The TESOL minor is valuable to those interested in teaching or working with multilingual populations, or for teaching ESOL either in the U.S. or abroad
What is TESOL?
The Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) minor is designed to prepare students interested in teaching and/or working with multilingual learners. You’ll be introduced to topics in linguistics, grammar, theory and methods of language teaching, as wells as curriculum development. You’ll also develop a greater awareness of world languages and cultures. The minor is primarily for students pursuing careers in teaching but is also appropriate for students interested in a range of professions that require regular interaction with a multilingual population, such as social work, workforce development, public health and management.
Why study TESOL at UNH Manchester?
The hands-on TESOL minor at UNH Manchester is valuable to those interested in teaching or working with multilingual populations, or for teaching ESOL either in the U.S. or abroad. As the cultural and linguistic diversity in K-12 schools continues to increase, the TESOL minor is an excellent addition to any student interested in public school teaching. For students interested in teaching abroad, the TESOL minor provides a competitive edge through hands-on initiatives such as the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program. The minor is also attractive to students who are interested in using the credential to pursue overseas opportunities like the Peace Corps and World Teach.
Potential career areas
- Adult education
- English language programs
- Interpreting
- Peace Corps
- Private language tutoring
- Social work
- Teach for America
Curriculum & Requirements
The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Minor is a set of courses designed to prepare students interested in teaching and/or working with multilingual learners. The minor is primarily for students pursuing careers in teaching but is also appropriate for students interested in a range of professions that require regular interaction with a multilingual population (e.g. social work, work force development, public health, and management). It also benefits students who want to later pursue K-12 ESOL certification or a graduate degree in education or linguistics at UNH or another institution. As the cultural and linguistic diversity in PK-16 schools continues to increase, the TESOL Minor is an excellent choice for any student interested in public school teaching.
Additionally, the TESOL Minor may appeal to students who are interested in teaching English to bi-/ multilingual learners in non-K-12 settings, either in the US or abroad. In the U.S. this includes teaching at the post-secondary level, e.g. community colleges, academic enrichment centers at Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and at adult learning centers. For students wishing to teach abroad, the TESOL Minor provides a competitive edge over other B.S./B.A. candidates applying for prestigious opportunities such as the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program. The minor is also beneficial for students pursuing overseas opportunities (e.g., Peace Corps, World Teach), and, in addition, opens up new international job-seeking possibilities.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | ||
| EDUC 712 | Teaching Multilingual Learners 1 | 4 |
| ENGL 716 | Curriculum, Materials and Assessment in English as a Second Language | 4 |
| ENGL 791 | English Grammar | 4 |
| Select two of the following 2 | 8 | |
EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching (with an ESOL placement) | |
EDUC #797 | Special Topics in Education (related to TESOL) 3 | |
ENGL 719 | Sociolinguistics Survey | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
- 1
- 2
Students may petition to have a TESOL-related course from another major (e.g., English, Communication Arts) serve as an elective.
- 3
Special topics in the past have included: "Language and Culture in Schools & Schooling"; "The Immigrant Experience in Film and Literature"; and "Sociolinguistics and Socioliteracies." Students may petition to have a TESOL- related course from another major (e.g., English, Communication Arts) fulfill the EDUC special topics requirement.
