Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The TESOL alternative endorsement is a two-year, four-course, 12-hour graduate level program leading to a TESOL endorsement.

The purpose of the TESOL program is to provide a comprehensive professional development model for in-service teachers to expand their ability to address the social, cultural, educational and linguistic factors that impact the achievement of their English language learners in today's diverse classrooms.

History of the Program

About 200 teachers from a dozen districts across the state of New Mexico have completed this program for their alternative endorsement from the New Mexico Public Education Department in TESOL. Participating districts include Alamogordo, Clovis, Cloudcroft, Floyd, Hobbs, Portales, Pojoaque, Roswell, Ruidoso and Shiprock.

How the Program Works

• All course materials are delivered to meeting sites and presented by the instructor or presented via two-way distance education facilities. Ongoing direction throughout the semester is provided via e-mail and telephone contact.
• The delivery model provides effective professional development for district teachers; as a result, immediate classroom participation puts theory into practice.
• Teachers assume responsibility for their own learning as mature professionals through effective practice.

Benefits of the On-Site Delivery Model

• Teachers are more highly qualified and knowledgeable, and students learning English benefit, which fulfills the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
• Teachers interact with their own colleagues in groups, usually within their own schools.
• Upon completion teachers can demonstrate multiple ways they have learned to address the needs of their ELL students through:
  1. Direct application of skills to their own classrooms
  2. Exposure to and synthesis of excellent texts, videos and readings
  3. Practice with action (classroom-based) research
  4. Increased familiarity with district practices and policies
  5. Use of techniques for ongoing reflective practices
  6. Guided practice in use of assessment and evaluation tools

Professional Development

The N.M. Department of Education has recognized this model as an effective means of enhancing teachers' ability to address the diverse needs of an increasing number of English language learners. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the attainment of the TESOL endorsement, teachers become "highly qualified," as designated in the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. The 12 hours earned may also be counted toward the Master of Education in Bilingual Education or Pedagogy with a concentration in TESOL.

Program Advisors

Elizabeth Galligan
Joseph Di Lella
Romelia Hurtado de Vivas
Geni Flores