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State of Florida Certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

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Master of Arts

TESL Certificate

ESOL Certification

ESOL Endorsement
State of Florida ESOL Certification is a desirable qualification for many educators. As the population of minority language children in the school system continues to abound, State ESOL Certification affords many professional opportunities. Particularly in secondary schools, this certification is in demand. Our program of study will prepare you for the future, the State Examination in ESOL and beyond. 
Program leading to ESOL Certificate by the State of Florida
State of Florida ESOL Certification requirements have recently fluctuated. However, the longstanding requirements have been set as:
  1. a degree in Applied Linguistics or in TESOL, and
  2. passing score on the Florida Teacher Certification Examination in ESOL

Applied Linguistics and/or TESOL degrees are typically at the graduate level in the United States. The Master or Arts in Applied Linguistics: Teaching English as a Second Language, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, is the first and original degree in this field in the greater Tampa Bay area.
 
If you are interested in obtaining State of Florida Certification, you would begin the process by earning our M.A. degree. (Basic information is below. Jump to our pages devoted to our Master's program for further information.) The next step would be taking the Florida Teacher Certification Examination in ESOL.
 
Prospective ESOL Certificate students, you will be happy to hear that all of our alumni who have taken this test have passed it. This success rate speaks for the quality of our teacher education, as well as the quality of our student population.
 
You can find out more about the Florida State ESOL Certification Examination online. Go to http://www.cefe.usf.edu/, the site for Certification Examinations for Florida Educators. Also, more general information on ESOL Certification is available from the Department of Education. Go to http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/ for further information.
 
  Contents
 
Degree Requirements for the Master of Arts in Linguistics: TESL
Core courses
 
TSL 5371 Methods of TESL (3 credit hours)
TSL 5372 ESL Curriculum and Instruction (3 credit hours)
TSL 5471 Language Testing (3 credit hours)
TSL 5525 Cross Cultural Issues in ESL (3 credit hours)
TSL 6745 Internship (3 credit hours, taken twice)
LIN 5700 Applied Linguistics (3 credit hours)
LIN 6081 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Linguistics (3 credit hours)
LIN 6675 Grammatical Structure of American English (3 credit hours)
LIN 6720 Second Language Acquisition (3 credit hours)
LIN 6748 Contrastive Analysis (3 credit hours)

 
Additional requirements
  1. Six hours of approved electives at the graduate level (these may be inside or outside the program)
  2. Six hours of internship through enrollment in TSL 6945
  3. Completion of the Linguistic Analysis
  4. Completion of the Treatment Plan
  5. Completion of a final portfolio
  6. Foreign language proficiency at Novice-High level, as detailed in the Handbook


 

Recommended Sequence of Coursework
Leading to Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics: Teaching ESL
Year 1: Fall     Important! Read note on course timing and sequencing requirements, below.
 
LIN 6081 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Linguistics 3 credit hours
LIN 5700 Applied Linguistics 3 credit hours
TSL 5371 Methods of TESL 3 credit hours
 
Year 1: Spring
LIN 6675 Grammatical Structure of American English 3 credit hours
TSL 5372 ESL Curriculum and Instruction 3 credit hours
TSL 5525 Cross Cultural Issues in ESL 3 credit hours
 
Year 1: Summer
will vary approved electives 6 credit hours
 
Year 2: Fall
TSL 5471 Language Testing 3 credit hours
LIN 6748 Contrastive Analysis 3 credit hours
TSL 6945 Practicum 3 credit hours
 
Year 2: Spring
LIN 6720 Second Language Acquisition 3 credit hours
TSL 6945 Internship 3 credit hours





Course Timing / Sequencing Requirements


LIN 6081 (Introduction to Graduate Study in Linguistics) must be taken during the student's first term of enrollment as a graduate student, or during the first term it is available, if not offered during the first term the student is enrolled.

Students must enroll in LIN 5700 the first term it is available to them.

Drops are not permitted from either LIN 5700 or from LIN 6081, except under extenuating circumstances where the student is forced to withdraw from all work attempted in the term. In such a case, the student must contact the program advisor or director and inform him/her of the decision to withdraw. Candidates are advised to investigate the University deadline for withdrawing from a course without academic penalty.
 
 

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Direct any communications about the Linguistics Program or Website to: Camilla Vásquez - cvasquez@cas.usf.edu.
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