Program Overview

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) K-12

Overview

Jesus taught and ministered to people from diverse cultures and languages, treating them with compassion and equity (see Alma 9:26). He also encouraged His disciples to teach others in their native languages. In the TESOL K-12 minor, you will follow His example by supporting multilingual learners from immigrant families in realizing their divine potential.

Through this program, you will learn to:

Recognize the divine identity of multilingual students and their families while fostering a sense of belonging in your classroom, school, and community.
Design lessons that build English proficiency while integrating subjects such as literacy, math, history, science, literature, and the arts.
Connect classroom learning to students’ backgrounds, experiences, and identities, helping them see their capabilities and value their own ideas.

This program equips you with the knowledge and skills to uplift and empower multilingual learners, enabling them to thrive academically, socially, and culturally. Learn More

Course Requirements by Major

Detailed Course List

CPSE

TELL 410: Second Language Learning & Teaching
3.0
TELL 440: Content-Based Language Instruction
2.0
TELL 442R*: TESOL K-12 Practicum
4.0

ECE

TELL 410: Second Language Learning & Teaching
3.0
TELL 440: Content-Based Language Instruction
2.0
TELL 450: Family, School, and Community Partnerships
2.0
TELL 442R*: TESOL K-12 Practicum
4.0

Secondary Education

TELL 410: Second Language Learning & Teaching
3.0
TELL 420: Assessing Linguistically Diverse Students
2.0
TELL 430: Developing K-12 Literacy in a Second Language
2.0
TELL 440: Content-Based Language Instruction
2.0
TELL 450: Family, School, and Community Partnerships
2.0
TELL 442R*: TESOL K-12 Practicum
4.0

ELED

TELL 410: Second Language Learning & Teaching
3.0
TELL 440: Content-Based Language Instruction
2.0
TELL 450: Family, School, and Community Partnerships
2.0
TELL 442R*: TESOL K-12 Practicum
4.0

*Can be taken as the last four weeks of the student teaching at the end of the major.

**Note: required TESOL K-12 minor courses that are included in a major requirements are not shown. Click here for all requirements.

Applications for the TESOL K-12 practicum are similar to those in your teaching major. Check the application deadlines on this Education Advisement Center page.

Program for Teacher Candidates

Undergraduate students should visit the Education Advisement Center in 175 MCKB for more information.

Program for Current Classroom Teachers

Classroom teachers can enroll in the TESOL K-12 program in one of two ways

Contact your district's alternative language services coordinator for information about course offerings in the district.
Enroll on BYU campus. Because the TESOL K-12 courses are offered on campus as evening classes (4:00 pm to 9:40 pm), students do not have to be accepted into the BYU day school to enroll. Go to http://eveningclasses.ce.byu.edu for information on how to register.

Prerequisites

Declare a Teaching Major

Meet with an advisor in the Education Advisement Center (175 MKCB)

Graduation Requirements

Declare a TESOL K-12 Minor

Go to your major academic advisement center to add TESOL K-12 as a minor.
Visit the Education Advisement Center for more information and materials.
Complete the TESOL K-12 credits.
In order to receive the ESL endorsement, students are required to complete Utah State Board of Education licensing requirements.

Program Application Deadline(s): None

Testimonials

The TELL/TESOL program was very helpful because it helped me find a job. Having the confidence and ability to work with ELLs has allowed me to work at a Title 1 School, where my students are very diverse. I feel like one of the most important things that I learned in this minor wasn't about teaching strategies, but was about the attitude I had towards my students.

Samantha B.

My TESOL K-12 courses were some of the most relevant, useful, and applicable classes I took. Beyond finding them interesting and engaging, I found that the TESOL K-12 courses gave me a passion for teaching that I didn't get from other pedagogy classes. That was the start of my love for advocating for language minority students.

Ashlee B.

I learned how to adjust what I am already doing in class to fit my ESL students' needs. I learned that even though these students may not have English as their native language, they still are capable of showing what they know and learning in our classrooms.

Loren C.

I actually haven't had the opportunity to teach post graduation because I had a baby 2 months after graduation and have been a stay at home ever since with three children now. With that said, I do feel like my education has helped me as a Mom when I am teaching language! Principles that I have taken away, especially from the TESOL minor, are teaching using multiple facets.

Maren S.

Careers in TESOL K-12

Transforming Language Learning