The request to revise the MAT in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

Date: September 1, 2011
To: College of Education
From: Clarence Greene, Faculty Governance Assistant
Approved On: June 29, 2011
Implementation Date: 2011

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Summary

The Department of Middle Secondary and K-12 Education proposes to revise the M.A.T. in Teaching English as a Second Language as follows:

1. The addition of one new required course:

TESL 6206 Globalization, Communities, and Schools (New course approved by Graduate Council 12-9-10)

2. The addition of one new course option:

TESL 6205 Second Language Acquisition in K-12 Schools (New course approved by Graduate Council 5-4-10)

3. The revision of the title and description of TESL 6476, Advanced Pedagogy in Teaching English as a Second Language, and its cross listing with FLED 6200, Advanced Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages (Approved by Graduate Council 12-9-10)

4. The change of two course from required to elective:

ENGL 6164 Comparative Language Analysis for Teachers

ENGL 6127 Language, Society, and Culture

Catalog Copy

TESL 6206 Globalization, Communities, and Schools (3) An examination of the intersection of globalization and education with specific attention to the experiences of children of immigration in North Carolina K-12 communities and the contemporary phenomenon of transnationalism. Implications for best K-12 practice are emphasized. This course does not carry a fieldwork requirement. Fall or Spring (Approved by Graduate Faculty Council on 12/2010)

TESL 6205 Second Language Acquisition in K-12 Schools. (3) An examination of concepts, theories, research, and practice related to the language acquisition and literacy development of English Language Learners in U.S. schools. Attention is paid to the physiological, social and psychological variables that influence the academic success of immigrant children and the challenges associated with first language literacy, second language literacy, and second language development in K-12 settings. (This course will be taught on a need and enrollment basis and no more than twice each academic year). (Approved by Graduate Faculty Council 05/2010)

TESL 6476. Advanced Pedagogy in Teaching English as a Second Language. (3) Prerequisite: Permission of the department. A variety of topics will be addressed in order to prepare experienced second language teachers to be critical thinkers, second language researchers, and instructional and program leaders. Exemplar topics include the analysis of instructional methods and teaching strategies, curriculum design, research-based practices, multicultural education, and the mentoring and/or professional development of novice ESL teachers. Cross Listed with FLED 6200. Advanced Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages. (3). (Approved by Graduate Faculty Council 12/2010)

Justification

TESL 6206 Globalization, Communities, and Schools (3) The newly approved course, TESL 6206 Globalization, Communities, and Schools provides TESL M.Ed. and M.A.T. candidates an opportunity to collaboratively and individually examine the intersection of globalization and education with specific attention to the experiences of immigrant children in North Carolina communities and the contemporary phenomenon of transnationalism as it relates to schools and schooling. With its emphasis on NC Professional Standard II, the course therefore ensures an additional layer of certainty that candidates will “ESTABLISH A RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR A DIVERSE POPULATION OF STUDENTS” by embracing diversity in the school community and in the world. Additionally, TESL 6206 is aligned to these NC Standards for English as a Second Language and, in particular, enhances candidates’ deep knowledge concerning Standard 2: ESL teacher candidates have knowledge and understanding of the interaction between language and culture, and how sociocultural factors impact second language acquisition (Language and Culture).

TESL 6205 Second Language Acquisition in K-12 Schools TESL 6205 enhances the menu of TESL content specialty offerings in its purposeful and explicit focus on second language acquisition in K-12 settings. Across K-12 public schools, a wide range of popular doctrines inform, and, in some cases, misinform the ways educators conceptualize literacy development for the increasingly significant numbers of K-12 English learners. TESL 6205 provides K-12 TESL professionals a critical component of an informed, research-based starting point for designing or re-designing literacy instruction for immigrant children who speak languages other than English at home. To that end, the newly approved course adds another layer of certainty that students leaving the program have met NC Teaching English as a Second Language Specialty Standard 3: 21st Century Teacher candidates have knowledge and understanding of concepts, theories, research, and practice related to the language acquisition and literacy development of English Language Learners. Second Language Acquisition and Theory.