Search Google Appliance

M.A. TESOL - When to take the Methods Sequence

Methods I and Methods II are a fixed sequence, and they must be taken in order.

The student may register for Methods I after meeting BOTH of the Prerequisites for LING 477/577 "Methods I":

  • LING 4/538 Second Language Acquisition

  • LING 4/571 Understanding the International Experience

Scheduling considerations for LING 4/577 and LING 4/578:

  • LING 4/577 and LING 4/578 must be taken in sequence.

  • LING 4/577 and LING 4/578 should be taken in continuous quarters, without a break between. A cohort of students develops in 577 and continues in 578.  Students who skip a quarter between Methods I and Methods II never feel as much a part of the MATESOL community.

  • LING 4/577 and LING 4/578 are particularly time-intensive, due to out-of-class assignments, including collaborative projects, English-learner tutoring, and practice teaching in ESL classrooms. 

  • The student should take SLA and Intl Experience before Methods

  • LING 4/577 and LING 4/578 should not be taken at the same time as other time-intensive courses, such as LING 4/512 Phonology or LING 4/511 Syntax.

Methods during year-1 or year-2

There are different advantages to taking the Methods Sequence during the first year or second year of the MATESOL program:

First Year

Starting the Methods Sequence during one's first year in the MATESOL program is especially beneficial for students who have minimal previous teaching experience.

  • The practice teaching and tutoring required in Methods I and Methods II may provide the student with important hands-on experience, early in their professional training.

If a student plans to take LING 539 Language Assessment, LING *** Program Administration, or other Language Education electives, it is necessary to complete the Methods Sequence during one's first year.

Second Year

Starting the Methods Sequence during one's second year in the MATESOL program allows students to apply much more of their theoretical language education training to the practice teaching, teacher-observation, and tutoring tasks. The hands-on experience may have a richer quality.

To make an academic advising appointment, please contact your adviser or contact the Applied Linguistics coordinator.