Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program

Are you passionate about living and teaching abroad?

UW-La Crosse offers a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) minor that prepares you to teach English abroad and in some U.S. locations. You’ll gain the essential knowledge and hands-on experience to effectively teach English to non-native speakers in diverse educational settings.

Undergrad minor

A program within the Department of Educational Studies

What is TESOL?

TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It is an educational field dedicated to helping non-native English speakers develop their language skills. At UWL, the TESOL program offers a well-rounded curriculum that includes courses on linguistics, second language acquisition, cultural diversity, and teaching methodology. You’ll also have opportunities for practical teaching experiences that will enhance your learning and professional development.

The TESOL program at UWL prepared me to teach multilingual learners by providing a strong foundation in language acquisition and hands-on experience. It also opened doors to international teaching. Since graduating, I’ve taught in Thailand, Honduras, and South Korea, confidently supporting multilingual learners in their language development.

Danielle Brown

TESOL minor

The TESOL minor is designed for non-Education majors who are interested in teaching English as a foreign language abroad or in certain U.S. locations. This program does not lead to a teaching license. Learn more.

Options outside of the TESOL minor

If you are interested in earning a teaching license with TESOL, UWL offers several dual licensure majors that combine TESOL with other teaching certifications.

All of these options prepare you to teach in U.S. public schools. You will earn a Wisconsin public school teaching license to teach ESL to students in grades K-12. Additionally, you will be dual certified, depending on the track.

EME/TSL (Elementary/Middle Education and TESOL). Be dual-certified to teach grades K-9.
SPA/TSL (Spanish Education and TESOL)Be dual-certified to teach Spanish in grades K-12.
FRE/TSL (French Education and TESOL) Be dual-certified to teach French in grades K-12.
ENG/TSL (English Education and TESOL) Be dual-certified to teach English in grades 4-12.

What distinguishes UWL’s TESOL program?

Job opportunities

The TESOL minor makes you a highly qualified and marketable candidate for teaching positions abroad.

Hands-on experience

Option to gain practical teaching experience through a classroom field placement in Puerto Rico, where you’ll practice lesson planning, teaching, and student evaluation — turning theory into practice.

Internship opportunities

UWL offers internship credits, allowing you to gain real-world teaching experience and further enhance your resume.

Sample courses

TSL 250 Educating Multilingual Learners In this course students develop their understanding of and sensitivity to the multilingualism and cultural diversity of the United States through the study of multilingual English learners (ELs) in public schools. Course topics include exploration of who ELs are, educational and linguistic rights, special challenges ELs may face in classrooms and schools, and how to overcome those challenges. Students engage in inquiry-based learning as they justify answers to essential questions about cultural and linguistic diversity in the U.S., education, and best practices for educating a multilingual society. Students learn to evaluate school environments for ELs and practice skills needed for equitable education for ELs. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

TSL 345 Intercultural Interactions In this course, students learn about cultural influences in education and develop their ability to successfully navigate intercultural interactions while working with diverse populations within the United States or internationally. Course topics include definitions of culture, its deep structure and surface level expressions, relationships between culture and language and individual identity, how culture is expressed and transmitted in education, culturally-responsive teaching, and intercultural competence. Students compare their own cultural values across diverse groups and learn to apply culturally responsive pedagogy to diverse teaching contexts where they are likely to work in the future. Depending on individual focus, students create a case study or a unit plan focused on teaching culture and improving intercultural interactions. Students leave this course with greater cultural awareness, an understanding of how cultures are learned and taught, especially in educational settings, and the intercultural competence to live and work with those from cultures distinct from their own. Prerequisite: one of the following: AP foreign language score of 3 or higher; placement into 201-level or higher foreign language course; score 70 or higher on La Crosse Battery (non-native speakers of English); grade "B" or better in 102-level or higher foreign language course taken at UWL (taught in foreign language). Offered Spring.

GCL 310 Theories and Research in Second Language Acquisition This course is designed as an introduction to the field of second language acquisition. It surveys the different theories of second language acquisition and focuses on connecting theory to practice through student-led undergraduate research projects. In this course, learners gain foundational knowledge of second language acquisition and related theories and will examine current research trends through the analysis of various empirical studies as related to second language acquisition. Prerequisite: junior standing and one of the following: AP foreign language score of 3 or higher; placement into 201-level or higher foreign language course; score 70 or higher on La Crosse Battery (non-native speakers of English); grade "B" or better in 102-level or higher foreign language course taken at UWL (taught in foreign language). Offered Fall.

TSL 463 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Methods This course increases students' understanding of techniques and methods to teach English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL). Students identify the historical development of approaches and methodologies for teaching ESL/EFL, understand foundational principles of teaching ESL/EFL, and explore individual English learner (EL) differences, including age/grade level and language proficiency level, and how to account for these in instruction. Students also further develop the skills to plan instruction, including lesson and unit plans, and master teaching techniques for each of the four skills, grammar, and vocabulary. Additionally, students explore materials and technology available for teaching ESL/EFL. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: TSL 345 or ENG 331; junior standing. Offered Fall.

TSL 400 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Policies and Program Models This course provides an overview of the teaching of English to speakers of other languages (ESOL) in the United States. Topics include the history of bilingual and ESOL educational policies and practices in the U.S., historical and current program models for teaching English learners (ELs), and content-based instruction. Students learn how to plan for EL instruction in general education and ESOL classes. In addition, students develop skills to advocate for ELs in educational settings. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: TSL 345 or ENG 331; junior standing. Offered Spring.