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SJSU Home : Department of Linguistics and Language Development : Programs : TESOL Program : MA in TESOL with an Emphasis in ESP

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(The ESP Emphasis is currently on hold, and ESP courses are not being offered.)

The Master's Degree (MA) in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with an Emphasis in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) provides a broad background in ESP theory and praxis. It is designed to prepare the future ESP Practitioner to design courses for and teach all categories of ESP in both domestic and international settings.

Program Description

The MATESOL with an Emphasis in ESP provides a thorough preparation in all aspects of teaching English as a second or foreign language. Ten classes, three of which concern ESP, are required for the degree.

The seven required non-ESP courses are:

• English Structures for Teaching I (pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary )
• English Structures for Teaching II (semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis)
• Second Language Acquisition
• Intercultural Communication
• Methods and Materials for TESOL
• Testing, Research, and Evaluation
• Practicum in TESOL

The three required ESP courses (which must be taken in this order) are:

1. Foundations of ESP Foundations of ESP includes the history and development of ESP, linguistic analysis in ESP, and needs analysis. It requires students to find a company or other ESP setting in the region that has nonnative-English-speaking employees and to conduct a thorough ESP needs analysis from all perspectives (e.g., owner, supervisor, employee, field, product).
2. ESP Course Design ESP Course Design includes ESP curriculum and materials development, ESP textbook evaluation, ESP testing and evaluation, and ESP administration. It requires students to design a course based on the needs analysis produced in the first course.
3. Special Topics in ESP Having studied the theoretical foundations of ESP in general, and having applied this knowledge to the construction of a new course for a local setting, students are ready for an in-depth analysis and application to a specified area of ESP. Students will observe and work with ESP professionals in the preparation, design, delivery and assessment of English language training for a specific purpose. This course integrates theory, methods and materials, and practice and serves as an appropriate culminating experience in the ESP emphasis.

Entrance Requirements

• "B" average for last 60 semester or 90 quarter units
• TOEFL score of 570 or above for nonnative speakers
• Proficiency in English and one other foreign language

Prerequisite Courses (or demonstrable equivalent)

• Introduction to Linguistics (Linguistics 101)
• Patterns of English (LLD 107)

Note: No more than two classes (six units) may be transferred from other institutions.

Certification

• MA Degree with an Emphasis in ESP
  • For the MA degree with an Emphasis in ESP, participants must:
    • complete all required courses with a grade of "B" or better
    • satisfy the Graduate Writing Examination
    • pass a departmental comprehensive final examination
• Certificate in ESP
  • For students who have already completed an MATESOL, a Certificate in ESP is awarded upon completion of the three courses in the ESP Emphasis.

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