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Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) equips students with the skills and knowledge to teach English to non-native speakers in a variety of contexts. The program combines language acquisition theory, linguistics, and practical teaching methods, preparing students to design effective instructional strategies for diverse learners. With a focus on both classroom practice and cultural competency, the B.A. in TESL prepares graduates for careers in education, language instruction, and international teaching roles, as well as further studies in applied linguistics and TESL certification.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Teaching English as a Second Language provides students with a broad understanding of both theory and practice in language studies, pedagogy and culture. Students gain mastery in implementing their skills in varied second-language teaching contexts; in addition, they can observe and participate with international learners in a state-of-the-art technology classroom.
Students who complete an optional practicum abroad may earn the . Students can additionally work toward state teacher licensure by completing the .
Teaching English as a Second Language students may apply early to the and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the policy in the University Catalog for more information.
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Â鶹ÊÓƵ students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Â鶹ÊÓƵ may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
ENG 31001 | FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR | 3 |
ENG 31003 | LINGUISTICS | 3 |
ENG 31005 | CHILD SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION 1 | 3 |
or ENG 31009 | ADULT SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | |
ENG 31007 | PEDAGOGY FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE | 3 |
ENG 31008 | GRAMMAR FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND/FOREIGN LANGUAGE | 3 |
ENG 31010 | THE BILINGUAL MENTAL LEXICON | 3 |
ENG 41003 | LANGUAGE CURRICULUM, MATERIALS AND ASSESSMENT | 3 |
ENG 41092 | ESL PRACTICUM IN INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAMS (ELR) 2 | 3 |
or ENG 41192 | ESL PRACTICUM IN A P-12 SETTING (ELR) | |
or ENG 41292 | TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE PRACTICUM (ELR) | |
ETEC 39525 | EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
or ETEC 47400 | TRENDS IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY | |
or ETEC 47403 | INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN | |
Writing Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
ENG 30050 | WRITING AND RHETORIC IN A DIGITAL AGE | |
ENG 30051 | WRITING, RHETORIC AND NEW MEDIA | |
ENG 30062 | PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING | |
ENG 30063 | PROFESSIONAL WRITING | |
ENG 30064 | ARGUMENTATIVE PROSE WRITING | |
ENG 30066 | WRITING IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE (ELR) | |
Language and Thought in World Perspective Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
COMM 35852 | INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG) | |
ENG 31006 | WORLD ENGLISHES (DIVG) (WIC) 3 | |
ENG 41001 | SOCIOLINGUISTICS IN SCHOOLING (DIVD) (WIC) 3 | |
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below) | 14-16 | |
6 | ||
3 | ||
9 | ||
6 | ||
6-7 | ||
6 | ||
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) | 33 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
Students declared in the Education minor should take ENG 31005. Students may take ENG 31009 as an elective.
Students declared in the Education minor should take ENG 41192. Students should take ENG 41292 toward the requirements for the Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate.
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.000 | 2.000 |
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:
All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the programs offered by Â鶹ÊÓƵ; or (3) demonstrating comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.
Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Semester One | Credits | |
---|---|---|
UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
Foreign Language | 4 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
Semester Two | ||
Foreign Language | 4 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Semester Three | ||
ENG 31001 | FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR | 3 |
Foreign Language | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Four | ||
ENG 31003 | LINGUISTICS | 3 |
Foreign Language | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Five | ||
ENG 31005 or ENG 31009 | CHILD SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION or ADULT SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | 3 |
ENG 31008 | GRAMMAR FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND/FOREIGN LANGUAGE | 3 |
ENG 31010 | THE BILINGUAL MENTAL LEXICON | 3 |
Language and Thought in World Perspective Elective | 3 | |
Writing Elective | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Six | ||
ENG 31007 | PEDAGOGY FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE | 3 |
ENG 41092 or ENG 41192 or ENG 41292 | ESL PRACTICUM IN INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAMS (ELR) or ESL PRACTICUM IN A P-12 SETTING (ELR) or TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE PRACTICUM (ELR) | 3 |
ETEC 39525 or ETEC 47400 or ETEC 47403 | EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY or TRENDS IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY or INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN | 3 |
General Electives | 6 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Seven | ||
ENG 41003 | LANGUAGE CURRICULUM, MATERIALS AND ASSESSMENT | 3 |
or Language and Thought in World Perspective Elective | ||
General Electives | 12 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Semester Eight | ||
ENG 41003 | LANGUAGE CURRICULUM, MATERIALS AND ASSESSMENT | 3 |
or Language and Thought in World Perspective Elective | ||
General Electives | 12 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
This program is not designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you wish to become licensed in Ohio, you must also register for and complete all requirements for the Minor in Education and sit for licensing exams. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Â鶹ÊÓƵ's website for professional licensure disclosure.
If you are interested in the Minor in Education, please contact Jessy Hendrickx (jahendri@kent.edu) and watch this video:
Graduates of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s B.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language are well-prepared for careers in language education, both domestically and internationally. The program’s comprehensive curriculum, which includes language acquisition, linguistics, and teaching methodologies, equips students with the skills to effectively teach English to non-native speakers. Graduates often pursue roles as ESL teachers, language specialists, and curriculum developers, contributing to educational institutions, language programs, and multicultural communities.
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