Student majors from across campus can add a minor in any of our department’s four disciplines. To see a list of available minors in Language and Literature, Click Here

This major prepares students for graduate work in the discipline or for careers such as research, writing, editing, and a variety of other related occupations. The program focuses studies on technical, professional, rhetorical, and creative writing.

This major prepares students for graduate work in the discipline and provides a broad overview of literature, emphasizing British and American writers. The program offers a variety of literary periods to study, such as Romantic and Victorian.

This major prepares students to teach English at the middle and high school levels. In addition to courses in the English major, students complete the professional education sequence, including a semester of student teaching at the secondary level

Career Opportunities

  • English teacher/professor
  • Librarian
  • Lawyer/Paralegal
  • English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher
  • Speech Pathologist
  • Editor/Editorial Assistant
  • Copy Editor/Proofreader
  • Social Media Manager
  • Technical Writer
  • Grant Writer
  • Editor and Content Manager
  • Novelist
  • Poet
  • Playwright
  • Screenwriter
  • Nonfiction writer
  • Freelance writer
  • Journalist/Reporter
  • Copy Writer
  • Content Writer
  • Announcer
  • Human Resources Specialist
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Nonprofit Consultant
  • Advertising Manager
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What to Expect

Hub/Support/Tutoring

  • HUB

Travel/Global Trips

  • American Ethnic Studies: New England (Literature, History, and Humanities) - Summer
  • England (Literature) - Summer
  • Semester in Japan (Tokyo Christian University)

Club/Social

  • Leetinos
  • Mu Kappa

Awards/Honors

  • Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society
  • Kairos Honors Program

Service

Center for English Language and Literacy (CELL)

Capstone

The Capstone course is designed to help graduating students integrate their faith with the academic knowledge they have gained throughout their studies. It is regarded as the final reflection of the essential Core Values of Lee University. 

Home/Location

Students spend most of their time in the Vest and Walker Memorial buildings.

Internships/Practicum

  • Writing Experience Practicum
  • Practicum in Teaching
  • Student Teaching I, II

Research/Competition

  • Senior Thesis
  • McNair Scholars

Arts/Performance

  • Writer's Series
  • Sigma Tau Delta Symposium
  • Fringe Fest, a Festival of 10-minute Plays
  • Latin American and Iberian Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Conference
  • Mission, Faith Education Summer Program
  • Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference

Student Work Opportunities

  • Federal Work-Study (Teacher's Assistant)
  • Writing Center Tutor
  • Spanish/French Tutor
  • Writing Studio Facilitator
  • Social Media Coordinator
  • Office Assistant (Department of Language and Literature

Publications

  • Lee Review

Other

Students in this program also have the opportunity to participate in the university's Asian Studies Program.

Want a Scholarship?

Lee University offers a wide variety of scholarships for all our schools and programs.

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Spanish prepares students for graduate work in the language or for work in a variety of careers, including political science, business, and academia. The program includes coursework in literature, stylistics, and special topics, and offers an option for licensure for secondary schools.

Student majors from across campus can add a minor in any of our department’s four disciplines. To see a list of available minors in Language and Literature, click here.

For information about placement and proficiency, click here.

Career Opportunities

  • Bilingual Educator: Teacher/College Professor.
  • Business: International Relations Consultant. Foreign Exchange Trader
  • Culture/Tourism: Cultural Events Coordinator, Travel Agent
  • Government: National Security Agent, Immigration Officer
  • Translator/Interpreter
  • Foreign Affairs Officer
  • International Relations Consultant
  • Foreign Exchange Trader
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Importer/Exporter
  • International Account Manager
  • International Banking Officer
  • Bilingual customer support
  • Cultural Events Coordinator
  • Travel Agent
  • Escort/Interpreter/Guide
  • National Security Agent
  • Immigration Officer
  • Court Interpreter
  • Cultural Attaché
  • UNESCO Official
  • FBI Agent
  • Foreign Diplomat Missionary
  • Foreign Service Officer

What to Expect

Hub/Support/Tutoring

  • Tutoring for Spanish classes 
  • HUB 

Travel/Global Trips

  • Colombia Spanish Summer Session 2  
  • Ecuador Spanish Institute and TESOL Service Summer Session 2 
  • Semester in Japan (Tokyo Christian University) 

Club/Social

  • Leetinos 
  • Mu Kappa 

Awards/Honors

  • Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society 
  • Kairos Honors Program 
  • Sabord Woods award  
  • Jean Eledge Distinguished Future Educator award  
  • Outstanding Freshman English Student  
  • Language and Literature Department award  
  • English, French, Spanish, TESOL Discipline awards  

Service

Center for English Language and Literacy (CELL)

Capstone

The Capstone course is designed to help graduating students integrate their faith with the academic knowledge they have gained throughout their studies. It is regarded as the final reflection of the essential Core Values of Lee University. 

