ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE EDUCATION
Program Overview
The program leading to add-on licensure in English as a Second Language (ESL)
provides professional training for individuals seeking to add either North Carolina Class
teacher licensure in English as a Second Language education (grades K–12) to their
existing initial or advanced licensure. The program is comprised of 18 semester hours.
The proposed add-on licensure in Teaching English as a Second Language is a
response to the increasing need for all teachers in Southeastern North Carolina to be
prepared to work with English language learners (ELLs). While the entire United States
has seen a 65% increase in the number of ELLs since 1994, North Carolina has seen
an increase of over 370% in the number of ELLs in our schools. This increase has
been seen across the state, but especially in the rural areas surrounding the University
of North Carolina Wilmington where many of our graduates will eventually teach. While
the numbers of ELLs in schools has increased, unfortunately, professional development
and teacher preparation in this field has not kept pace with the rapid student population
growth. It was reported that over 40% of all teachers had ELLs in their classrooms
during the 1999-2000 school year but only 12.5% had received 8 or more hours of
related training.
The UNCW ESL add-on licensure program emphasizes the preparation of teachers who
will cultivate bicultural and biliterate individuals who are able to enjoy success in the US
academic system while being encouraged to maintain their native language and culture.
To this end, the program is based on the importance of providing preservice and
inservice teachers a strong pedagogical foundation with a sense of social justice
through community involvement. From an educational standpoint, the theoretical
framework of the program is based on socioculturalism and critical literacy. We believe
that learning best takes place in an interactive environment that facilitates the
development of higher order thinking skills, enabling learners to critically examine their
own environment. It is this philosophy that we have embedded in the ESL add-on
licensure program at UNCW.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM OF STUDY
1. Teaching English Language Learners (EDN 265), 3 credit hours
Candidates will explore the cultural, social, and political contexts of working with ELLs
from historical and critical perspectives. This course also includes the legal and
administrative aspects of the field with regard to national and state regulations. This
course will have a 10-hour field experience. Candidates will be expected to compare
and contrast their academic/cultural experiences with those of English language learner
partners.
2. Second Language Acquisition (EDN 423), 3 credit hours
In this course, candidates gain in-depth knowledge of first and second language
acquisition, comparing the two. They will study the research, theories and principles in
the field of English as a Second Language. Candidates will be expected to compare and
contrast various learning theories and first and second language acquisition processes.
3. Introduction to Linguistics (ENG 320), 3 credit hours
This course includes an exploration of the English language and its different
components. Candidates develop extensive knowledge of the linguistic structure of the
English language including phonology, morphology, syntax, pragmatics and semantics.
Candidates will use this knowledge to compare the English linguistic system to other
languages.
4. Second Language Methods and Assessment (EDN 417), 3 credit hours
EDN 265 and EDN 316 are prerequisites for this course. This course will review
methods of TESL and involve a 20-hour field experience in which candidates implement
strategies and methods, reflecting on the efficacy of each. Candidates will be prepared
to use the SIOP model as well as other communicative methodologies. Additionally,
candidates will learn how to ensure valid and reliable results when assessing second
language learners. The purpose of this course is to examine the cycle of teaching and
explore methods of integrating instruction, curriculum and assessment to increase
academic outcomes for ELLs. Candidates will be expected to design and implement
basic lesson plans.
5. Reading and Writing in a Second Language (EDN 418), 3 credit hours
This course is considered a capstone course in the sequence, and EDN 265, 316, 417
are prerequisites for this course. In this class, candidates will use the concepts and
skills that they have learned and apply them to increasing literacy and academic
outcomes for English language learners. An emphasis will be placed on developing
biliteracy skills as well as literacy skills in English. Candidates will be expected to
implement and assess existing literacy improvement plans. This course includes a 20hour field experience.
6. Structure of the English Language (ENG 321), 3 credit hours
ENG 320 is strongly recommended as a prerequisite for this course. In this course,
candidates study the mechanics of the English language and learn how to teach basic
and advanced grammatical structures.