宾夕法尼亚大学TESOL项目--FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions by TESOL Students:
TESOL ADVISING
Who is my advisor?
The TESOL advisor is assigned before students arrive. The letter of invitation to the program notifies students of their advisor’s name and contact information. Students meet their advisors during the required TESOL orientation session, which is usually held during the same day as the LLED orientation. Students are responsible for contacting their advisor and making appointments to approve a plan of study. Students who do not consult with their advisors risk taking courses that will not count toward their degree. TESOL has a separate internship and seminar advisor who can be consulted about matters related to these items.
Who else should students consult besides their advisor?
Questions that the TESOL advisors cannot answer should be addressed to the LLED coordinator, Penny Creedon (pennyc@gse.upenn.edu), or the TESOL program director.
COURSES:
REQUIRED COURSES
How many courses are required for the M.S.Ed in TESOL?
Twelve graduate level courses are required. Each course carries a minimum of thirty hours and is worth one c.u. (credit unit).
What are the required courses?
EDUC 527: Approaches to Teaching English and Other Modern Languages
EDUC 537: Educational Linguistics
EDUC 546: Sociolinguistics in Education
EDUC 563: Internship and Seminar: TESOL
Also, one of the following fieldwork courses:
EDUC 525.004: TESOL Practice
EDUC 525.927: TESOL Practice/Overseas Placements (Summer Session II only)
EDUC 679: Language for Specific Purposes is required for international students
When should students take the required courses?
The TESOL faculty recommends that full time students take the required courses during their first 2 semesters of study. Part-time students should take the required courses before they begin taking electives. These courses present tools and knowledge that prepare students for more advanced courses in the field.
Students should take EDUC 563: Internship and Seminar: TESOL in the semester following two full semesters of courses, e.g., during their second fall or second spring semester, or their first summer session. Students who begin their program of studies in the summer session should wait until the following spring semester, summer session, or later to take EDUC 525 or EDUC 563.
How many courses can be taken each semester?
Full-time students must be registered for at least 3 c.u.’s. Students who would like to take a different number of courses MUST consult with their advisor, first through email, and follow up in person, if necessary.
Which courses should be taken in the first semester?
New students who enter in the Fall Semester should plan to take EDUC 527: Approaches to Teaching English and Other Modern Languages and EDUC 537: Educational Linguistics since these are intended to provide a foundation for their TESOL studies.
International students must register for EDUC 679: Language for Specific Purposes. New students who enter in the Spring semester or Summer Session should consult with their advisor, as these courses may not be offered at these times.
ELECTIVES
Which electives are recommended?
To gain depth in the field, students should take most of their electives in LLED. To gain breadth in the field, they should take at least one elective from another GSE division. Elective selection will depend on a student’s career goals and interests. Students should consult with their advisor and other TESOL students for specific recommendations. Please note that all elective courses must be graduate level (i.e., 500-level or above) and be relevant to the student’s plan of study.
May students count language courses as electives?
Students may take any graduate level (500-level or above) language course as an elective. However, they may NOT take undergraduate language courses (below 500-level courses) and have them count towards the M.S.Ed degree. This usually precludes students from taking beginning language courses and counting the courses towards their degree.
Students who would like to learn a new language or continue to study a previously learned language might consider contacting the appropriate department to ask about sitting in on a class, contacting International House, or looking for a private tutor.
How do students enroll in elective courses outside of GSE?
Enrollment in elective courses outside of GSE depends on the school offering the courses. Students may enroll in courses in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the Law School as they do for courses at GSE. Students who wish to enroll in courses at Wharton or in the Program in Organizational Dynamics first must consult with the professor of the course in which they wish to enroll as well as the appropriate administrator at either Wharton or in Organizational Dynamics. Students should keep in mind that the number of credits per course and the tuition/fee cost of these courses may differ from those offered by GSE and/or the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Courses taken outside of GSE may count as a non-LLED elective for the degree program. Elective courses taken outside of GSE must be relevant to TESOL and approved in writing by the student’s advisor as an elective.
TRANSFER OF COURSES:
How many courses may students transfer from another institution?