Home/Location

Students spend most of their time in the Vest and Walker Memorial buildings.

Internships/Practicum

  • Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society 
  • Kairos Honors Program 

Research/Competition

Special Topics in Hispanic Linguistics, Literature, and Culture 

Arts/Performance

  • Fringe Fest, a Festival of 10-minute Plays 
  • Latin American and Iberian Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Conference  
  • Mission, Faith Education Summer Program 
  • Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference

Student Work Opportunities

  • Federal Work-Study (Teacher's Assistant)
  • Writing Center Tutor
  • Spanish/French Tutor
  • Social Media Coordinator
  • Office Assistant (Department of Language and Literature)

Publications

  • Lee Review

Other

Students in this program also have the opportunity to participate in the university's Asian Studies Program.

Want a Scholarship?

Lee University offers a wide variety of scholarships for all our schools and programs.

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Masters of Arts in TESOL

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.

This major prepares students for a career in teaching English as a second or foreign language, with two degree programs: one with teacher licensure (.BAT) and the other focusing on a context outside of US schools (.BA).

The MA in TESOL at Lee is a graduate program in TESOL designed to prepare leaders in the field of TESOL for service in a wide range of settings. Many MATESOL programs offer a fairly basic level of knowledge about TESOL, but the program at Lee is for students who already have a basic foundation in TESOL, through course work or experience.

This program is designed to prepare students to fulfill their calling as culturally sensitive advocates of the gospel and teachers of English language learners in cross-cultural settings whether in the USA or around the world. Students will study mission methodologies, holistic models of ministry, effective strategies to communicate gospel truth, and knowledge to grasp and engage difficult global issues while also studying courses in the TESOL degree to become effective ESL teachers.

Career Opportunities

  • ESL Teacher
  • English teacher in a foreign country
  • Missionary
  • Director or administrative staff for an English as a second language (ESL) program
  • Developer of English language materials with a private company
  • Academic adviser with an educational institution
  • Government agency adviser
  • Private language arts tutor
  • Administrative or teaching staff at an English language center
  • Computational Linguist
  • Consultant: Endangered Languages
  • Corporate Trainer
  • Curriculum Developer/Evaluator
  • Educational Therapist
  • Foreign Services Officer
  • Forensic Linguist
  • International Development Worker
  • Journalist
  • Language Fieldworker
  • Language Specialist
  • Linguist
  • Linguistic Anthropologist
  • Peace Corps Volunteer
  • Reading Tutor
  • Social Services Volunteer
  • Speech Pathologist
  • Standardized Test Developer or Editor
  • Teacher-Trainer
  • Translator/Interpreter
  • Writing Instructor/Tutor

What to Expect

World Class Faculty

In the Lee TESOL program, you will be taught by faculty who have over 25 years of combined international teaching and leadership experience. Your classes will be practical and personalized, preparing you with a strong foundation in linguistics theory and language pedagogy.

Alumni and Future Employment Connections

Lee TESOL alumni are now teaching in many countries around the globe as well as in schools in Tennessee and other states. As a Lee student, you will have opportunities to develop professional connections with these alumni and prepare yourself for wherever the Lord leads you in your future teaching profession.

Teaching Experience

Lee TESOL Majors can expect to graduate with a resume that is rich with English teaching experience. The Center for English Language and Literacy (CELL) provides Lee TESOL majors the opportunity to receive up to two years of mentored ESL teaching and leadership experience as they teach English lessons to community members from around the world. In addition, TESOL BAT students will complete two practicums which include a semester of fulltime teaching experience in a local school. Opportunities for tutoring in the Center for Academic Support and other campus departments also provide students with meaningful teaching experiences before they graduate.

Travel/Global Trips

  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • New Zealand Education Global Trip
  • Alaska Education Global Trip
  • Thailand

Capstone

The Capstone course is designed to help graduating students integrate their faith with the academic knowledge they have gained throughout their studies. It is regarded as the final reflection of the essential Core Values of Lee University. 

Academics/Honors

  • Phi Sigma Iota Honor Society
  • Lee Future Educators
  • Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society

Research/Competition

  • Many courses in the TESOL program have research projects and writing opportunities that prepare students for future graduate work as well as undergraduate scholarship presentation experiences.
  • McNair Scholars

Arts/Performance

  • Writer's Series
  • Sigma Tau Delta Symposium
  • Fringe Fest, a Festival of 10-minute Plays
  • Latin American and Iberian Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Conference
  • Mission, Faith Education Summer Program
  • Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference

Student Work Opportunities

  • Federal Work-Study (Teacher's Assistant)
  • Writing Center Tutor
  • Spanish/French Tutor
  • Social Media Coordinator
  • Office Assistant (Department of Language and Literature

Publications

  • Lee Review

Other

Students in this program also have the opportunity to participate in the university's Asian Studies Program.

