Master of Arts In Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Overview

The MA TESOL is a professional degree designed for those who wish to work with English language learners. The educational objective is to prepare teachers of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) for work outside the American public school setting. Courses cover second language acquisition theories, TESOL methods, pedagogical knowledge of English grammar and phonology, and ESL (English as a Second Language)-focused content delivery.

About The Program

MA TESOL students gain theoretical and practical knowledge about those factors that constitute a sound ESL program; for example, human language learning, language in its sociocultural settings and uses, language program structures, and support for the achievement of learner objectives. Students pursuing a degree or certificate in TESOL divide their class time between theory and practice. All UT Arlington TESOL students acquire not only a working knowledge of how to be an effective teacher of English to speakers of other languages but also a sense of how other languages operate. As a part of the curriculum, students complete 36 credit hours and engage in a minimum of 60 clock hours of classroom practice.

Career Opportunities

• Community college and university ESL instructor
• ESL instructor in nonprofit organizations
• ESL teacher in international locations
• Online ESL teacher
• ESL program coordinator or literacy program coordinator
• ESL content and curriculum developer
• Peace Corps, Fulbright, English Language Teaching Fellows, and other government-sponsored positions

Degree Options

MA in TESOL (Campus-Based)

• The program includes course study and a comprehensive examination, for a total of 36 credits (12 courses).
• Courses include eight required core courses (24 credits) and four elective courses (12 credits).
• The MA TESOL is a professional degree designed for those who wish to work with learners of English.

Graduate Certificate in TESOL

• This non-degree-seeking program includes course study for a total of 19 credit hours.
• The Graduate Certificate in TESOL is designed for those who wish to work with learners of English in international locales, or for those who already hold a master's degree (in any area) and wish to teach ESL at community colleges in the U.S.
• The course study constitutes seven courses (19 credits):
  • six required core courses (18 credits) and
  • one required internship (1 credit).

BiljaST / pixabay

Degree Plan

All M.A. TESOL students must demonstrate knowledge of a foreign language prior to unconditional admission to the degree program. Those without such background may pursue the study of a foreign language at UT Arlington concurrent with probationary enrollment in the M.A. TESOL program.

• The program includes course study and a comprehensive examination, for a total of 36 credits.
• The course study constitutes 12 courses (36 credits):
  • 8 required core courses (24 credits); and
  • 4 elective courses (12 credits).
• The comprehensive examination is offered twice a year: November and April.

Core Courses

There are 8 required courses (24 credits) in Linguistics and TESOL.

• In the area of Linguistics, there are 2 core courses (6 credits).
  • LING 5300: Linguistic Analysis or LING 5309 Linguistics for Language Professionals
  • LING 5305: Second Language Acquisition
• In the area of TESOL, there are 6 core courses (18 credits).
  • LING 5301: TESOL Methodology
  • LING 5302: TESOL Reading & Composition
  • LING 5304: TESOL Pedagogical Grammar
  • LING 5306: TESOL Curriculum Design
  • LING 5307: Pedagogical Phonology of English
  • LING 5393: TESOL Teaching and Observation

An Important Note about Course Sequencing

Students in the M.A. TESOL program are required to take courses in the appropriate sequence; doing so helps to ensure that they will have the necessary background to master the materials in more advanced classes. Key sequencings:

• LING 5300 (or equivalent linguistics foundation) is a prerequisite for LING 5310/-11/-51, and LING 5305.
• LING 5301 or 5302 is a prerequisite for LING 5303, LING 5304, and LING 5307.
• LING 5301, 5302, and 5305 are prerequisites for LING 5393.

Elective Courses

There are 4 elective courses (12 credits), to be selected in consultation with the graduate advisor. At least two of the elective courses must come from the Department of Linguistics and TESOL inventory. Examples include the following, but others may be taken, too. (Please consult your advisor before selecting electives):

• LING 3330 – Phonetics and Phonology
• LING 3340 – Grammar and Morphology
• LING 5310 – Sociolinguistics
• LING 5347 – Pragmatics
• LING 5381 – Corpus Linguistics
• LING 5395 – Graduate Internship
• LING 6381 – Research Design and Statistics

Up to 2 of the remaining elective courses (6 credits) may be an appropriate course offered by another department. Examples include the following, but other courses may be eligible, too. (Please consult your advisor before selecting electives):

• Elective
• Elective

Why Choose Us?

• Experienced ESL teachers-turned-professors to share the classroom experience
• Course offerings in both theory and practice
• Required practicum so students gain practical classroom experience
• Growing focus on innovation and technology to meet global demands of the ESL industry
• Creation of materials to build a teaching dossier is built into program requirements

Admission Requirements

Admission decisions into a degree program in the Department of Linguistics & TESOL are made on the basis of two types of factors, quantitative and qualitative.

Quantitative Factors

1. Grade Point Average (GPA). For M.A. program applicants, undergraduate GPA is determined by the U.T. Arlington Graduate School.
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores. All applicants are required to submit GRE scores. There are no exceptions. The Department of Linguistics & TESOL evaluates each applicant’s sub-scores separately: verbal, quantitative, and analytical.
3. TOEFL Scores (international applications only) Applicants for whom English is not their native language and who have not been granted either an undergraduate or graduate degree by an English-medium institution must also present a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS equivalent score. There are no exceptions.

Qualitative Factors

• Letters of Recommendation. Each applicant must present three (3) letters of recommendation that unequivocally indicate that the applicant is prepared for and capable of successful graduate study in linguistics or TESOL at U.T. Arlington. The letters should further indicate that the applicant is capable of completing the appropriate degree program.
• Statement of intent for academic study in our department. Each applicant must write a statement that explains their plan of study and specialization in our department. The statement will be evaluated on the degree to which it is clear, reasonable, and consistent with the research and teaching agenda of the current faculty in Linguistics & TESOL at U.T. Arlington. The statement should also convey a level of commitment and maturity commensurate with the applicant’s desired degree goals.
• Undergraduate Preparation. Applicants to the M.A. in TESOL program should have passed the following three courses or reasonable equivalents as determined by the TESOL graduate advisor (U.T. Arlington equivalents are noted in parentheses):
  • English composition (ENGL 1302)
  • A course on English-language literature (ENGL 2319, ENGL 2329)
  • The equivalent of a fourth-semester course in a foreign language (SPAN 2314, FREN 2314, etc.). Students whose undergraduate education was delivered in a language other than English are exempt from this requirement.
• Writing Sample (required for Ph.D. applicants, optional for MA programs): Applicants must submit an academic writing sample (research paper) of 20 pages or less. The paper must be in an area of language, teaching, or linguistic study, and demonstrate a strong prose style, a solid handle on argumentation, and the ability to do academic research in linguistics or a closely related field.