Students may transfer two graduate-level courses from another institution as long as they are relevant to the plan of study. These courses are counted as electives. The courses must be graduate level, degree-oriented courses, not graduate level, continuing education courses. This information is indicated on the transcript from the institution where the course was taken.
When and how do students transfer courses from another institution?
Following the completion of one semester at GSE, students may apply to transfer up to two graduate-level courses from another institution. Students should first consult with their TESOL advisor, bringing with them the syllabus for the course to be transferred, along with a transcript showing the grade that was received for the course. If the TESOL advisor approves, the student must then complete the “Transfer of Credit” form found at http://www.gse.upenn.edu/degrees programs forms.php, and submit it to Penny Creedon, along with the official transcript from the institution where the course was taken. Penny Creedon will have the TESOL Director sign the form, and forward the materials to the GSE registrar.
INTERNSHIP AND SEMINAR COURSE
If EDUC 563: Internship and Seminar: TESOL is the only remaining requirement, may students enroll in this course while residing out of town? Yes.
If EDUC 563: Internship and Seminar: TESOL is the only remaining requirement, does it count toward full-time status (for visa or student loan purposes)?
Yes. Students should request to enroll in 563 as full-time with Penny Creedon. International students can also waive the full-time requirement in their first and last semesters for visa purposes; they should fill out the appropriate form with the International Student Services office at Penn’s Office of International Programs.
How do students obtain an internship for EDUC 563?
Students are responsible for obtaining their own internships. However, the internship advisor can provide assistance. The Penn Tells Directory, available through the Penn Tells Director (currently Violet Qinxu Jiang qinxuj@gse.upenn.edu), lists local sites. The Penn Tells Director visits classes in the fall, and hosts a follow up activity in fall and spring. The Career Services Center at Penn can also be helpful.
May students pursue internships outside of Philadelphia?
Yes.
When is the internship proposal due?
The EDUC 563 instructor notifies students about due dates. Students may be asked to revise the proposal before it is approved. The proposal must be approved before students can: begin work on the internship, and be permitted to enroll in EDUC 563. Students who wish to pursue an internship in the summer or during the second fall semester, must submit a proposal in the preceding spring semester. Students who wish to pursue an internship in the second spring semester must submit a proposal during the second fall semester.
When is the internship and seminar paper due?
In the fall semester the seminar paper is due in November. In the spring semester it is due in April, and in the Summer Session, it is due in June. The instructor of EDUC 563 notifies students of specific dates and deadlines.
COURSE REGISTRATION AND COURSE PERMITS
When do students register for courses?
Students register for their first semester of courses during the first 2 weeks of the semester. Students then pre-register for subsequent semesters midway through each semester.
How do students obtain a course permit?
Students should contact Penny Creedon (pennyc@gse.upenn.edu) for course permits for courses offered by LLED. For courses offered by other divisions in GSE, students should contact the appropriate division or program coordinator. The GSE website provides information on which division offers a particular course.
CERTIFICATES
What is an ESL Specialist Certificate?
Everyone who graduates with an M.S.Ed. in TESOL is eligible for a specialist certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It is an extra credential that students can receive in addition to their degree. Most states recognize the M.S.Ed. in TESOL and the TESOL program as the appropriate training for a teaching position in the K-12 school system. However, the state of Pennsylvania requires an Elementary Education or Secondary Education degree and an ESL Specialist Certificate. Even students who do not plan to work in Pennsylvania find it useful to have this credential. Requests should be directed to Penny Creedon.
What is a Business Communication Certificate?
Each June, the TESOL and Penn’s Lauder/Wharton programs offer a one-week institute for teaching a second or foreign language for business communication, aka Penn Lauder CIBER/GSE Summer Institute in Business Communication, Wharton School of Business Students are awarded a certificate of participation at the end of the institute.
Students can also obtain a specialist certificate in Business Communication. To qualify, they must take the following: EDUC 641.911 Language and the Professions, EDUC 674.002 Curriculum and Materials Developmentin Business Communication, and Penn Lauder CIBER/GSE Summer Institute in Business Communication, Wharton School of Business
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
What are the procedures for requesting a letter of recommendation?