Want a Scholarship?

Lee University offers a wide variety of scholarships for all our schools and programs.

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Our department brings in nationally- and regionally-known writers through our annual Writers Series. Since its inception more than ten years ago (originally called the Writer's Festival), we have had readings and workshops by writers such as Lauren Winner, Silas House, Rachel Held Evans, Herbert Woodward Martin, Janet Peery, Brian Silberman, and Chris Hansen (a Lee alumnus). In that time, we have had more than fifty authors give readings, work with students individually and in classes, and meet with various groups on and off-campus. We have brought a mixture of well-known, award-winning writers and emerging authors to show our students the various ways writers make careers out of their passions.

 

Previous Writers Series Authors

 

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Our language classes focus on proficiency. All of our French and Spanish majors take the ACTFL OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) and ACTFL WPT (Writing Proficiency Test) to objectively determine their levels of proficiency in speaking and writing and to provide them with an internationally recognized rating. Students begin their language study by taking a placement test or proficiency exam in French or Spanish if they have had previous language study in high school.

Proficiency Exam

Students taking proficiency examinations will be required to present evidence that they have developed those abilities and aptitudes expected of students who have taken the course involved. When possible, this evidence should be in the form of recognized standardized tests and must be approved by the school dean and the Director of Academic Services.

Upon passing the examination with a minimum grade of “B,” the student may be given credit toward graduation provided this does not duplicate credit accounted for admission to Lee University and the course is acceptable in his/her curriculum.

Proficiency examinations may not be taken to repeat coursework or be used in lieu of “I” or “F” grades. In order to take a proficiency examination, the student must be enrolled for other courses and may take the proficiency test only once. Credit earned through proficiency and advanced placement shall be recorded with a grade of “P” and will not affect the student’s GPA. Students interested in proficiency credit should inquire with the respective department chairperson for the course.

Native speakers (those educated in target language countries) of Spanish, French, may not receive proficiency credit by examination for either 211 or 212. Native speakers may have their foreign language requirement waived by successfully completing both ENGL 105 or 106 and ENGL 110. Native speakers who minor or major in Spanish or French must begin their coursework with any course numbered SPAN 310, FREN 213 or above. Additional upper-level courses must be taken to complete the required 36 hours in either major.

Heritage speakers (those who learned Spanish or French in the United States, not formally educated in target language country) must pass both a writing exam and a speaking proficiency exam to receive proficiency credit for either 211 or 212. If passed, they begin their minor or major coursework with SPAN 310, FREN 213 or above.

If placed into Spanish or French 212 and are in a B.A. program which requires 6 hours of intermediate language, then your options are:

  • Sign up for and take the Proficiency test for Spanish/French 211 at the beginning of the semester you will enroll in SPAN/FREN 212. The test costs $30 to take, whether you pass or fail the test. If you pass the test you will be charged an additional $30.00 per credit hour for a total charge of $120.00 added to your school bill and you will receive 3 credits for SPAN/FREN 211. The proficiency tests are given on the first Thursday of classes at the beginning of each semester at 6:00 p.m. in the Vest Building. You may contact the department office at 614-8210 or any of the Spanish/French professors for more information.
  • Take Spanish/French 212 for 3 credit hours and then take SPAN/FREN 213 to complete your required 6 credit hours.

Spanish Placement Test

This is a two hour, online, multiple-choice format diagnostic source that allows students to learn which Spanish course to take when s/he decides to start taking classes at Lee. The test consists of questions on communication, grammar, reading, and listening comprehension. There is no oral part to the exam. Since it is a computer-adaptive test, the length varies from one individual to another, with the average time being one hour and 30 minutes. There is a survey required to be completed before the test is taken: Student’s Language Background.

The scores and the language background data will be used to place students into the appropriate level of Spanish. The test is only for course placement to determine the student's proficiency in Spanish. No credit will be given. To receive the credits for intermediate levels students need to take the Spanish Proficiency Exam. The Spanish Placement test helps instructors balance their classes with students at the same level, and at the same time, it helps faculty advisers to plan educational programs.

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We offer our students numerous opportunities in the discipline, ranging from discipline-related work experience, such as serving as a Language Cafe host or Writing Center tutor, to honor societies in English, French, and Spanish. You can see what both our faculty and students have been doing recently on the News and Events page.

Sigma Tau Delta (International English Honor Society)
In addition to membership in the international organization—which provides opportunities for scholarships, publication, and attendance at the national convention—our chapter is one of the more active. We host an annual Symposium where students present their critical and creative works. There are several workshops throughout the year to help students learn about graduate school and job searching. We have a wide variety of social events throughout the year, including an annual Halloween party, where students (and faculty) dress as their favorite character, author, or idea. Several students attend the annual national convention and present their work there. Overall, we celebrate the intellectual and social benefits of the English discipline.

