Sonoma State University
Skip Navigation

Explore Anthropology:

Home Page

About Us

Major Description

Office Hours and
Contact Information

Faculty Profiles

B.A. Program

TESL

Human Development

Linguistics

M.A. Program

Graduate Students

Course Web Pages

Projects

Roadmaps to Anthropology Degree (BA)

Resources

SSU Home

 

 

Department of Anthropology

The TESL Program has been discontinued. There will be NO new admittances.

The SSALI (Sonoma State American Language Institute) has an 130 hour summer program for a TESOL certificate. Please contact their office for more information at (707)664-2742.

All current students earning a TESL certificate through the Linguistics department can continue their course work to earn their certificate.

Introduction
Individuals intending to teach English as a second language (TESL) require training in several diverse areas. A well-trained teacher of ESL has formal background which includes systematic study of (1) basic (psycho-/socio-) linguistic principles and methods of analysis, (2) English as a second language, and (3) the contemporary curricular approaches utilized in TESL. Teachers with such preparation are well equipped to address the learning challenges of students whose first language is not English, whether in the United States or in other countries.

Special Sessions Certificate Program
The SSU Linguistics Program and the School of Extended Education offer a certificate program in TESL through a special sessions arrangement. (Students pay tuition and fees to the School of Extended Education for those courses offered through that school; for courses offered by the Linguistic Program, students pay tuition and fees to the university registrar in Admissions and Records.) Units earned through this program may be applied towards California teaching credentials. The program focuses on the application of (psycho-/socio-) linguistic principles and methods to the teaching of American English as a second/foreign language. The course of study is specifically designed to enhance (post) baccalaureate programs in Education (including programs of persons with provisional credentials), English, Foreign Languages and Liberal Studies. The program complements other liberal arts and sciences majors, providing added employment opportunities in both the public and private sector for career-minded individuals who have a liberal arts background. Undergraduates concurrently enrolled in the TESL certificate program can receive a minor in applied linguistics upon conferral of their baccalaureate degree. For details concerning application for the certificate program, consult the Coordinator of the TESL Program.

Course of Study
The 21-unit TESL certificate course of study is designed to be completed in one year.* Persons intending to pursue this program must consult with the Coordinator of the Program. Linguistics 200 (Introduction to Linguistic Studies), or its equivalent, is a prerequisite to the TESL Program.

*This course of study meets 21 of the 30 units required for alternatives in the Fifth Year Program in Education. Interested persons should contact the School of Education’s Coordinator of Fifth Year Programs.

If interested in the TESL Certificate Program, please contact the program coordinator:
Richard J. Senghas
TESL Program: Stevenson 2054C
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California 94928-3609
(707) 664-2307 TESL Department Office

e-mail tesl@sonoma.edu

We hope this information will be helpful. Official requirements of all majors and programs are published in the Sonoma State University Catalog. Sonoma State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. A member of The California State University.

Fall Course Pattern (8 units)

Linguistics 410 - English Grammar and ESL (3)
Rigorous study of rule-governed systems of English grammar so that students will be able to (1) answer ESL student questions about grammar and (2) conduct activities with ESL students to help them practice correct usage of English grammar. A variety of lexical and sentence-level syntactic patterns in English will be examined, as will ways to work with ESL students to develop their awareness of and control over their production of these forms. Prerequisite: Linguistics 200 or the equivalent.

Linguistics 441 - Linguistics and Second Language Teaching (3)
Application of linguistic, psychological, sociocultural, and sociopolitical aspects of second language acquisition to a range of contexts relating to second language teaching. Particular emphasis is on issues in communicative approaches to language teaching, and the implications of language diversity in the classroom.

Linguistics 460A - Curriculum Development in ESL/EFL (2)
Examination of curricular issues important to teaching English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL). The first half of the course will focus on relations between language and content in language classrooms (various approaches to content-based language instruction in classrooms with adult students as well as with K-12 students); the second half of the course will cover strategies for teaching reading and writing in order to help ESL/EFL students interact with text. LING460A is not a prerequisite for LING460B.

Spring Course Pattern (13 units)

Linguistics 400 - Linguistic Analysis (4)
Phonological and grammatical analysis. Includes articulatory phonetics, methods and practice in the analysis of sound systems, with attention given to American English. Also includes grammatical analysis, methods and practice in the analysis of word and sentence structure, with emphasis on non-Western European languages. Prerequisite: Linguistics 200 or equivalent.

Linguistics 432 - Language in Sociopolitical Context (3)
Focus on such topics as language attitudes, political power and linguistic equality, language and sociopolitical institutions, and language planning. Practical introduction to the insights offered by discourse analysis to the study of language varieties reflected in particular geographical regions, and by members of particular social classes/groups.

Linguistics 442 - Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
Application of (psycho-/socio-) linguistic principles/methodology to teaching standard American English as a second language. Introduction to ESL teaching approaches/methods/techniques. Practice in preparation/evaluation of teaching materials. Observation of ESL classes at SSU and in the University's service area.

Linguistics 460B - Curriculum Development in ESL/EFL (2)
Curricular issues important to teaching English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL). The first half of the course focuses on classroom assessment and evaluation of the language proficiency and progress of ESL/EFL students. During the second half of the semester, emphasis is on developing awareness of cultural differences in communicative strategies and learning styles (LING 432 recommended). LING460A is not a prerequisite for LING460B.

Linguistics 499 - Internship in Applied Linguistics (1)
The Linguistics Program has established a network of cooperating educational programs within the University's service area, in which students can be placed. The network includes (1) on-campus intensive language programs for adult foreign students, (2) elementary and secondary schools, and (3) agencies that support or have programs servicing refugees and other immigrants, and foreign students. This internship provides practical experience entailing 50-60 hours for the semester in teaching English as a second language or in the development of ESL materials. Prerequisite: completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, Linguistics 44l or 442. To be taken one time only.

Program Strands

Linguistic Principles

LING 441: language acquisition (Fall)
LING 400: language analysis (Spring)
LING 432: language variation (Spring)

Teaching Principles

LING 442: ESL pedagogy (Spring)
LING 499: ESL classroom experience (Spring)

ESL/EFL Curricular Issues & Materials Development

LING 410: English structure (Fall)
LING 460A: content-based curricula and teaching reading & writing (Fall)
LING 460B: evaluation & testing and intercultural communication (Spring)

Tuition and fees: To be determined

Resident courses (tuition and fees to be paid to SSU Admissions and Records):

LING 400
LING 432

Extended Education courses (tuition and fees to be paid to the School of Extended Education):

LING 410
LING 441
LING 460A
LING 442
LING 460B
LING 499


Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California 94928
TESL Program
707 664-2419

Admissions Development 707 664 2SSU
Teachers - Want (or need) ESL Certification?
Adult Ed ESL Credential
Linguistics Program

 
Related Links

Schedule of Classes

Catalog

Customer Service

ASC

Extended Education

Admissions & Records

School of Social Sciences