Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
NC State is proud to be a diverse university with students from all over the world — and the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program plays a vital role in providing support and resources to students, faculty and staff. Whether you are an international student who needs to enroll in an English language course, a student interested in becoming a TESOL professional or a current professional interested in TESOL training, we can help you meet your academic and professional goals.
Visit us for conversation and coffee (see info here)
Teacher Training Programs
ESL Add-On Licensure for K-12 teachers
The NC State TESOL program provides an ESL teacher licensure program for undergraduates enrolled in teacher education and for currently licensed North Carolina public school teachers. Please check out our recent recipient of the ESL Teacher Education Award: /student_awards2021/miranda.php
ESL Teacher Licensure Program
Master of Arts degree in World Languages and Cultures with a TESOL concentration
Those seeking a terminal degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages should consider NC State's TESOL concentration within the MA degree program in World Languages and Cultures. Candidates take 18 credit hours in TESOL and have the option of taking the remaining 12 credits in NC State's prestigious English/Linguistics program and School of Education. We also offer a Master's degree with dual concentrations (TESOL and French or TESOL and Spanish). Each concentration consists of 18 credit hours. You will receive one diploma but your transcript will show both concentrations.
Minor in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (16 TEFLM)
Undergraduates at NC State have the opportunity to earn a minor in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) which will give them a deeper understanding of English as an international language and formal training in teaching English as a foreign language in various cultural and/or educational contexts. The minor consists of 15 credit hours and is open to students from all disciplines. Here is a short video in which students explain their reasons for choosing this minor: Why minor in TEFL?
Minor in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESOL Certificate Program
This non-degree program is designed for those who are interested in teaching English abroad and in community colleges, and working and volunteering in immigrant communities. Students earn a TESOL Certificate in one semester. Over 300 professionals have completed the program and are teaching English in public and private institutions, nationally and internationally.
Credit Bearing English Language Courses
We offer credit-bearing courses for regularly enrolled undergraduate and graduate international students. You can find the classes listed in the NC State Course Catalog under the name FLE (Foreign Language English).
For a list of course descriptions, policies and frequently asked questions, visit the FLE Courses page.
Oral Proficiency Testing for International Teaching Assistants
The TESOL program offers language improvement courses for International Teaching Assistants. We also administer the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) test for potential graduate teaching assistants. The SPEAK test is designed to measure non-native speakers' oral English proficiency.
Academic Publications
Dialogues: An Interdisciplinary Journal for English Language Teaching and Research served as a forum for all professionals to share their research, innovative ideas, and best classroom practices to better serve English learners and the profession as a whole. Please peruse our 2017 and 2018 issues.
Ministory

To gain perspective, teach abroad!
Jenny Choi, Fulbright English Teaching Assistant and 2016 NC State graduate in Elementary Education: "...I teach English to Korean students on a daily basis and thanks to the ESL Add-On program, I am able to foster cultural awareness and teach my students more effectively."
Contact us
Jennifer Despain, TESOL Section Coordinator
Email: jhdespai@ncsu.edu
Office: Withers 313
Phone: 919-513-7446
Campus Box 8106
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-8106