Education - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Overview

The structure and content of the Education - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program at The Ohio State University is designed to assist students in developing the knowledge, skills and disposition needed to become effective leaders and advocates for social justice in the field of education. Each program is led by world-renowned faculty, staff and graduate associates who oversee the progress of each individual pre-service teacher as he or she progresses through an intense program of study. Upon completion of the program, students will also obtain initial licensure to work with English language learners in K–12 school teaching settings in Ohio. 

Program objectives

Through their course and field work, students will:

• Use their understanding of children’s and adolescents’ characteristics and needs and of multiple interacting influences on children’s and adolescents’ development and learning to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging for all children and adolescents.
• Know about, understand and value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s and adolescents’ families and communities. 
• Know about and understand the goals, benefits and uses of assessment. 

• Integrate their understanding of and relationships with children/adolescents and families; their understanding of developmentally effective approaches to teaching and learning; and their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for all children and adolescents.

Possible careers

TESOL graduates may seek teaching positions in grades K–12 at U.S. public and private schools. Since the State of Ohio has high standards for teacher preparation, graduates could potentially be hired as teachers anywhere in the United States. Given the depth of the curriculum and the breadth of the field experience and student teaching requirements, TESOL graduates may also seek teaching opportunities in other educational settings, including post-secondary institutions, community/non-profit organizations, and intensive English programs.

In addition, the TESOL degree can be useful for seeking a variety of positions outside the United States to teach English as a foreign language (EFL). English-language teachers abroad work in both state-sponsored and private educational institutions, as well as through U.S. and international organizations that hire individuals to teach English in various countries.