TESL minor

ESL minor w/o certification

Academic Standards
 For teaching
 For non-teachers

Courses

Teaching English as a Second Language Minor (TESL)
NOTE: Enrollment caps are in effect for students seeking ESL certification. We process applications for admission February 22 and September 22. Contact the Department of Foreign Languages for more information on admission policies.

The TESL minor consists of 24-26 credits. You must take the TESL minor in conjunction with teaching majors in early childhood, elementary education, or secondary teaching majors in math, science, English or social studies. Foreign language and special education teaching candidates may meet the content requirement by completing the equivalent of a minor in math, science, English or social studies.

1. Proficiency in English: Attain the minimum scores required by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on verbal and reading sections of the PPST.

2. Two semesters of college-level foreign language (8 credits) or equivalent high school or other experience demonstrated by test-out.

3. Required.

1. Three credits from English 342, 344, 345.

2. Communicative Disorders 266 or English 240.

3. Three credits from Anthropology 110, 280, 335; French 481 with subtitle “Francophone Culture and Civilization in North America”; History 130, 352; Political Science 315; Psychology 322; Sociology 270, 327, 343; Spanish 481, 482, 483.

4. With advisor approval take 7-9 credits as follows:
   1) One course from English 200, 274, 275, 375.
   2) For K-9 certification take Education 309, 310.
   3) For 6-12 certification take two courses from English 355, 356, 381 or 386.

5. Foreign Language Ed 344; and 398 or 498.

English as a Second Language Minor without Certification
Consists of 24-26 credits.

1. Prerequisites.

1. Demonstrated proficiency in English.

2. Two semesters of college-level foreign language
   (8 credits) or equivalent high school experience demonstrated by test-out.

2. Required.

1. Three credits from English 342 or 344.

2. Three credits from Communicative Disorders 266, English 240, or Anthropology 280.

3. With ESL advisor approval, choose one course from Anthropology 110, 355; French 481; German 381; History 108, 120, 216, 220, 253, 254, 340, 346, 348, 350, 352; International Studies 101; Religious Studies 100; Sociology 343; Spanish 481, 483.

4. One course from English 200, 211, 212, 213, 214, 275, 375, or Comparative Lit 101, 102.

5. Foreign Language Ed 333 or 344 (with ESL advisor approval).

6. Foreign Language Ed 397, 1-3 credits.

Academic Standards (Teaching)
Admission caps are in effect for students seeking teacher certification in foreign languages. Applications for admission are processed February 22 and September 22. Contact the Department of Foreign Languages for more information on admission policies.

To be eligible to student teach in foreign languages, you must complete the teaching major or minor with an overall grade point average of 3.0 in all college level courses taken in the language you plan to teach, regardless of declaration of academic bankruptcy, and a minimum grade of B in the foreign language methods course (FLED 333). In addition you must fulfill the following special requirements.

1. Residence: You must complete an appropriate period of residence in a country where the language is spoken, or participate in an alternative language immersion experience approved by the department. All teacher candidates in foreign language should participate in a language-based semester study abroad program, such as those offered by UWSP in France, Germany, and Spain, or a junior year abroad. With prior department approval you may substitute alternative experiences such as immersion programs or summer study abroad.

2. Oral and Written Proficiency: To be eligible to student teach a foreign language at elementary, middle, or secondary level, you must pass oral and written proficiency tests given by the department before your application to student teach will be approved.

3. Student Teaching: The chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and the director of the Office of Field Experiences approve student teaching programs. You register for Foreign Language Ed 398 (1-16 credits), Foreign Language Ed 400 (1-2 credits), and receive an assignment at the grade level for which you are seeking certification.

4. Professional Education Program: Requirements for the Professional Education Program are listed in the Education section earlier in this catalog.

Academic Standards (Nonteaching)
To graduate with a nonteaching major or minor in the Department of Foreign Languages, you must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA in all courses for the major/minor, including transfer courses, regardless of any declaration of academic bankruptcy. To be certified to teach a foreign language, you must complete the teaching major or minor with a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all college level courses taken in the language you plan to teach, regardless of academic bankruptcy. See the Academic Information section of this catalog for the course repeat policy.

Courses in foreign languages are open to all students who meet the prerequisites. If you are not accepted into teacher certification programs, you must have written consent from the chair to enroll in teaching methods courses.

Test-Out and Credit-by-Exam Policy
You may also test-out of or receive credit-by-exam for foreign language courses beyond 212 which fulfill the humanities category of the general degree requirements. To test-out, you must pass with a grade of B- or higher both written and oral examinations in the foreign language on the subject matter of the course. For credit-by-exam, you must 1) pass both written and oral examinations in the foreign language with a grade of B or higher and 2) submit a paper on an assigned topic, for which you receive a grade of B or higher. Arrange for examinations on an individual basis with the department chair.