K-12 Minor TESOL

BYU's Department of Linguistics and English Language offers two minors in teaching English to speakers of other languages in order to accommodate prospective teachers with differing career goals. This sheet describes the TESOL K-12 minor. The TESOL K-12 minor, supported by BYU's Department of Teacher Education and Department of Family Life, focuses on teaching students of limited English proficiency who are in the public schools of the United States. This minor leads to the Utah State ESL endorsement. This endorsement, along with a state teaching certificate, allows holders to teach English as a second language in the public schools. To earn the Bilingual endorsement, students must demonstrate additional competencies (see Utah State Office of Education guidelines, www.schools.utah.gov).

Earning this endorsement will enhance the career possibilities of teachers holding an elementary or secondary state teaching credential. They may work in various ESL and bilingual education programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries. To declare a TESOL K-12 minor, a student must (1) visit the College of Humanities Advisement Center (1175 JFSB) and (2) have a teaching major.

Course Requirements

Courses required for the minor should be taken in this sequence, ElEd or ScEd 450 in the first group and Ling 476 in the last group.

  • ElEd or ScEd 450 Foundations for Bilingual/ESL Education
  • Ling 230 Language, Mind, and World
  • Ling 440 Understanding Language Acquisition
  • Ling 460 Assessment for Linguistically Diverse Students
  • FAMLF 305 Family, School, and Community Partnerships
  • Ling 472 Developing Second Language Literacy
  • *Ling 476 Integrating Content and Language Instruction
  • ElEd or ScEd 477R Practicum in Bilingual/ESL Education-to be taken concurrently with student teaching.
  • *Must be final course prior to Practicum.