SIT Graduate Institute

Degree Offered: Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Format: Campus
Program Description: SIT's master’s degree in TESOL (also commonly referred to as TEFL, TESL, ESL, or ELT) is designed around students’ professional goals in teaching within the US or internationally, and includes programs for both current and new teachers. MA in TESOL graduates work around the world for increased peace and social justice through their language teaching. SIT's TESOL program prepares professionals to work with both children and adult learners of English as a foreign language in positions at universities, high schools, institutes, nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and the private sector. SIT's TESOL program is built on the interplay between personal experience and academic study. During a course in methodology, for example, students not only read about effective methodologies, they also experience learning with an authority in that method. Students then test the method by teaching their peers and by reflecting on their own understanding and that of others. This cycle of experience-reflection-experience is the foundation of SIT’s TESOL program. The two semesters of on-campus coursework allow students to acquire the theoretical knowledge and develop the professional competencies that are essential for effective language teaching. To complete the MA in TESOL degree, students must complete a set of core courses and at least one elective credit. All students in the program are required to take a beginning language study course during their first semester. The tables below show a typical course of study, the breakdown of credits, and elective and optional courses for this degree program. Students in the TESOL track spend six to eight weeks off campus from January to March completing individual teaching internships. At sites in New England, students can choose to teach in refugee resettlement programs, adult education programs for immigrants, or university or community college settings. Choices around the world include a university or rural school in South Africa, refugee camps on the Myanmar border of Thailand, a university or language center in Costa Rica, or a variety of settings in Mexico. The internships are opportunities to put into practice theories and approaches explored during first-term coursework and identify areas for further exploration during second-term coursework. They are also intended to help the students strengthen their ability to determine what is appropriate in any given context and to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Faculty, or selected adjunct faculty, supervise students during repeated on-site visits in order to provide substantive and critical feedback for students’ further development. At the end of the program, each student will compile a professional portfolio that consists of a collection of documents and written reflections. The portfolio will demonstrate that the student has achieved professional competencies, as set forth by the Masters in TESOL program. Accreditation: SIT Graduate Institute, a program of World Learning is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Financial Aid Offered: Yes