AU Abroad/ TESOL Certificate

The AU Abroad/TESOL certificate program enables American University students to integrate an international internship in teaching English as part of a 15 credit certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The program is open to both AU undergraduates who participate in a semester-long AU Abroad Program as well as to AU undergraduate or graduate students doing summer international internship programs. Currently, the program is available for AU Abroad programs based in Madrid. Other sites may be added.

Students take two TESOL courses (TESL 500 Principles of Linguistics and TESL 501 English Language Teaching I) before undertaking their 3 credit international internship. Upon returning to campus, students complete their certificate by taking TESL 502 (English Language Teaching II) and one approved 3 credit TESOL elective (or three 1 credit electives). TESL 500 and TESL 501 are taught both in Fall and Spring semesters, as well as during the first Summer session. Students returning from abroad to AU following a Spring or Summer internship can complete their certificate course work during the annual Summer TESOL Institute.

All certificate courses can be applied to the MA in TESOL. AU undergraduates may also qualify for the Bachelors / MA program, through which 6 TESOL credits earned as an undergraduate are applied to the MA degree.

Note: The TESOL Certificate is not designed for K-12 ESL certification. Students interested in K-12 certification to teach in public schools in the United States should consider the Master of Arts in Teaching: ESOL offered in conjunction with AU’s School of Education.

Admission Requirements

Students apply to the AU Abroad / TESOL Certificate Program through the AU TESOL Program. This application should be completed at least one full semester before students intend to do their international internship. Students should also inform the AU Abroad Program of their plans so appropriate internships can be arranged in a timely manner. It is important that students arrange their class schedules at AU carefully to ensure they complete both TESL 500 and 501 before going abroad.

No previous training in linguistics is required for admission. However, a background in a second language is recommended. (NOTE: The AU Abroad Semester in Madrid requires completion of two years of college-level Spanish.)

International students must demonstrate competence in English, equivalent to a score of at least 600 on the traditional TOEFL or 250 on the computerized version.

Program Requirements

A total of 15 credit hours:
• TESL 500 Principles of Linguistics
• TESL 501 English Language Teaching I
• TESL 502 English Language Teaching II
• TESL 596 International Internship
• one approved 3 credit TESOL elective (or three 1 credit electives).
Students are required to earn a grade point average of B (3.0) or better in their TESOL courses.

For More Information Contact

AU Abroad Program
American University
Tenley Campus, Capital Building
Room 106
Washington, DC 20016-8039
Phone: 202-895-4830
Email: auabroad@american.edu
http://auabroad.american.edu

or

Brock Brady
Coordinator of TESOL Programs
Department of Language and Foreign Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
American University
Phone: 202-885-1446
Email: bbrady@american.edu
www.american.edu/tesol