Following are answers to commonly asked questions about the Lee University TESOL program. However, feel free to contact Dr. Chris Blake or any of the TESOL faculty regarding any questions you may have.
What are TESOL students at Lee like?
TESOL students at Lee are the best! As a field, TESOL attracts generous students who care about others and want to make a difference in the world. You will find yourself in a community of students who are supportive and encouraging.
Where is a TESOL degree from Lee University recognized?
Lee University is a fully-accredited institution, and your degree in the TESOL program is recognized all around the world. Graduates from the TESOL BAT program are teaching in Tennessee and across the United States. All TESOL major and minor graduates receive a TESOL Certificate upon graduation, which is required by many overseas agencies when applying for a teaching job.
Why should I study TESOL at Lee University?
Lee University is one of the only undergraduate programs of its kind that provides students with up to two years of ESL teaching experience prior to graduation, and this does not even include the many hours of classroom experience that are part of the TESOL BAT program. Professors in the TESOL program are experts in the field and bring into the classroom many years of their own ESL teaching experiences. As a Christ-centered campus, Lee University provides a unique place for students to be prepared in the TESOL discipline while also strengthening their faith. TESOL is still a relatively new discipline at the undergraduate level, and Lee University graduates are quickly becoming leaders of excellence in the field.
Will I have difficulty finding a job after graduation?
Qualified English language teachers are in high demand both in the U.S. and abroad with no downturn in sight. Graduates from the Lee University TESOL program are especially marketable due to the hands-on teaching and learning experiences they have had prior to graduation.
How do I decide whether to do a BA or a BAT?
This can be a difficult decision. If you plan to work in the U.S., the number one employer of TESOL majors is the public school system, so it is a good idea to get the license with the BAT. Even if you plan to work abroad, having the license can make you more marketable, because it demonstrates you have had some experience in the classroom. It can also be a good idea if you think you might ever return to teach in the U.S.
However, if you think you will never want to work in the schools, or you want to double major in another subject and have TESOL as an additional qualification, then the BA may be the better route for you.
How hard is it to add a Linguistics minor to a TESOL degree?
The linguistics minor can be added fairly easily with a little advance planning. Here is what is included:
- LING 380 Introduction to Linguistics (TESOL Major course)
- LING 381 Language Acquisition and Development (TESOL Major course)
- LING 302 English Language Structure and Theory (TESOL Major course)
- TESL 415 Sociolinguistics and Second Language Acquisition (TESOL Major elective)
- LING 420 Phonetics and Phonology (TESOL Major elective)
- LING 425 Cognitive Linguistics (TESOL Major elective)
- ANTH 310 Cultural Anthropology (TESOL Major elective)
- ANTH 385 Linguistic Anthropology (TESOL Major elective)
- LING 481 History of the English Language (TESOL Major course)
Does it matter which courses I take first?
There is a sequence of courses and some courses have prerequisites, but sequencing is a more important consideration for TESOL BAT students in the Teacher Education Program (TEP). The education classes need to be taken in a certain order, which is laid out in the check sheet for the major. As a general rule, students should try to get their core requirements completed in the first two years. According to the education department, the courses should be done in the following order:
- 2nd Semester Freshman Year: EDUC 199
- 1st Semester Sophomore Year: EDUC 299
- 1st Semester Junior Year: EDUC/EDMG 315, SPED 316, Finish TEP admission
- 2nd Semester Junior Year: SCED 340, PSYC 312, take the Praxis Exam
- 1st Semester Senior Year: SCED 420, LING 495, GNST 400
- 2nd Semester Senior Year: EDUC 496, EDUC 497, EDUC
Can I take courses in the summer?
Yes. We offer the following online courses for the major and minor in TESOL in the summer:
- LING 302: The English Language (May)
- LING 380: Intro to Linguistics (May)
- LING 381: Language Acquisition (June)
- LING 385: Linguistics for TESOL (June)
- TESL 410: ESL Curriculum Design and Assessment (May)
- LING 425: Cognitive Linguistics (TESOL Elective and Linguistics Minor Elective) (July)
If I get a BA, is it possible to get a teaching license later if I decide that I want one?
There are several possibilities for getting a license after the BA is completed. If you pursue an MAT (Masters in Teaching) at Lee, you can get a teaching license with your MAT. This will give you a license and an additional qualification that will result in receiving higher pay in school systems. In some cases, students who are enrolled in MAT programs are still hired by schools as teachers even though they do not yet have a license - as long as they continue working toward their MAT. Also, in some states or school districts, because of the strong need for TESOL professionals, there are programs specially designed to help people with BAs get licensing.
How can I get experience teaching while I am still a student at Lee?
One of the distinctives of our program at Lee University is the Center for English Language and Literacy (CELL), which is a program for members of the local community who need assistance in learning English. Students in the TESOL major are the teachers for this program, and they get credit for teaching while receiving feedback and supervision by TESOL faculty to help them grow as teachers. It is possible to teach in the CELL multiple semesters and graduate from Lee with two years of teaching experience. This can be a great advantage for finding work in schools or abroad and can make it easier to get visas for some countries. In addition, it is a wonderful opportunity to grow as a teacher and discover how much you love interacting with students.