The undergraduate minor in TESOL provides CU Boulder students with foundational knowledge and skills for English teaching while also incorporating the broader perspectives of culture, language use and language learning. Housed in the linguistics department, the 18-credit minor is open to all interested students, and may be of particular relevance to students from social science, humanities, speech/language, foreign language, international affairs and communication programs or backgrounds.
The widespread role of English as an international lingua franca opens up many opportunities for trained English teachers globally. Increasingly, EFL (English as a foreign language) providers want to hire individuals with relevant training—not just those who are native or near-native speakers. Minor earners, in conjunction with their bachelor's degrees, will have the credentials to be able to tap into professional opportunities in the dynamic world of English language teaching—globally and in the U.S.
The program is focused on the teaching of English to young adults and adults while also incorporating the broader perspectives of language use and language learning from education, communication, culture and society. A one-semester practicum experience involves teaching or tutoring with a community ESL provider.
Requirements
Students must complete a total of 18 credit hours of TESOL linguistic courses and TESOL related coursework, 9 of which must be at the upper-division level. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.00 (C) in all courses that can count toward the minor and complete all courses counting toward the minor with a grade of C- or better.
Students cannot declare both the major in linguistics and the minor in TESOL.
Required Courses and Credits
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LING 4610 | Pedagogical Grammar for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages | 3 |
| LING 4620 | Teaching Second Language (L2) Oral Skills and Communication | 3 |
| LING 4630 | TESOL and Second Language Acquisition: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| LING 4910 | TESOL Practicum | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| World Language Policies | ||
| Language Development | ||
| Language Teaching Materials Design | ||
| Language and Culture | ||
| Speakers and the Structure of their Languages | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Children's Learning and Development | ||
| Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education | ||
| Foundations of Language Acquisition for Bilingual Learners | ||
| Teaching English Language Development | ||
| Differentiating Instruction in Diverse Secondary Classrooms | ||
| Secondary World Language Methods | ||
| Social and Emotional Learning in Schools | ||
| Introduction to Bilingual/Multicultural Education | ||
| Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies for Bilingual Learners | ||
| Methods of Biliteracy Instruction | ||
| Assessment for Bilingual Learners | ||
| Language Acquisition for Bilingual Learners | ||
| Chicana/os and Education | ||
| International Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding | ||
| Communication and Conflict Management | ||
| International Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding | ||
| Multicultural Aspects of Communication Differences and Disorders | ||
| Spanish in the United States | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Learning Outcomes
By the completion of the program students will be able to:
- Recognize English as a global language, including World Englishes, ELF (English as a Lingua Franca) and plurilingual perspectives, to support learners’ diverse goals.
- Design, deliver and evaluate student-centered lessons that integrate English language skills and digital literacies, cultivating learner agency through project-based, multimodal and technology-enhanced learning.
- Foster inclusive, equitable English language classrooms by integrating learners’ diverse identities, experiences and languages into instruction.
- Engage in continuous reflection and professional development, upholding ethical standards in TESOL practice and policy.
- Act as advocates for multilingual learners by embracing translanguaging, promoting linguistic justice and addressing systemic inequities in education.