TESOL/Spanish Teaching Major
Students interested in TESOL are often curious about other languages and cultures, and they want to help new English speakers in their language studies at home or abroad. If this sounds like you, then the TESOL/Spanish teaching major at the University of Northern Iowa is the perfect place to get started.
This major is unique in that it prepares students to teach both English and Spanish in the public schools. Coursework covers Spanish language study, the study of Spanish-based literature and cultures, and topics in linguistics, language acquisition, and language teaching. It introduces students to effective methods of teaching languages while encouraging an awareness of world languages and cultures.
Get more information on TESOL/Spanish Teaching major classes and program requirements.
Pass Rate
Our recent graduates in TESOL had a 100 percent pass rate on the Praxis II exam.
Top Ranked
UNI is home to a top ranked teacher preparation program, known around the Midwest for excellence. Students gain 750 hours of classroom experience before graduation.
Endorsements
Convenient for students to complete endorsements in other disciplines to be more marketable to school districts.
Find out More
Have questions or want more information? Fill out the form to the right and someone from the department will contact you directly. To receive general university information from UNI’s admissions office, please visit Request More Info About UNI.
Spanish placement exam
All students considering taking Spanish at UNI should take the Spanish placement exam. This exam will help you choose the appropriate first Spanish course at UNI. Please note: Heritage Speakers should first consult with Professor Juan Carlos Castillo (juan.castillo@uni.edu) before taking the placement exam. There is a fee of $10 for the exam.
TESOL Club
The TESOL Club's goal reaches beyond their focus in English as a second or foreign language, and ultimately works to make the UNI campus, Cedar Valley and beyond a more progressive, tolerant and welcoming place for everyone.
Educator Prep
Students in UNI’s educator preparation programs acquire more than 700 hours of hands-on classroom experience before graduation. This is done through more than 350 school district partnerships, 9 Iowa student teaching centers, and one out of state & international student teaching center that coordinates all out of state and international student teaching placements.
Field Experience
As a TESOL/Spanish Teaching major, you will have three field experiences in which you will explore, define and sharpen your skills as a future classroom teacher. Your teaching experience will be capped off with semester-long student teaching which can be done in Iowa, throughout the United States or overseas.
TESOL Club
The TESOL Club's goal reaches beyond their focus in English as a second or foreign language, and ultimately works to make the UNI campus, Cedar Valley and beyond a more progressive, tolerant and welcoming place for everyone.
Educator Prep
Students in UNI’s educator preparation programs acquire more than 700 hours of hands-on classroom experience before graduation. This is done through more than 350 school district partnerships, 9 Iowa student teaching centers, and one out of state & international student teaching center that coordinates all out of state and international student teaching placements.
Field Experience
As a TESOL/Spanish Teaching major, you will have three field experiences in which you will explore, define and sharpen your skills as a future classroom teacher. Your teaching experience will be capped off with semester-long student teaching which can be done in Iowa, throughout the United States or overseas.
Careers
Students majoring in TESOL teaching will graduate with the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to teach English to speakers of other languages at the K-12 level (students in this program acquire the licensure needed to teach in public schools), or even internationally.
Courses
Bilingualism and Bilingual Education
Historical development of bilingual education and current approaches to meeting the needs of limited English proficient students; special emphasis on the principles of content-based second language instruction and the role of language attitudes in policy making
Latinos in the United States
Major issues confronting Latinos living in the U.S.: history, immigration, economics, literary, and cinematographic representation.
Constructing Cross-Cultural Bridges
Within a Study Abroad experience, exploring multiple components of a specific culture firsthand; attention to the interrelationships among various cultural components such as history, religion, social values and practices, community organization, and language.
Community Engagement
Working with local communities is an important part of the TESOL Teaching experience. As part of coursework, you will have the opportunity to engage with local immigrant and refugee communities to do things like teach adult English learners, provide after-school support to students, and participate in community activities.