Field Experience
Our TESOL program prepares you to teach PreK-12 students or adults in the community — in Maine, elsewhere in the U.S., or abroad. One of the best ways to prepare yourself as a multicultural educator is through practice. We offer experiential learning opportunities for our graduate students through volunteer, practicum, and internship opportunities.
Visit USM’s Office of Educator Preparation (OEP) for more information regarding the outreach, development, and coordination of internship placements in USM’s educator preparation programs.
Certificate Programs
Our post-master’s Certificate of Advanced Study program offers opportunities to connect with English language learners (ELLs), including PreK-12 students or adults in the community. We’ll work with you to find volunteer positions close to where you live, whether you’re in Maine, out-of-state, or abroad.
Connecting with ELLs during your studies provides an opportunity to put theory into practice, develop your skills, and inform your teaching praxis. In addition to exploring cultural diversity, we focus on lesson implementation and assessment. In working with ELLs, we focus on listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
Upon completion of your certificate program, you’ll be an expert in linguistic and cultural diversity, and prepared for success in the classroom.
MSEd in TESOL
The MSEd in TESOL offers two options for program completion:
- Fully online program format: Learn more
- Blended program format: Some sessions are held online and some sessions are held on campus. For more information, read below.
Practicum
The practicum offers an initial experience in teaching English language learners (ELLs).
- Timeframe: The practicum includes 40 hours of fieldwork over the course of one semester. The practicum can be completed during any semester, including fall, spring, or summer.
- Location: You can complete your practicum from any location — throughout the state of Maine, out-of-state, and internationally. We’ll work with you to find a location that is close to you. Your practicum can be completed at a PreK-12 school, non-governmental organization (NGO), non-profit, or university.
- What you’ll do:
- Observe a practicing TESOL instructor with their PreK-12 or adult students.
- Create a blog to write about your observations. This is where you can highlight instructional strategies that worked well with students.
- Apply your knowledge and skills you’re gaining in University courses to help ELLs develop linguistic skills.
- Customize your teaching approach to reflect students’ needs and objectives.
- Develop standards-driven teaching materials and assessment tools.
Learn more about our MSEd in TESOL with a blended program format.
MSEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL): Initial PreK-12 ESL Certification
Practicum
The practicum offers an initial experience in teaching English language learners (ELLs).
- Timeframe: The practicum includes 40 hours of field work over the course of one semester.
- Location: You can complete your practicum from any location — throughout the state of Maine, out-of-state, and internationally. We’ll work with you to find a location that is close to you. Your practicum can be completed at a PreK-12 school, non-governmental organization (NGO), non-profit, or university.
- What you’ll do:
- Observe a practicing TESOL instructor with their PreK-12 or adult students.
- Create a blog to write about your observations. This is where you can highlight instructional strategies that worked well with students.
- Apply your knowledge and skills you’re gaining in University courses to help ELLs develop linguistic skills.
- Customize your teaching approach to reflect students’ needs and objectives.
- Develop standards-driven teaching materials and assessment tools.
Internship
As the final course in your master’s program, this culminating experience is your opportunity to put theory into practice and perfect your skills.
- Timeframe: The internship includes 300 hours of field work over the course of one to two semesters.
- Location: The internship must be completed in the state of Maine in order to qualify for PreK-12 ESL teacher certification. We’ll work with you to find a location that is close to where you live in the state.
- What you’ll do: The internship is a full-time, supervised clinical experience. During the internship you will:
- Get to know your students, including their backgrounds, cultures, and learning preferences.
- Collaborate with your mentor teacher to develop lesson plans.
- Experiment with instruction techniques for diverse learners.
- Plan and lead your own lessons.
Learn more about our MSEd in TESOL leading to Initial PreK-12 ESL Certification.