Improving English Language Teaching in the Ozarks (iELT-Ozarks) Project
Program Description
The overall goal of the Improving English Language Teaching in the Ozarks (iELT-Ozarks) Project is to provide access to affordable, customizable, state-of-the-art English language teacher training to better the educational outcomes of the language minority student population within the Ozarks region. The Missouri K-12 ELL Endorsement provides a 30-hour graduate-level experience for in-service teachers in Missouri. Additionally, there is an extended service learning project coupled with teacher inquiry that focuses on educators’ felt difficulties and the systematic implementation of current best practices.
Length of the program
The endorsement on average will take two years to complete with TESOL courses generally lasting 8 weeks each.
Course delivery method
The program is delivered 100% online, except for the TESOL practicum (done in your own classroom).
Entrance criteria
To be considered for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Licensed teacher in Missouri currently employed by a district school.
- Have EL students in class and be interested in serving as an ELL specialist.
- Motivated to participate with community organizations serving language minority families and be willing to engage with language minority families.
Cohorts
- Cohort I (Fall 2017 - Summer 2019)
- Cohort II (Spring 2019 - Fall 2020)
- Cohort III (Fall 2020 - Summer 2022)
Applications for cohort 3 are now closed. However, a new grant scholarship program is available through Show Me Multiliteracy.
Missouri K-12 ELL Endorsement Requirements
21 credit hours in TESOL:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 605 | Methods in TESOL | 3 |
| ENG 688 | Sociolinguistics for Language Teaching | 3 |
| ENG 690 | Grammatical Analysis | 3 |
| ENG 691 | Linguistic Theory | 3 |
| ENG 695 | Principles of Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| ENG 696 | Materials and Assessment in TESOL | 3 |
| ENG 697 | Practicum in TESOL | 3 |
9 credit hours in Special Education and Reading:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPE 310 or SPE 715 | Education of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
| LTC 474 or LTC 710 | Teaching Reading and Writing | 3 |
| LTC 574 or LTC 640 | Instructional Interventions for Students with Reading Difficulties | 3 |