All Valparaiso University TESOL students, including undergraduate TESOL minors, M.A. students in TESOL, and graduate and undergraduate students in the TESOL certificate programs complete a hands-on teaching practicum. Below are only some of the locales in which students in our programs have completed the teaching practicum:

• Valparaiso Adult Learning Center
• Interlink Language Center, Valparaiso
• Compass International Family Center, Valparaiso
• Valparaiso University English Department (English 101 and 102)
• Study Abroad classes at Valparaiso University for students from Namseoul University, Korea
• Indiana K-12 schools (for the teacher certification in TESOL)
• Valparaiso International Center
• Go Teacher Ecuador program on Valparaiso University’s campus
• Summer Global Leadership Institute, Valparaiso University
• Hmong American Partnership, Minneapolis

Students in our programs complete 50 hours of observation or teaching time per academic credit. Faculty-directed teaching time is normally preceded by observation in programs such as those listed above; the teaching practicum includes an academic, reflective component.

One course from the following options:

ENGL 333	Introduction to Linguistics for P-12 Ed	3 Cr.
ENGL 343	Introduction to Linguistics	3 Cr.

One course from the following options:

ENGL 358	Tesol: Theory and Methods for P-12 Educ	3 Cr.
ENGL 368	Teaching of English to Speakers of Other, Languages: Theory and Methods I	3 Cr.

English Track		9
ENGL 309	Literature of the Medieval Period	3 Cr.
ENGL 341	History of the English Language	3 Cr.
ENGL 342	Grammar, Style, and Editing	3 Cr.
ENGL 344	Sociolinguistics: Language Across Cultures	3 Cr.
ENGL 369	Teaching of English to Speakers of, Another Language: Methods and Practices	3 Cr.
ENGL 484	Topics in Language	3 Cr.
ENGL 486	Internship in English	0.5 Cr.

TESOL Track

One course from the following options:

ENGL 334	Sociolinguistics: Lang Across Cultr P-12	3 Cr.
ENGL 344	Sociolinguistics: Language Across Cultures	3 Cr.

One course from the following options:

ENGL 359	Tesol: Methods and Practices for P-12 Educ	3 Cr.
ENGL 369	Teaching of English to Speakers of, Another Language: Methods and Practices	3 Cr.

One course from the following options:

ENGL 374	Observation in P12 English Learner Ed	1 Cr.
ENGL 384	Observation in TESOL	1 Cr.

One course from the following options:

ENGL 477	Practicum in English Learner Education	3 Cr.
ENGL 487	Practicum in Teaching of English to, Speakers of Other Languages	1 Cr.

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Note: Students seeking Indiana state English Learner (EL) licensure must complete designated versions of TESOL courses for P-12 educators in the categories listed above. Students must also complete the appropriate program of study in Education. Enrollment in the P-12-focused versions of TESOL courses is restricted to Education students and students with a P-12 teaching license.

Valparaiso University offers an 18-credit graduate TESOL certificate. While the program is open to any degree seeking graduate student at Valparaiso University, this certificate would be most practical for students in programs with a language or international focus (e.g., International Commerce and Policy, English Studies and Communication, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, etc.). In general, students in graduate degree programs may use up to 9 credits from their degree toward the TESOL certificate, but the actual number will depend on the specific degree program. For the Master of Arts in English Studies and Communication, for example, 9 credits of appropriate coursework may be applied toward the TESOL certificate.

The certificate is also open to non-degree graduate students, including international students and members of the Northwest Indiana community.

Enrolled VU TESOL students with at least 75 hours of ESL/EFL/ELL teaching, for which the teaching was not completed as part of the VU TESOL program, may submit a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) portfolio of TESOL artifacts, including documentation of work experience, lesson plans, assessments, and analysis. This portfolio will be assessed by TESOL program faculty with the PLA portfolio rubric. Students who complete a PLA portfolio that earns a passing score will be awarded the equivalent of credit for ENGL 569 Tesol: Methods and Practices, Another Language: Methods and Practices. Interested students should consult with their TESOL adviser and obtain a copy of the TESOL PLA portfolio prompt and rubric from their advisor to consider whether this opportunity is appropriate in their case.

Teachers currently licensed in the state of Indiana can now complete this targeted TESOL certificate, leading to the addition of the EL (English Learners) content area to their teaching license.