The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Minor is set of courses designed to prepare interested students in teaching and/or working with multilingual learners The minor is primarily for students pursuing careers in teaching but is also appropriate for students interested in a range of professions that require regular interaction with a multilingual population (e.g., social work, work force development, public health, and management). It is also benefits students who want to later pursue K-12 ESOL certification or a graduate degree in education or linguistics at UNH or another institution. As the cultural and linguistic diversity in K-12 schools continues to increase, the TESOL Minor is an excellent addition to any student interested in public school teaching.
Furthermore, the TESOL Minor appeals to students who are interested in teaching English to bi-/ multilingual learners in non-K-12 settings, either in the US or abroad. In the U.S. this includes teaching at the post-secondary level, e.g. community colleges, academic enrichment centers at Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and at adult learning centers. For students interested in teaching abroad, the TESOL Minor provides a competitive edge over other BS/BA candidates, including prestigious opportunities such as the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program. The Minor is also attractive to students who are interested in using the credential to pursue overseas opportunities (e.g., Peace Corps, World Teach), and, in addition, opens up new international job-seeking possibilities.