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Majors and Minors: ESL Minors

Minors in English as a Second Language

If you want to minor in English as a second language, you will likely fall into one of two categories:

1) Those who wish to be certified to teach in elementary and secondary schools in the United States and Canada. You may choose one of these minors:

2) Those who do not seek teacher certification but who wish to teach English to nonnative speakers of English, either in nontraditional educational settings within the United States and Canada or in a variety of settings outside the United States and Canada. You may choose this minor:

Secondary/Elementary education minor in ESL

Find and advisor

Elizabeth Vander Lei

Take the following courses

CAS 216-Phonetics
ENGL 334-Linguistics or SPAN 340 - Spanish Phonology
ENGL 335-Sociolinguistics and Issues in Language Education
ENGL 338-Grammar for Teachers of ESL
IDIS 301 or 302-Introduction to English as a Second Language (concurrent with EDUC 302-303)
EDUC 303-Practicum in ESL (concurrent with IDIS 301 or 302) (or EDUC 590 for teachers in the ESL endorsement program, 2 semester hours)
IDIS 356/357- World Languages Pedagogy

Student teaching

The state of Michigan requires students enrolled in the elementary- and secondary-education minors in ESL to complete a semester-long student-teaching experience (worth twelve semester hours of credit) in an ESL setting. During that time, students should be enrolled in IDIS 301 or 302, which will serve as the seminar accompanying their student teaching. Ideally, they should do their student teaching in ESL (and enroll in IDIS 301 or 302) after they have student taught in their major (or three-minor program) and taken a 359 course in the appropriate department.

Other state of Michigan requirements

Students enrolled in the elementary- and secondary-education minors in ESL must also demonstrate the following competencies:

Written and Spoken Rhetoric. Students must complete English 101 with a minimum grade of C, and they must successfully complete CAS 100, 101, 200, or 214.

A Foreign Language. Students "must demonstrate a competency in a foreign language that is equivalent to two years study in college or to four years in high school with a minimum grade of C” (Calvin College Catalog, 1997/98, p. 71).

Education 302-303. If possible, students should have their placement in a school for Education 302-303 be in a classroom where ESL instruction regularly takes place.

Additional information

Note that IDIS 301 or 302 must be taken during the same fall semester as EDUC 302 and 303.

Students who wish to become certified to teach ESL must, in addition to the ESL minor, have a major.

Students are allowed a two-course overlap between the ESL minor and the major. Adult learners and teachers in the ESL endorsement program must demonstrate competency in at least one world language. Competency is defined as the successful completion of the equivalent of two years of study in college or four years in high school with a minimum grade of C in each course.

Non-education minor in ESL

Find an advisor

Elizabeth Vander Lei

Take the following courses

CAS 216-Phonetics
ENGL 334-Linguistics or SPAN 340 - Spanish Phonology
ENGL 335-Sociolinguistics and Issues in Language Education
ENGL 338-Grammar for Teachers of ESL
SOC 253-Intercultural Communication
IDIS 301 or 302-Introduction to English as a Second Language (concurrent with EDUC 302-303)
An approved elective (see list of recommended electives)

Recommended electives

  • An advanced course in a foreign-language department
  • Classics 241, Vocabulary Development through Latin and Greek Roots (two hours)
  • Classics 242, Biological and Medical Vocabulary from Greek and Latin (two hours)
  • CAS/Educ. 311, Child Language Development (three hours)
  • CAS 325, Rhetorical and Communication Theory (three hours)
  • CAS 330, International Communication (three hours)
  • Educ. 322, Introduction to Methods of Teaching Reading: Elementary (three hours)
  • Educ. 513, Cognition, Learning, and Literacy Development (three hours)
  • Eng. 337, History of the English Language (three hours)
  • Eng. 339, English Grammar (three hours)
  • Eng. 357, Teaching of Writing (three hours)
  • Geog. 320, Introduction to Cultural Geography (three hours)
  • Hist. 356, Social and Cultural History of the United States (three hours)
  • Phil. 378, Philosophy of Language and interpretation (three hours)
  • Pol. Sci. 207, Introduction to International Politics (three hours)
  • Psych. 334, Cognitive Psychology (four hours)
  • Rel. 251, Christianity and the World’s Religions (three hours)
  • Soc. 153, Cultural Anthropology (three hours)
  • Soc. 250, Diversity and Equality in North American Society (three hours)
  • Span. 304, Spanish-English Linguistics (three hours)
  • TWDS 201, Introduction to Third World Development (three hours)
  • Independent Study. Some students may wish to propose a course of independent study in which they observe the teaching of ESL, practice teaching ESL, and then reflect on and write about their experiences.