Today, 1.5 billion people are learning English across the globe. In United States public school classrooms alone, 5 million students are English learners. From orphanages in Africa to colleges in Asia to refugee centers in Europe to public K-12 schools in the United States, Lee University TESOL graduates equip children and adults to speak English.

Lee University’s TESOL program is unique in that it is the only undergraduate program in the nation that prepares undergraduate students with up to two years of experience teaching English Language Learners (ELLs).

The Center for English Language and Literacy is an excellent opportunity for TESOL majors and minors to gain real-world teaching experience before entering the field. To see our CELL home page click here.

While teaching at the CELL, TESOL majors/minors take the course “CELL Seminar,” in which they are taught how to manage the classroom, plan lessons, and implement the pedagogical principles that they have learned in previous courses. This program is aimed toward students who have a heart to teach others in a practical and effective way.

Choose Your Path in TESOL

There are a number of paths for those interested in TESOL to choose from. These paths are described below.

Bachelor of Arts in TESOL

The BA in TESOL provides students with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of TESOL. It does not include teacher certification in the state of Tennessee, so students earning a BA have enough elective hours after completing the requirements to double major in another subject or add a minor or two. The BA is a good choice for students who plan to teach abroad or would like to major in another subject simultaneously. To see current course requirements for this degree, click HERE:

Bachelor of Arts in TESOL with Teaching Certification (BAT)

If you envision yourself teaching in U.S. public schools at some point in the future, the BAT is the right option for you. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the TESOL part of the degree, students will complete a professional requirement in Lee’s Helen DeVos College of Education that includes receiving a teaching license in Tennessee. The professional requirement uses a student’s elective hours, so it is not as easy to add an additional major or minor with this option. It does, however, give the student much exposure to public schools in the area. To see current course requirements for this degree, click HERE:

TESOL Certificate (non-degree-seeking) and the TESOL Minor

For those who have already graduated OR those who are still students, the TESOL minor / certificate is a valuable addition to a transcript. The Lee TESOL Certificate (like the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults [CELTA] offered by Cambridge University) provides the evidence of EFL teacher qualification which is now required by English teacher employers around the world. A TESOL minor / certificate will also prove beneficial when seeking employment at US schools with diverse student populations. Note that all Lee TESOL majors and minors will receive the TESOL Certificate upon completion of the required courses. To see course requirements for the TESOL minor/certificate, click HERE:

For information about the Online Certificate and Licensure opportunities at Lee, click HERE

FAQ

To see some of the questions frequently asked about TESOL at Lee, click HERE

Master of Arts in TESOL

For those who already have a bachelor’s degree and want to take another educational step in the field, Lee University offers a fully online MA in TESOL. For information about the MA in TESOL at Lee, click HERE

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