Students must first register with the University of Pennsylvania Career Placement Office and its Interfolio Service, so that the letter of recommendation will remain on file and be available for the future.
A good letter of recommendation takes time to compose. Students and alumni should give the person who is writing their letter at least three weeks’ notice, include a copy of the statement of purpose (for an application) and a resume or C.V. (for an application or a job).
Students who apply for admission to the Ph.D. in Educational Linguistics should note that the following people cannot write letters of recommendation for this program: Drs. Butler, Hornberger, Howard, Pica, Pomerantz, and Rymes. Since they will discuss applications as a committee, they do not need a letter of recommendation, but other professors in LLED or from other programs and schools can do so.
PROGRAM COMPLETION AND GRADUATION
How long does it take to complete the program?
This differs depending upon the student and his or her circumstances. Generally, for full time students, the minimum amount of time is three semesters. Coursework and internship/seminar requirements preclude students from completing their plan-of-study in one academic year. The prerequisite to beginning a TESOL internship is the completion of six or more courses towards the M.S.Ed degree in TESOL as well as faculty approval of the student’s internship prospectus.
What procedures do students follow in order to graduate?
Students must register to graduate. It does not happen automatically just because they have finished their coursework. The registration deadline is very early in the semester, so students should be sure to look at the GSE calendar before the beginning of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Students will most likely receive an email message about the upcoming deadline and it will provide information about how to register on-line.
Students should be aware that “Incompletes” on their transcripts can cause problems when they try to graduate. Students should speak with their professors to make sure they know what procedures are required to remove the incomplete from their record.
There is a graduation ceremony in May, which students can attend even if they graduated in the previous December.
DOCTORAL STUDIES
Will courses from a TESOL degree count towards a PhD in Educational Linguistics at GSE?
Yes. Many of the courses taken by TESOL students may count towards a doctorate in Educational Linguistics at GSE. The PhD in Educational Linguistics, however, has its own course requirements and students enrolled in that program should consult with their advisor and read the program handbook. Students should keep in mind that completing a M.S.Ed in TESOL at GSE does not guarantee acceptance in the Educational Linguistics PhD program. Students must follow the usual application procedures if they wish to pursue their PhD in Educational Linguistics at GSE.
EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Where do graduates find employment?
TESOL graduates work all over the world in various contexts in the public and private sector. They teach in countries where English is spoken only as a foreign language, as well as in countries where English is the dominant language. Many work with immigrants and refugees at all levels of the education system--in primary, secondary, and higher education--as well as in adult education in community colleges and community-based programs.
In higher education settings, TESOL graduates work with international students in intensive English language programs. Many teach EFL at private international schools and educational organizations and in government organizations such as Peace Corps, Fulbright, the Department of State Overseas Schools, or the Department of English Language Programs of the U.S. Department of State.
Many graduates take teaching positions at public schools throughout the US. In most states, the M.S. ED in TESOL is the credential for these positions, although you will also be required to obtain state teaching certification in most cases. The state of Pennsylvania requires that all TESOL teachers have elementary or secondary certification and TESOL certification. Students who want to remain in Pennsylvania usually do one or the other of these: Pursue an M.S.Ed in Elementary or Secondary Teaching and take a TESOL certificate (6 continuing education courses) or take a TESOL M.S.Ed and Elementary or Secondary certificate (6-8 continuing education courses).
There are also career opportunities outside of teaching in the private and the public sectors, including curriculum and materials development, materials marketing, development and administration of language assessments, language school management and administration. A small but growing number of our international graduates design and manage private language schools or language textbook publishing companies in their home countries.
Through the professional training provided in courses, fieldwork, and internships, TESOL graduates are well positioned for these career opportunities. They often convert their fieldwork and internship placements into professional positions or gain promotions in their current positions. Local fieldwork opportunities include sites at or near the University of Pennsylvania such as: the Lauder Institute, English Language Programs, departments of foreign languages, PENN Language Center, Weingarten Learning Resources Center, International House, and Nationalities Service Center. Many jobs are listed at http://calper.la.psu.edu/jobmarket.php
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