COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

LING 511: TESOL Methodology (3 semester hours)

In addition to offering a broad introduction to the knowledge and skills needed to become a teacher of ESL or EFL, this course serves as an introduction to the M.A. TESOL program. This course provides a firm foundation for TESOL Methodology and how teaching activities function within current theoretical frameworks.

LING 512: Second Language Acquisition (3 semester hours)

Second language learning and acquisition is an intricate process that involves the dynamic interaction of individual and social variables. This survey course considers a wide range of theories, models, and research that have been proposed to account for this process. Participants are guided to evaluate and consider the implications of different perspectives for second language teaching in a variety of contexts.

LING 513: Sociolinguistics (3 semester hours)

This course examines language within its social context through dealing with topics such as dialect and language definition, the role of the mother tongue in defining self-identity, language attitudes, the maintenance, loss, shift or spread of language domains, multilingualism, and sociolinguistic surveys.

LING 514: Materials Evaluation and Design (3 semester hours)

This course presents a variety of ESL materials, which are evaluated according to appropriateness and quality prior to implementation in the classroom. Issues of audience need, philosophy, and application are discussed. Adaptation of published materials is also examined.

LING 515: Classroom Observations I (1 semester hour)

Linguistics 515A is an extension of LING 513 (Sociolinguistics) and provides the student with the opportunity to apply the principles of ethnomethodology to a social situation. Focus is not only on ethnographic writing (thick and thin description) but also on the position of the ethnographer within his/her environs and the role he/she plays as a participant and observer. In keeping with traditional ethnomethodology, focus is also on creating contextually relevant and non-invasive interview questions and conducting ethical interviews with informants in order to move from etic to emic understanding.

LING 517: Evaluation and Measurement in TESOL (3 semester hours)

This course examines and evaluates multiple theories of testing in ESL. Methods of testing grammar, speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills are introduced along with criteria for ensuring reliability and validity.

LING 518: Curriculum and Program Design (3 semester hours)

This course provides a foundation for designing appropriate programs and course sets for ES/FL programs. In addition to examining general English programs, the course focuses on English for Specific Purposes and, in particular, needs analyses and custom course design.

LING 611: Applied Phonology for TESOL (3 semester hours)

This course examines a wide range of more advanced applications for phonological and phonetic frameworks. In addition to methods for teaching and integrating pronunciation in language teaching for several learner populations, relevant techniques from a number of academic disciplines, which deal with relationships between speech, voice, body movement, and emotion, are addressed.

LING 612: Research Methods in Applied Linguistics (3 semester hours)

This course develops an understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods and, in particular, focuses on research issues and statistics related to applied linguistics. In addition, the methodology of action research and the process of topic choice for the students' Research Projects (to be completed in Ling 524: Internship) is discussed.

LING 613: Integrating the Four Skills (3 semester hours)

This courses presents a survey of current methods and models for integrating the teaching of vocabulary, listening, reading, and writing in multiple teaching contexts

LING 624: Leadership in TESOL (3 semester hours)

This course examines leadership from several perspectives in the field of TESOL, including program management, professional orgranizations, and teacher training.

LING 640: Internship and Research Project (4 semester hours)

In consultation with program instructors, an action research project is developed and later carried out during an internship. The research project must meet accepted standards for a major research project.

LING 641: eMentor Consultation (2 semester hours)

This course pairs students with an eMentor, an accomplished professional in the field of ESL/EFL, focusing on different aspects of the students' internship.

LING 642: ePortfolio (1 semester hour)

Based on the coursework in the MA TESOL program, the ePortfolio represents an accumulation of students' professional and academic experience. The ePortfolio serves both as a broad profile of a student's readiness for the profession and a base for further professional development. The ePortfolio system is designed to be readily configured for job application.