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MU-HUFS Joint TESOL Certificate Program

tesol07 The TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program at the University of Missouri is custom designed for Asians who aspire to teach others to speak English as a second language. The program aims to improve participants' abilities to teach English to non-native speakers, as well as their personal abilities to speak conversational English. This program is restricted to students of Hankuk University for Foreign Studies only.

In addition to classroom learning, students of the TESOL program participate in a number of American cultural activities, including visits to American homes, interactions with American college students, and trips to nearby American landmarks.

This outcome-based educational experience will result in student success in the ability to communicate fluently in American English, understand basic American idiomatic speech, understand components of American culture and use effective teaching and assessment strategies with students learning English.

Program components:

  • Academic Workshops and American Culture Seminars

    • tesol07 Various TESOL workshops and seminars are presented by experienced English teachers and instructors with years of teaching experience. Some seminars will include additional sessions of practicum for TESOL students to work individually and in groups for practical, hands-on teaching and learning that will enhance classroom instruction and lessons.

  • Professional Presentation Classes

    Professional Presentation classes have been designed to provide an intensive English speaking experience for TESOL participants. The coursework includes a variety of speech and drama activities geared toward enhancing the skills necessary for effective communication. The activities have been developed to help TESOL participants increase their speaking skills, improve vocabulary, diction and pronunciation, and gain confidence in various speaking situations.

  • Observation and Teaching in American Public Schools
    TESOL students will have observation experiences in pre-school, elementary, middle, or high schools in Columbia, Missouri observing experienced ESL teachers working with students from various nationalities and countries. TESOL students will then create their own lesson plans and teach assigned ESL classrooms in various public and pre-schools.

  • Observation and Teaching Adult Second Language Learners

    TESOL students will observe ESL classes taught by experienced Asian Affairs Center instructors who teach beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes of international students and scholars. TESOL students will be assigned to teach the adult second language learners.

  • Tutoring American and International Students

    TESOL participants will tutor African-American students in an after-school tutoring program and international visiting scholars or students who are currently studying at the University of Missouri or in our community.

  • American Ambassadors

    Opportunities will be provided for involvement with American Ambassadors to develop friendships, become language partners, and to enjoy outings, socializing, and fun.

  • American Cultural Experiences

    Trips to nearby cities, visits to American homes, participation in local festivals and sporting events help the students better understand American culture.

    • The TESOL program is designed to assist students to:

    • Increase comfort level and expand use of American conversational English.
    • Participate in advanced ESL classes to expand vocabulary and improve American accents.
    • Design appropriate curricula and materials for teaching diverse age groups and ability levels.
    • Practice teaching English to non-native speakers with tutorial supervision and feedback.
    • Develop an understanding of American culture through coursework and planned experiences.
    • Be familiar with available resources and education technology for improving English teaching.

    Our approach emphasizes three areas:

    • Personal development of the student as a non-native speaker through use of idioms, slang, and advanced vocabulary.
    • Methods and information related to teaching English to other non-native speakers, including developing lessons, linking theory and practice, and promoting oral language development.
    • Practicing instruction and assessment through tutoring high-need American children, assessing the English language learning needs of non-native speakers, and practicing teaching ESL to beginning or intermediate level Asian government officials or scholars in the classrooms of the Asian Affairs Center.

    Eligibility

    All participates must have a strong command of the English language. That is, they must score 500 or above on the TOEFL. For those who have not taken the TOEFL, students must acquire a statement, in writing, from their university teacher attesting that English ability is at the advanced intermediate level or beyond. All participants must also be teachers of English or students preparing to teach ESL or EFL in the future.

    Students of the TESOL program may negotiate with their university of origin for university credit. Staff of the Asian Affairs Center and MITI will assist (as requested) in determining the academic components of the program which present a potential for earned credit. The University of Missouri, while not awarding academic credit for this course, will provide a certificate of course completion for successful participants.