MCLLC Programs / MCLLC Graduate Programs / M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

MA in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

The TESL Program is dedicated to developing professional English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers for a career in education.  The faculty work closely with learners to deepen their understanding of the English language, second language acquisition and teaching methods.  We orient teachers to learner-centered and culturally responsive pedagogy which require teachers to be empathetic to learners’ needs, understanding of how and why people learn and skilled at implementing research-based second language teaching methods.   

We offer a range of graduate-level, second language teacher education programs: 

TESL Master’s Degree (36 cr.)

TESL Graduate Certificate (12 cr.)

ESL Endorsement K – 12 with Master’s Degree (36 cr.)

ESL Endorsement K – 12 (12 cr.)

Note:  The Endorsement programs are designed for teachers who are already certified to teach a subject area in a Kentucky public school and would like to add ESL Certification K - 12. 

Note:  Applications for the fall academic year are due by May 15.  All applications must be submitted through UK's Graduate School.  

Goals:  We have three primary goals for this program:

  1. Develop effective, professionally trained ESL/EFL teachers;
  2. Develop teachers who are reflective and inquiry-based practioners;
  3. Develop teachers who have the skill to manage the complex  linguistic, cultural and identity issues central to second language learning. 

Guiding Principles

Teacher Education as Praxis:  Teacher education at its best is a form of praxis in which theory and practice are applied to the dynamics of a specific classroom and its unique set of learners.  

Learn by Doing:
Opportunities for Practica and a supervised Internship

Themes:  The program is organized around the following themes:

* Inquiry:  Course research projects ask students to inquire into the nature of language, learning and teaching. 

* Reflective Practice:  Reflective Practice refers to a set of professional dispositions and activities that promotes educators actively seeking to improve their own professional competence. 

* Experiential Learning:  The program creates opportunities for students to gain classroom teaching experiences and then use those experiences to dig deeper into core issues of language, learning and teaching. 

Director, TESL Program:  Dr. Stayc DuBravac (sdubravac@uky.edu)

Officers of the Department of Modern & Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures are: