The study of TESOL provides preparation for helping others improve their abilities to use English and thereby to function successfully where English is used—whether in K-12 classrooms or in community, business, professional, or artistic and cultural settings.
The TESOL instructor not only provides an invaluable service but also gains a richer understanding of both language in general and the many different languages and cultures of our world. Perhaps no other academic program offers such a direct opportunity for multicultural and international experiences, as well as service to the community.
Iowa Communications Network (ICN)
Courses in this program are offered primarily via the ICN. Delivery of ICN programs is limited to the state of Iowa.
WebCT
Courses in this program have an online component utilizing WebCT, a computer conferencing program requiring Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.
UNI campus
Summer sessions in this program may involve some on-campus or central site study.
A portion of courses included in the program sequence also count toward the 18 credit hours required for the Iowa English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement.
630:125g Introduction to Linguistics, 3 credit hours
Examination of phonology, syntax and semantics in a variety of natural and artificial languages; includes study of language development and regional and social variation.
630:154g Phonology, 3 credit hours
Sound systems of human languages, including articulatory and acoustic phonetics, structural phonetics, distinctive features and generative phonology.
630:163g Cultural Aspects of Language & Language Teaching, 3 credit hours
Investigation of relationship between language and culture and the interactions among language, social institutions, cultural beliefs, and individual behavior. Applications for teaching English to non-native speakers.
630:192g Problems in English Grammar, 3 credit hours
Investigation of the grammatical system of English; emphasis on tools and processes used to identify and teach grammatical patterns.
630:193g TESOL I, 3 credit hours
Historical background of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and overview of teaching approaches; teaching the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
630:194g TESOL II, 3 credit hours
Lesson planning, materials design and adaptation, materials evaluation, classroom assessment and curriculum planning for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
630:201 Introduction to Graduate Studies in TESOL*, 3 credit hours
Introduction to sources, tools and techniques in graduate-level study and research in TESOL and language sciences.
630:289 Seminar in Bilingual Education, 3 credit hours
630:240 Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), 3 credit hours
Exploration of purposes, applications and roles of computers in language learning and language testing; application to skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Use of internet resources and tools.
630:292 Second Language Acquisition, 3 credit hours
Historical background and methodology of second language acquisition research; current theories of acquisition and learning; role of individual and societal variables in language learning.
630:295 Language Testing, 3 credit hours
Examination of basic approaches and techniques for constructing and interpreting language tests.
630:297 TESOL Practicum*, 3 credit hours
Comprehensive Examination and Research Paper
*These courses are for the MATESOL degree only; they are not applicable to the ESL endorsement.
Iowa K-12 ESL endorsement requirements (pdf)