B.A. TESOL

Major Concentration Teaching Endorsement

The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program at Concordia Nebraska is designed to prepare you to teach English as a second language (ESL) internationally or in adult ESL programs in universities, refugee centers or community centers in the United States.  

Here, you’ll build an understanding of  

  • the foundations of English language instruction in both English as a second language and English as a foreign language contexts,  
  • bilingual education, including current theories of second language acquisition, linguistic analysis and the role culture plays in second language teaching,  
  • how to supplement your classroom learning with real-world, hands-on experiences teaching English to speakers of other languages in programs both in the U.S. and abroad. 

TESOL Courses

120 credit hours
100% career outcome rate1
6:1 Student-to-faculty ratio
 

Serve diverse populations and make a difference in your students’ lives!

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Program Highlights

WHY STUDY TESOL AT CONCORDIA? 

The TESOL program at Concordia University, Nebraska prepares competent, caring, inclusive and proactive TESOL professional educators who make a difference in their students’ lives. Graduates of the TESOL program are also equipped to present the Gospel, particularly in countries where traditional missionaries and church workers have trouble gaining access. 

Serve Abroad 

Studying, learning and growing goes beyond just your classes and experiences on campus. Serving abroad equips you with global life skills that no book or classroom can match. Concordia offers many different national and international mission trips to places like Guatemala, China, Haiti and Ethiopia so you can share God’s love while serving the world and discovering a different culture.  

Serve Abroad 
 
Study Abroad 

Many of your most memorable learning experiences in college will take place outside the classroom. At Concordia, you can go on study tours, experience service-learning opportunities and earn global internships to promote your intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth. 

Study Abroad 

TESOL Program Director

Photo of Vicki

Dr. Vicki Anderson

Professor of Education, TESOL Program Director

Department of Education; Department of History, Geography, Intercultural Studies and Modern Foreign Language

Meet the faculty

Meet our students

Grace Kohnke
Lincoln, Nebraska

TESOL opens my mind to how other cultures live and learn a language, and it opens doors for me to work with a wide diversity of people.

Accreditation

Concordia University, Nebraska is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Degree Goals

A TESOL graduate from Concordia University, Nebraska will be able to:  

  • Demonstrate understanding of language as a system and use that knowledge to support English Language Learners (ELLs) as they acquire English language and literacy. 
  • Use major concepts, principles, theories and research related to the nature and role of culture and cultural groups to construct supportive learning environments for ELLs. 
  • Use evidence-based practices and strategies related to planning, implementation and management of standards-based ESL and content instruction. 
  • Implement a variety of standards-based teaching strategies and techniques for developing and integrating the English language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. 

Career Outcomes

English as a Second Language Teacher 

  • Instruct students whose first language isn’t English is reading, writing and conversing effectively 
  • Focus on conversational or job-related communication skills 

TESOL Administrator 

  • Plan, implement and evaluate courses offered by ESL programs 
  • Oversee teachers and help establish long-term objectives 

Curriculum Developer 

  • Create instructional materials that teachers use in the classroom to facilitate learning 
  • Analyze and evaluate education standards and implement curriculum for your school, ESL program or global ministries organization 

FAQs

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1 Recent graduates attending graduate school or employed within six months of graduation.