Goals and objectives of the MA TESOL program
Exact wording of Student Learning Outcome
Goal 1: Knowledge of language and skills required to understand and explain language systems
- Demonstrate an understanding of language as a system consisting of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, lexis, pragmatics, and discourse.
- Demonstrate an understanding of an ability to articulate the relationships between the various intrasentential levels and features of English structure.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the structure of meaning in English and of how meaning is conveyed in structures beyond the structure level.
- Demonstrate the ability to correlate the knowledge in objectives 1A, 1B, and 1C, with four skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking with sufficient precision to teach and assess proficiency in English as a non-native language.
Goal 2: Knowledge of language learning – Knowledge of current theories concerning cognitive, affective, social, and cultural factors central to theacquisiton and use of second languages
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major linguistic, psycholinguistic, and sociolinguistic issues in second language learning in formal and informal contexts.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the role of pragmatic knowledge and knowledge of text structure in the comprehension, production, and acquisition of a second language.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the intersection between culture, language, language learning and teaching, and language use with particular reference to English as a global language.
- Demonstrate an ability to apply theoretical knowledge of second language acquisition in second language learning/acquisition contexts.
Goal 3: Knowledge and skills of language instruction – Knowledge of curriculum frameworks, teaching methods, and proficiency assessmentinstuments for teaching English as a non-native language
- Identify the instructional strategies that go with the established teaching methods.
- Gain practical experience in applying theoretical knowledge to various language learning and teaching situations.
- Critically evaluate the teaching of actual ESL classes with regard to teaching strategies and activities and with regard to goals 1 and 2.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the theory and practice of needs analysis, curriculum design, and assessment techniques.
- Develop ESL curriculum for diverse target groups by synthesizing the objectives of goals 1 and 2 and the teaching strategies in objective 3A.
- Design supplementary materials for use with particular instructional strategies.
- Develop language tests and assessment instruments.
Goal 4: Skills and attitudes necessary to understand, analyze, and synthesize goals 1-3 in actual language teaching
- Demonstrate the ability to transfer theoretical knowledge of second language acquisition into second language teaching procedures.
- Demonstrate an ability to handle written and spoken interlanguage data.
- Demonstrate the comprehension and the connection between classroom input and interaction and learning outcomes.
- Complete a one-semester practicum in which, under the direct supervision of an M.A.TESOL faculty member, they plan lessons and teach English to an actual ESL class.
- Have a culminating experience in which they apply information, which they have learned in the program, to hypothetical teaching situations or to an extended research project.
Goal 5: Proficiency in English for academic purposes with particular focus on Linguistics and TESOL
- Demonstrate an ability to critically analyze and evaluate the structure and content of a variety of published scholarly writing in linguistics and TESOL.
- Demonstrate an ability to use registers, including the jargon, appropriate for the writing of these fields.
- Demonstrate the ability to locate and cite published scholarly material pertaining to these fields.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the processes involved in composing scholarly research and writing.
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