Teaching English as a Second Language

Grant-Based Support

A special, limited time program is offered to practicing teachers in partner school districts of MSUM to provide training in working with English Language Learners in their classes.  For five years (2007-2012), grant monies from the U.S. Department of Education's National Professional Development Program will be available to selected secondary teachers to assist in defraying the costs of coursework in MSUM's TESL Program by providing stipends as partial reimbursements to program participants.

Interested teachers may enroll in one of two options for training, each of which will take approximately one year to complete due to scheduling issues:

1) a set of 3 courses that will lay a foundation of understanding the needs of ELLs and strategies for working with them in subject area classes.  The three courses include TESL 551 English Structures, LANG 557 Second Language Acquisition and Language Teaching, and TESL 690 Special Topics: Sheltered Instruction Approaches

2) a set of 6 classes and one practicum that will allow teachers to apply for add-on licensure as a highly-qualified teacher of ESL to their existing certificates.  The classes include: TESL 551, English Structures, LANG 557 Second Language Acquisition & Language Teaching, TESL 625 Social, Cultural, and Political Contexts of Language and Literacy, TESL 654 Pedagogical Grammar, TESL 670 Designing ESL Courses, TESL 675 Assessment in TESL, ED 694V Practicum/Internship.
Note: Teachers in Minnesota must demonstrate experience with a second or foreign language equivalent to the level gained in one year of college-level study.

Benefits to Teachers

1) Reduce costs for graduate study because of completion stipends

2) Increase your pay because of study at graduate level

3) Maintain your teaching certificate through continuing study

4) Develop comfort and effectiveness in working with ELLs

5) Expand your employment options by adding another licensure area

6) Add variety to your life by working with new students and new materials

How to Enroll

1) Determine if your district is a partner

2) Contact your school district administrator for a letter of support.  You administrator may include and prioritize your enrollment among a list of other teachers from your district.  Your administrator should send the letter directly to the MSUM Graduate Studies Office.

3) Send your application materials to MSUM Graduate Studies Office, including

a. Graduate Studies online application form

b. TESL certificate application form

c. Letter of district support, as described above

d. Transcripts showing completion of bachelor's degree

e. $20.00 application fee for first-time applicants to MSUM programs

4) Receive a formal letter confirming your admission and instructing you how to register.

Partner School Districts

Moorhead Area Public Schools

West Fargo Public Schools

South East Education Cooperative, including

Fargo Public Schools

Central Cass

Fairmount

Ft. Ransom

Hankinson

Kindred

Lidgerwood

Lisbon

Mapleton

Milnor

North Sargent

Oakes

Richland 44

Sargent Central

Sheldon

Wahpeton

West Fargo

Wyndmere

 

Lakes Country Service Cooperative, including

Alexandria

Ashby

Barnesville

Battle Lake

Brandon

Breckenridge

Browns Valley

Campbell-Tintah

Chokio-Alberta

Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley

Cyrus

Detroit Lakes

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton

Evansville

Fergus Falls

Frazee-Vergas

Hancock

Hawley

Henning

Herman-Norcross

Lake Park-Audubon

Minnewaska

Moorhead

Morris

New York Mills

Osakis

Parkers Prairie

Pelican Rapids

Perham-Dent

Rothsay

Ulen-Hitterdal

Underwood

West Central

Wheaton

Lakes Area Charter School

Glacial Hills Elementary

Hillcrest Lutheran

Holy Rosary

Morning Son Christian

New Testament Christian

Our Lady of Victory

Park Christian

St. Henry's

St. Joseph's

St. Mary's-Alexandria

St. Mary's-Breckenridge

St. Mary's-Morris

St. Paul's

Trinity Lutheran

Alexandria Tech College

MSCTC