Graduate Certificate in TESOL
Why TESOL?
English has become the most widely used language in the world today, particularly in the areas of science, commerce and education. Tens of thousands of students in developing countries are required to learn English in school. Thousands more study English in order to pursue careers or educational programs demanding English language skills. Refugees and immigrants to the United States desire English to survive and to establish themselves in their new homeland. There is thus a considerable demand for qualified teachers of English both here and abroad.
Why TESOL at Biola?
The Graduate Certificate in TESOL program enables a Christian student with a bachelor's degree to develop both a solid academic foundation in second language pedagogy and practical skills in teaching English in cross-cultural situations.
Program Requirements
The TESOL graduate programs require nine credits of foundational work in language, culture and Bible. Students who enter without such a background are required to take three credits each of Introduction to Linguistics, Intercultural Communication and Bible (or their equivalents).
The Certificate in TESOL requires 18 semester credits of prescribed course work, beyond the foundational credits, with at least nine credits taken while in residency. Practice teaching is required.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Certificate in TESOL program must meet the qualifications specified in the Admission to the School of Intercultural Studies section, including a profession of Christian faith. In addition to these, foreign applicants who are non-native English speakers must demonstrate both spoken and written proficiency in English through an oral interview and by submitting their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) results. The TOEFL must have been taken within the past five years. A TOEFL score of 100 iBT is normally required for admission to the graduate programs in the department. Alternatively, an IELTS score of 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element) is required. Non-native speakers are also expected to demonstrate oral English proficiency by means of an interview with a faculty member. Non-native speakers are also expected to demonstrate oral English proficiency by means of an interview with a faculty member.
Because teachers and applied linguists are expected to have a high degree of competence in written English, all new graduate students, both native and non-native English speakers, are required to take the department’s Writing Proficiency Exam. If the results of the exam indicate that additional work in written grammar and composition is needed to enable a student to perform at the level expected for this field, he or she will be expected to do independent supplementary work on writing or to take and pass one or more writing courses available on campus.
All graduate programs in the department require as a prerequisite a minimum of 3 semester credits of acceptable Bible or theology coursework at the upper division or graduate level in addition to the specified foundational credits. Foundational credits may be taken concurrently with regular program courses but should normally be completed by the end of the first year.
Students may begin their program in the fall or the spring.
Graduation Requirements
Students in the Graduate Certificate in TESOL program must successfully complete all required coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to qualify for graduation. No ALT course with a grade less than a B (3.0) will be counted for the Certificate or M.A.
The Graduate Certificate in TESOL program is usually completed within one year by full-time students, but part-time students may have up to four years to complete it.
Curriculum
Foundational Credits
(May be taken concurrently with program courses.)
| Bible / Theology | 3 | |
| ISAL 520 Introduction to Language & Linguistics | 3 | |
| ISTE 541 Intercultural Communication for Teachers | 3 | |
| Total | 9 |
Certificate in TESOL
| ISTE 509 | Structure of English | 3 |
| ISTE 525 | Introduction to TESOL — Adult | 3 |
| ISTE 527 | Materials Evaluation & Preparation | 3 |
| ISTE 560 | Communicating Values through TESOL | 1 |
| ISTE 614 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| ISTE 692 | Practicum in TESOL II | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
Class Schedules
Full-Time, Fall Start (without Bible and linguistics foundational units)
Fall Semester
ISTE 525 Introduction to TESOL - Adult (3)
ISTE 509 Structure of English (3)
ISTE 541 Intercultural Communication for Teachers (3)
Spring Semester
ISTE 527 Materials Evaluation & Preparation (3)
ISTE 692 Practicum in TESOL II (3)
ISTE 614 Second Language Acquisition (3)
ISTE 560 Communicating Values through TESOL (1)
Full-Time, Fall Start (with Bible and linguistics foundational units)
Fall Semester
ISAL 520 Introduction to Language & Linguistics (3)
ISTE 525 Introduction to TESOL - Adult (3)
ISTE 509 Structure of English (3)
ISTE 541 Intercultural Communication for Teachers (3)
Interterm in January
Foundational Course in Bible (3)
Spring Semester
ISTE 527 Materials Evaluation & Preparation (3)
ISTE 692 Practicum in TESOL II (3)
ISTE 614 Second Language Acquisition (3)
ISTE 614 Communication Values through TESOL (1)
Full-Time, Spring Start (with Bible and linguistics foundational units)
Spring Semester
ISAL 520 Introduction to Language & Linguistics (3)
ISTE 527 Materials Evaluation & Preparation (3)
Foundational course in Bible (3)
Fall Semester
ISTE 525 Introduction to TESOL - Adult (3)
ISTE 509 Structure of English (3)
ISTE 541 Intercultural Communication for Teachers (3)
Following Spring Semester
ISTE 692 Practicum in TESOL II (3)
ISTE 614 Second Language Acquisition (3)
ISTE 614 Communication Values through TESOL (1)