About this program
Program accreditation
This program is accredited by the Minnesota Professional Education and Licensing Standards Board (PELSB) to meet the standards for being licensed to teach ESL to students in K-12 classrooms.
The School of Urban Education has not made a determination that this program meets the education requirements for licensure for any other states or US protectorate.
The English as Second Language (ESL) minor is designed for students interested in the knowledge, skills, methods, and strategies for working with urban English Language Learners in K-12 schools. With completing a few more courses and practicum experience, students will meet the requirements to add a K-12 ESL teaching license to the initial teaching license being completed as part of your major and Bachelors degree. This minor can also be a program of interest for those who work with English learners outside of the school setting.
Student outcomes
Students successfully completing this program will meet the following standards for ESL licensure:
- understands a variety of methods, techniques, and program models suitable for second language instruction with diverse learners including adapting existing materials to meet the needs of English learners.
- uses various content-based methodologies and integrates language acquisition and use of language functions across learning experiences to facilitate full inclusion of English learners in the school setting.
- communicates successfully with students, parents, colleagues, and community members.
- understands communication instruction in the second language context and the importance of developing communication skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing across the curriculum.
- understands and uses formal and informal second language assessment techniques with criteria to determine appropriate placement and to evaluate the progress of English learners.
- understands the contributions of general and applied linguistics to second language education.
- understands the fundamentals of the first and second language acquisition processes and their similarities and differences.
- understands how the historical, social, and political aspects of language and cultural patterns in the United States influence second language instruction.
- understands the teaching of English as a second language that integrates understanding of English as a second language with the teacher's understanding of pedagogy, students, learning, classroom management, and professional development.