Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Program

232 Mitchell Hall
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2640
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Dr. Wolff, Director and Graduate Coordinator

Programs of Study

The Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (M.A. in TESOL) is an interdisciplinary program that prepares graduates to teach English to students whose first language is not English. Graduates of this program also learn to design ESL/EFL curricula and to assess the linguistic development of second language students. Also offered is the certificate of preparation in ESL teaching (ESL Certificate), a graduate program that leads to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s qualification for teaching ESL PK-12 in public schools. The six ESL Certificate courses count toward the M.A. in TESOL (which totals ten courses). Provided that entering students are pre-certified in a stand-alone area, this certificate qualifies as an add-on certification that allows completers to teach ESL in public schools in Pennsylvania. Both the M.A. in TESOL and the ESL Certificate programs provide students with a strong background in linguistics, sociolinguistics and culture, and teaching methodology in TESOL. The entire M.A. in TESOL/ESL Certificate programs are offered completely online.

Master's Program

Certificate

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's

All applicants to one of West Chester University’s graduate programs will be held to the graduate admissions requirements. When applicable, additional requirements for admission into specific department program(s) may be listed below.

Admission Requirements for the M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to a graduate program at West Chester, applicants must document background in the following areas:

  1.  Introduction to Linguistics (subject to approval by a TESOL program advisor)
  2.  Proficiency in English (one of the following three options)1:
    1. TOEFL: 92 for the internet-based exam, 237 for the computer-based exam, 580 for the paper-based exam
    2. IELTS: An overall score at bend 6.5 or above, and minimum scores of 6.5 for speaking, listening, reading, and writing are preferred.
    3. WCU ELS Program
  3.  24 semester hours of a second language/English/linguistics/philosophy/communications2
  4.  Six semester hours of anthropology/sociology/psychology2
  5.  Experience in learning a second language2

Students with a TOEFL score slightly lower than 580 may be admitted provisionally to the TESOL program. Provisionally admitted students will, in consultation with their advisor, select additional English language courses in order to meet this language proficiency requirement by the time of degree candidacy (after 12-15 credits).

Students who do not meet the second language or linguistics background requirements upon application for admission may be admitted provisionally and, in consultation with their advisor, will select additional courses in order to satisfy these requirements by the time of degree candidacy (after 12-15 credits). Students must pass an oral and written comprehensive examination before graduating.

1

Students with a language score slightly lower than the required minimum may be admitted provisionally to the TESOL program. Provisionally admitted students will, in consultation with their advisor, select additional English language courses in order to meet this language proficiency requirement by the time of degree candidacy (after 12-15 credits).

2

Students who do not meet the second language or linguistics background requirements upon application for admission may be admitted provisionally and, in consultation with their advisor, will select additional courses in order to satisfy these requirements by the time of degree candidacy (after 12-15 credits). Students must pass an oral and written comprehensive examination before graduating.

All graduate students are held to the academic policies and procedures outlined in the graduate catalog. Students are encouraged to review departmental handbooks for program tips, suggested course sequences, and explanations of procedures. When applicable, additional policies for specific department programs may be listed below.

Professors

Mahmoud Amer (2011)

Catalog Committee3, Digital Humanities Program

B.A., Mutah University; M.A., University of Toledo; Ph.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Maria Jose Cabrera (2007)

B.A., Universidad de Murcia (Spain); M.A., West Virginia University; Ph.D., Rutgers University

Jelena Colovic-Markovic (2013)

B.A., University of Belgrade; M.A., Brigham Young University; Ph.D., University of Utah

Innhwa Park (2013)

Assistant Chairperson, Languages and Cultures

B.A. Seoul National University; M.A., University of California; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Chui Kian Smidt (2011)

B.Ed., University of Exeter; M.A., Iowa State University; Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Dominik Wolff (2015)

Director, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Program

Graduate Coordinator, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Program

B.A., Gerhard Mercator University; M.A., Syracuse University; Ph.D., Michigan State University

Associate Professor

William Keith Corbitt (2013)

A.A., Monterey Peninsula College; B.A., High Point University; M.A., University of Delaware; M.A., Ph.D., University of Indiana

Course titles and descriptions for the TESOL programs are listed under the relevant departments.