Outreach Pontiac) runs an adult education outreach program to provide English language classes free to multilingual language learners. Oakland University graduate and undergraduate students working toward the Department of Linguistics Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate Program (TESOL) complete their student teaching at La Casa Amiga. Student teachers gain valuable teaching experience and the sense of accomplishment that comes with community service.

Avondale School District Summer Program
English language classes are available during the last week of June through mid July each year at in the Avondale School District for school children in grades 1-12 on Monday through Thursday mornings 8:30 am through 12:00 noon. These classes are taught by Oakland University Department of Linguistics undergraduate and graduate level PreK-12 pre-service teachers minoring in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. These students are all completing requirements for a Michigan Department of Education endorsement in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Teachers plan lessons to improve student's ability to communicate in English in the four skills areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening.