The M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies is teaming up with TeachBeyond to equip and develop Christian teachers throughout the world.
Purpose
The M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies and the graduate Certificate in TESOL, which includes endorsements in ESL and bilingual education, provide an affordable opportunity for TeachBeyond staff and international workers to access TESOL training. If you are preparing to serve as an English language teacher in K-12 or higher education, the TESOL program is tailored to your needs.
Program Benefits
This program applies to current staff members and international workers of TeachBeyond. It is designed for those who are accepted into a degree program at Wheaton or indicate they intend to become a degree-seeking student. The benefits include a 15% reduction in tuition for the fall and spring semester online courses.
Qualified Candidates
Qualified candidates are persons who have been fully accepted and approved by TeachBeyond. This could include international workers who work as teachers in national and international schools, as well as support staff and administrators in TeachBeyond’s offices in Illinois, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Three Levels of TESOL Training
The TESOL program is offered in three levels based on your professional goals. Courses taken for credit can be applied towards an endorsement or a master’s degree.
Level 1 – TESOL Certificate in June
During the month of June, Wheaton offers courses for teachers who are new to the field of TESOL. These courses are designed around TeachBeyond’s Pre-Field Orientation (PFO). Courses may also include a supervised teaching practicum with English language learners in the Chicago area. The TESOL Certificate (issued by the Institute for Cross-Cultural Training), can be taken for 2 or 4 credit hours or non-credit.
See the summer TESOL Certificate course schedule for more information about the TESOL Certificate.
Level 2 – ESL Endorsement – TESOL Flex or Fully Online Program
An ESL endorsement trains TeachBeyond teachers to serve as ESL/EFL specialists in their schools, and they can also be ESL teachers in North America. The endorsement is made for teachers who already have an elementary, middle, or secondary teaching license. ESL endorsement curriculum consists of intensive summer TESOL courses at Wheaton and the option for residential or online courses during the fall and spring semesters.
The state of Illinois requires 18 credit hours of coursework for the endorsement. Students who wish to complete the extra 6 hours can earn the Graduate Certificate in TESOL (24 credit hours).
Please see the summer TESOL Certificate course schedule for more details.
Level 3 – M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies – TESOL Flex or Fully Online Program
An M.A. in TESOL is the standard international requirement for long-term employment in higher education, including universities and language institutes. During the past 23 years, over 1,000 alumni have obtained teaching and leadership positions in higher education throughout the world.
The M.A. program is conveniently offered in both TESOL Flex and fully online formats, which allows TeachBeyond teachers to earn the degree with maximum flexibility. Talk to your admissions counselor to learn more about the TESOL Flex or fully online options.
Application Process
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity and would like to apply, please contact:
- Laura Howard, Office & Partnership Coordinator
- Dr. Alan Seaman, Department Chair, Professor of TESOL