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One of the most frequent questions prospective and current students ask about the majors in our discipline is what types of careers they can find following graduation. Most people outside the discipline know that graduates can find work as teachers or pursue graduate study—and we have many alumni who take those routes—but there is a wide variety of other options for our majors. Many graduates earned additional majors to add to their Language and Literature degree to provide more flexibility and opportunities to serve.

Our English majors not only become teachers and professors; they also pursue careers in publishing, library science, various writing careers (ranging from technical communications to working for the television industry), market analysis, nonprofits, marketing, information technology, ministry, public relations, graphic design, law, and event management.

Alumni from our world language programs also enjoy a number of diverse careers, such as teaching at various levels domestically or internationally, pursuing graduate study, jobs as interpreters and translators, working for nonprofit corporations, business (especially abroad), and government employment, and a variety of involvement in Christian mission.

Prepared in both linguistics and English language acquisition and instruction, TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) alumni work in a wide variety of cross-cultural, educational contexts around the world. Graduates from the TESOL major span the globe with alumni working in public schools, immigrant programs, religious organizations, international relief work, refugee resettlement, and non-profit agencies both overseas and abroad.

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The Language and Literature faculty have a passion for words, both written and spoken, and strive to translate that passion to the hundreds of students who take part in language and composition classes every semester. They also work closely with major students to help hone their talents, improve their craft and take the love of language and literature into the world.

Lindsay Alcantara

Secretary to the Chair of the Language & Literature Department
Language & Literature | Location: DXC 101E
Phone: (423) 614- 8210
Email
Christopher Blake

Christopher Blake, PhD

Professor of TESOL & Linguistics
TESOL Program Coordinator
Director of The Center for English Language & Literacy
Language & Literature | Location: VST 106D
Phone: (423) 614-8223
Email
David Broersma

David Broersma, PhD

Professor of TESOL & Linguistics
Specialty: TESOL, Russian Language & Culture
Language and Literature | Location: VST 106C
Phone: (423) 614-8217
Email
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Carmen Guerrero

Carmen Guerrero, PhD

Associate Professor of Spanish
Specialty: Spanish Language and Culture, Language Proficiency & Assessment
Language and Literature | Location: VST 202C
Phone: (423) 614-8670
Email
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Arden Jensen

Arden Jensen, PhD

Senior Adjunct Professor of English
Language and Literature
Phone: (423) 614-8207
Email
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Ashley Mulligan

Ashley Mulligan, PhD

Associate Professor of English
Specialty: British Literature
Language and Literature | Location: VST 104E
Phone: (423) 614-8215
Email
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Betsy Poole

Betsy Poole, PhD

Adjunct Professor of Spanish and TESOL
Language & Literature
Email
Rachel Reneslacis

Rachel Reneslacis, PhD

Professor of English
Specialty: Rhetoric and Composition & Writing Program Coordinator
Language & Literature / Writing Center | Location: VST 106E
Phone: (423) 614-8218
Email
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Chad Schrock

Chad Schrock, PhD

Professor of English
Specialty: British Literature
Language & Literature | Location: VST 104C
Phone: (423) 614-8231
Email
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Alexander Steffanell

Alexander Steffanell, PhD

Professor of Spanish
Specialty: Spanish Language Instruction
Language and Literature | Location: VST 104A
Phone: (423) 614-8216
Email
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Donna Summerlin

Donna Summerlin, PhD

Chair of the Department of Language & Literature / Senior Adjunct Professor-English
Language & Literature | Location: DXC 101D
Phone: (423) 614-8210
Email
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James Wilkins

James Wilkins, PhD

Professor of French
Specialty: French Language Instruction
Language and Literature | Location: DXC 101B
Phone: (423) 614-8213
Email
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William Woolfitt

William Woolfitt, PhD

Associate Professor of Creative Writing
Specialty: Fiction, Poetry, Writer's Series Director
Language and Literature | Location: VST 106F
Phone: (423) 614-8230
Email
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CELL (Center for English Language Learning) is a program run through Lee University’s TESOL program which allows people from the Cleveland, Tennessee community (normally immigrants or refugees) to learn English for free. Every Thursday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., these people come to learn English from Lee University TESOL majors and minors. Lee University’s own students are the teachers and leaders in this program. There are 5 levels of English classes taught at the ELC, from True Beginner to Advanced, as well as a Young Adult and Children's Program. Once you include people from these three areas, the ELC has hundreds of people coming through its doors every week!

Chris Blake
Office: Vest 106-D
(423) 614-8223
[email protected]

 Hours:
Thursdays from 6:30 pm. to 8:30 pm

Location:
Walker Memorial Building,
Lee University, Cleveland, TN
11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311

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