ESL Minor

The English as a Second Language (ESL) minor is an 18 hour program for students interested in working with English language learners in a variety of settings, in the United States and abroad. For students working towards elementary or secondary certification, or who already hold a valid teaching certificate, the minor will meet the requirements for Illinois State Approval for Teaching ESL. The 18 hours of coursework includes 100 clock hours of experience with ESL learners, as required by the state. Information on this program is below, but you may also find information/support on the ESL Minor Handout and ESL Minor Checklist.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

ENGL 301 Understanding Language. 3 Hours: A study of language as a means of communication, its purposes, and uses in society. Emphasis is on sounds, word formation, language meaning, and language varieties.
Prerequisite: “C-” or above in ENGL 108/109

ENGL 303 Descriptive English Grammar. 3 Hours: A study of grammar and its acquisition. Attention given to traditional, structural, transformational-generative, and cognitive grammars. Central to the course is the analysis of sentence structure and the study of usage.
Prerequisite: “C-” or above in ENGL 108/109

ESL 350 Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL. 3 Hours: A study of the major theories and principles of language learning and teaching. Attention is given not only to the comparison and contrast of first and second language acquisition, but also to the study of learners’ interlanguage and the pragmatic functions of language.
Prerequisite: ENGL 209 or 210

ESL 360 Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL. 3 Hours: A study of ESL teaching methods and techniques. Attention is given not only to criteria for evaluating and selecting ESL-learning materials appropriate to learners’ needs, but also to ESL curriculum design. Includes a field experience.
Prerequisite: ENGL 209 or 210

ESL 370 Assessment of the Bilingual Student. 3 Hours: A study of the foundations of and research in language testing. Topics include the theoretical and practical aspects of bilingual testing as well as the planning, writing, and administration of tests. Includes a field experience.
Prerequisite: ENGL 209 or 210

ESL 380 Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching Limited-English Proficient Students. 3 Hours: A study of cultural differences and how they affect communication, both in the ESL classroom and in the speech community. Attention is given to the relationship between language and culture and to the methods of incorporating culture into the ESL classroom.
Prerequisite: ENGL 209 or 210

Schedule of Courses

Department Specialist

	Dr. Kashama Mulamba (1997) - English KMulamba@olivet.edu