Courses
The program will comprise five three-units courses. Students will complete 150 class hours. Additional out-of-class activities will augment the formal instructional component of the program. The program’s core courses will be:

Curriculum and Materials in Language Teaching
Survey of approaches to ESL course and syllabus design including materials selection, adaptation, development, and evaluation. Students will learn to create and administer original, valid and reliable ESL assessment tools and to select, adapt, and develop appropriate instructional materials for use in all ESL media: texts, films, audio-tapes, video-tapes, records, and programmed materials. Provides students with appropriate classroom management skills. Combines textbook readings, one-on-one consultation with a teacher mentor, and teaching practice and classroom observation in connection with La Sierra University’s English as a Second Language program.

Teaching Reading and Writing
Analysis of research, curriculum design, and selection of materials and strategies for the teaching, development, and evaluation of reading skills in English. Opportunities for practice and observation.

Teaching Listening and Speaking
Analysis of research, curriculum design, and selection of materials and strategies for the teaching, development, and evaluation of listening/speaking skills in English. Opportunities for practice and observation.
The curriculum will be interactive and learner-focused. On the application form, each candidate indicates her interest in particular topics. Those topics identified as most interesting to participants will be the focus of modules offered during the program.

Introduction to TESOL for Teachers
History and development of theories and methods for introduction in and through English including approaches with a focus on English language development and content area instruction. Overview of syllabus design.

TESOL Culture
How to teach students about various aspects of American culture with emphasis on the American outlook, American holidays and the ways Americans think about themselves and others. Participants will be encouraged to compare and contrast values, attitudes and cultural patterns of the United States and other countries of the world.