Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Explore the World Through Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Are you passionate about bridging cultures and languages across the globe? A degree in TESOL opens the door to a world of opportunities where your love for languages transforms into a rewarding career.

With HPU TESOL, you can:

• travel the world to teach English to young learners, adults, university students, or professionals in the workplace
• teach English to international students in the United States
• support English language learners in K-12 schools

Beyond teaching, our TESOL graduates excel in roles such as curriculum developers, materials developers and evaluators, home-school advocates, international student advisers, language program directors and administrators, instructional designers, resource teachers, testing experts, teacher trainers, translators, interpreters, and tutors.

Through a practical and hands-on curriculum, our students develop key TESOL knowledge and skills as the foundation for addressing diverse learners’ needs in a variety of teaching contexts and for incorporating cutting-edge technologies in language learning and teaching, including generative AI.

HPU TESOL students:

• Experience language classes in a variety of settings both on and off-campus through
  • classroom observations
  • in-class microteaching
  • student teaching
  • group or individual projects
• Gain real-world professional experience by
  • working as student tutors in HPU’s Center for Academic Success
  • assisting with co-curricular and experiential learning activities for international students
  • working in paid and volunteer positions off-campus, with literacy programs, language centers, and public schools conveniently located within easy walking distance or a short bus ride from HPU classrooms
  • assisting professors in cutting-edge research projects
  • presenting scholarly work and practical ideas at professional events
  • publishing in academic journals and newsletters

BA TESOL – A Practical Program for International Connections Through Language

The BA TESOL program at HPU offers a student-centered approach to a degree with local relevance and global reach. BA TESOL students work closely with University staff and faculty on teaching and professional development projects to learn through hands-on experiences. With classmates who are domestic and international students, native and non-native speakers of English, and pre- and in-service teachers, students receive a global education while networking with peers and professionals from around the world.

What our students say

BA TESOL Program Outcomes

Students who complete the Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages will be prepared to demonstrate:

ATTITUDES of a professional: They are collegial toward their peers, enthusiastic toward the profession, and thoughtfully reflective about their teaching practices. They display personal, professional, and cultural sensitivity toward their students.

SKILLS of an effective language teacher: They possess excellent spoken and written English skills. They can critically evaluate ESL or EFL texts, prepare and teach effective lessons, apply sound principles in assessment and feedback, and respond appropriately to student needs in a given class.

KNOWLEDGE of the English language, language learning processes, and pedagogical principles: They can base their teaching on knowledge of the English sound system, grammar, and variations in context; the stages and complexities of second language learning; and communicative language teaching methods.

Admissions Requirements

• Application
• Transcripts
• Résumé
• Application Fee
• SAT I or ACT Scores (freshmen only)
• Personal Statement essay (optional)
• Letter of recommendation (optional)
• Proof of English Proficiency (international students only)

Have questions? Please contact the TESOL Program at tesol@hpu.edu.