For further information, contact your advisor or

Dr. Mary Theresa Seig, RB 337, 285-8443,  mtseig@bsu.edu

Rationale for the Concentration Area

The number of non-native speakers of English is mushrooming in Indiana and all over the U.S. School districts are hard-pressed to find qualified teachers to work with students who are learning English as a second or new language.

The English as a Second Language licensure program focuses on three key areas. The first is the English language system. Students think about English from the standpoint of the second-language learner so they can understand what difficulties the learner faces. The second component involves social, cultural, and psychological aspects of learning a second language and the interaction between language and culture. The third component deals with specific methods and materials for teaching ESL.

Students who choose the ESL concentration will be prepared to teach English to their non-native speaking students and to work with students on the linguistic aspects of content in other subject areas.

Required Courses:

   ENG 220     Language and Society (3)
 *ENG 321     English Linguistics (3)
   ENG 436     Theory and Research in Teaching English to Speakers of Other 
                           Languages (3)
   ENG 437     Methods and Materials in Teaching English to Speakers of Other 
                           Languages (3) 
   ENG 457     Practicum in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (3)

*ENG 321 is a prerequisite for ENG 436 and ENG 437

**Note: A K-12 ESL add-on license is also available; the licensure program additionally requires ENG 320, Introduction to Linguistic Science (3) and a 3-credit practicum, for a total of 21 credits.