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Introduction to the TESOL Program at Wheaton College
Overview
The
Courses The
Practicum The
Community
Overview
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is
an important field in the U.S. and many other countries. The
Wheaton College Graduate School offers a comprehensive program
with three levels of professional preparation:
In Wheaton
's TESOL program, both new and experienced teachers gain a
broad range of professional expertise. Here are some of the
distinctives of TESOL at Wheaton:
- Courses
which cover specialized areas of TESOL such as testing,
curriculum development, reading and composition, and K-12
instruction.
- A solid
background in the field through courses such as Theoretical
Foundations of TESOL Methodology, Intercultural Communication,
Phonology, and Descriptive English Grammar.
- Opportunities
to gain teaching experience in a variety of ESL contexts
in the Chicago area and overseas.
- A Christian
environment that combines warm fellowship with rigorous
scholarship.
The current
geopolitical situation has led to remarkable opportunities
for professional English language teachers. The TESOL program
at Wheaton College seeks to meet this need by providing comprehensive,
practical teacher education.
What are
the unique features of this program?
The
Courses
We
offer a wide range of practical courses that provide teachers
with important professional skills.
Some courses
build a knowledge base:
- Theoretical
Foundations of TESOL Methodology
- Descriptive
English Grammar for TESOL
- English
Phonology for TESOL
- Intercultural
Communication
- Cross-cultural
Teaching and Learning
- Qualitative
Research for Second Language Educators
- Second
Language Acquisition
- Intro
to Linguistic Science
Other
courses focus on specific areas of the profession:
- Curriculum
and Materials Development for TESOL (This includes a segment
on computer-aided language learning.)
- Teaching
Reading and Composition to ESL/EFL Learners
- Principles
of Assessment for TESOL
- Teaching
ESL to Children, K-12
- Teaching
Speaking and Listening to ESL/EFL Learners
- Administrative
Internship
The
Practicum
All
students in the program are required to complete a practicum
internship involving a field placement in the Chicago area
or abroad. The practicum class focuses on the dynamics of
classroom instruction. In the field placement, the student
may teach his or her own class or may work with an experienced
teacher. During the field placement, the student is observed
in action through a careful, systematic process of observation.
Wheaton
's TESOL program is connected with a wide variety of ESL programs
in the Chicago area. Field placements can be based in locations
such as refugee programs, academically-oriented intensive
English programs (IEPs), community college ESL programs, public
school programs at all levels, bilingual education classes,
and church-based ESL programs.
Practicum
opportunities exist in a number of overseas contexts as well.
Wheaton's TESOL program has a special relationship with several
overseas programs, including the Yanbian University of Science
and Technology in China, the Russian-American Christian University
in Moscow, Rajabhat University in Thailand, the SIEC Language
Institute in Oman, and the Professionals International Language
Programs in Sarajevo, Bosnia. It's possible to complete
a semester-long practicum internship in the English department
of either of these universities. In addition, students may
complete the practicum field placement during the summer through
a number of agencies.
The
Community
The
students in Wheaton 's TESOL program are diverse. Some have
never taught before but have a specific field in mind (such
as China), while others are experienced teachers who have
returned for advanced professional training. There's an exciting
mix of people with experience in Europe, Latin America, Asia,
Africa, and the Middle East.
Wheaton
's TESOL program exists as part of a larger community in the
Graduate School. The Graduate School is characterized by a
combination of rigorous scholarship and warm Christian fellowship.
It is a diverse community which includes a number of international
students and ethnic minorities. There are weekly Grad Chapel
services and a number of planned social events.
In the
TESOL program the students and faculty are constantly exploring
questions involving the integration of our profession with
our Christian faith. What does it mean to be a Christian teacher
of ESL/EFL? How can one's ministry to others be combined with
teaching in appropriate ways? Through integrative seminars,
classroom discussions, guest speakers, and practical experience
in local ESL programs, students gain a deeper understanding
of these issues.
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