English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Endorsement

On this page:

• Why Choose English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages?
• Real-World Experience
• Academics and Curriculum
• Admission

Why Choose English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages?

The endorsement in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) enables the recipient to teach English as a second language to students in grades for which the candidate is licensed.  It is attached to an existing state of Ohio teaching licensure in a related field. The licensure can be done independently or as part of a graduate program degree. 

Real-World Experience

Students in the TESOL endorsement program gain real-world teaching experiences through various service learning components built into the TESOL courses. They volunteer and serve as tutors and in-class helpers in many local ESL programs. Students are also required to complete a practicum under the supervision of a licensed TESOL teacher in a public school. This practicum requires 75 contact hours with English language learners.

Academics and Curriculum

View the English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages endorsement program information and requirements in the Academic Catalog.

Prior to starting, review the program of study and plan a semester for a TESOL practicum with a TESOL advisor.

A TESOL portfolio is required.

In certain circumstances, the TESOL endorsement may take more than one year to complete. See your TESOL advisor if circumstances warrant additional time. 

The endorsement and the Master of Arts in English with a TESOL concentration may be combined. When combined, follow the deadline for submitting the TESOL M.A. portfolio with the revised paper. See your TESOL advisor for details.

Ohio Assessment Test for Endorsement

A score of 220 is a passing grade for this test. Visit the Ohio Assessments for Educators English to Speakers of Other Languages webpage for more information. 

Admission

Regular Admission Requirements

• An overall GPA of 3.0 or better in undergraduate course work OR an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.7 but with a 3.3 or better for the last 60 semester hours (93 quarter hours) earned toward the undergraduate degree
• A satisfactory writing sample (a thesis-driven paper of at least five pages engaging with and responding to secondary sources and written on a topic in English or in a related field; this may be a paper previously submitted for an undergraduate class)
• A GPA of 3.2 in any undergraduate degree with strong evidence of excellence in language skills

Non-native speakers of English seeking regular admission to any graduate program in English must also meet one of the following minimum language proficiency requirements:

• TOEFL 100 (80 for conditional admission)
• IELTS 7.5 (6.5 for conditional admission)
• PTE-A 68 (53 for conditional admission)
• earned a degree in the United States
• students who show proof of successful completion of an Intensive English Program from an accredited Institution or program accepted by international admissions are exempt from the requirement to take an approved English Proficiency exam.

Applicants may be interviewed by a representative of the department to determine language proficiency and to be advised on improving language competencies.

Conditional Admission Requirements

• An overall GPA of 2.7 or better in undergraduate course work OR an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5 but with a 3.0 or better for the last 60 semester hours (93 quarter hours) earned toward the undergraduate degree
• A satisfactory writing sample (a thesis-driven paper of at least five pages engaging with and responding to secondary sources and written on a topic in English or in a related field; this may be a paper previously submitted for an undergraduate class)
• A GPA of 3.2 in any undergraduate degree with strong evidence of excellence in language skills

To be considered for conditional admission non-native speakers of English must also present a score of:

• TOEFL 80
• IELTS 6.5
• PTE-A 53
• students who show proof of successful completion of an Intensive English Program from an accredited Institution or program accepted by international admissions are exempt from the requirement to take an approved English Proficiency exam.

These applicants may also be interviewed by a representative of the department to determine language proficiency and to be advised on improving language competencies.