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Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Certificate

College of Arts and Sciences

The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages graduate certificate equips you with the specialized skills and practical teaching experience to help students gain mastery of the language.

Whether you are exploring teaching non-native English speakers at home or internationally, our TESOL program enhances your intercultural competence, communication skills and adaptability, preparing you to teach in K-12 schools, colleges, government agencies and more. Earn the certificate alone, or pair it with another degree.

Program Highlights

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    Career-Oriented Courses

    Choose from two tracks: EFL for post-secondary and overseas learners or K-12 ESOL for elementary and secondary learners.

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    Notable Program

    Enjoy a close relationship with English Programs for Internationals at USC, one of the best programs of its kind in the nation.

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    On-Campus Experiences

    Take your practical training in a setting on campus rather than searching for a practicum site off-campus.

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    Supportive Community

    Enjoy learning alongside a moderately sized, active and close community of fellow linguistics students.

What You’ll Study

Understand the general properties of speech and language, the organization of language in the brain and cross-linguistic typology and universals. Study the principles of teaching English as a second language, and apply those principles in a practicum setting. Students typically complete the program in one year and often pair it with an M.A. in Linguistics.

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Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Cultural Awareness

    Learning about and respecting diverse cultures and beliefs

    Intercultural Competence

    Developing the skills to communicate effectively and work collaboratively across cultures

    Interpersonal Skills

    Communicating and interacting effectively in a variety of social and professional situations

  • Listening Skills

    Understanding what others are saying to facilitate effective communication

    Multicultural Awareness

    Understanding cultural variation and adapting behaviors and communication styles accordingly

    Teaching

    Foster learning by conveying knowledge, skills and concepts to students

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

  • Language Teacher
  • Language Instructor

Workplace Settings

  • Education
  • Government

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

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Is USC Right For You?

There are many reasons we could be your ideal university. There's the award-winning academics, the globally modeled student life, and abundance of study abroad and experiential learning options. Take a closer look at what USC could mean for you.

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Degree content is provided for informational purposes only. The Academic Bulletin is the source of record for all degree information.
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