Applied Linguistics (TEFL-TESOL) Certificate
Got the travel bug and dream of teaching English to clients overseas? Or are you a homebody, eager to make use of rapidly changing apps and technologies to tutor English in real time from your home office?Or maybe you’re a fan of language, its mechanics, and its intersections with cutting-edge new artificial intelligence applications and software. You’re interested in laying the groundwork for later graduate work in linguistics.These are all reasons why you might be interested in earning the Applied Linguistics (TEFL-TESOL) Certificate. Our certificate prepares students to meet professional standards for teaching English to language learners residing abroad. The program of study includes linguistics courses about the nature of language and cultural aspects of linguistic systems, as well as courses in English syntax, phonology, morphology, and pragmatics. A unique feature of Metro State University’s certification process is the four-part internship sequence designed to help students meet the two-year teaching/tutoring experience requirements preferred by hiring agencies.Please note: an Applied Linguistics (TEFL-TESOL) Certificate does not provide licensure or qualify its holders to teach in Minnesota public schools. To learn more about earning English-teaching licensure, check information on the English for Teaching BS degree.The Applied Linguistics (TEFL-TESOL) Certificate is a direct requirement or preferred qualification for the following jobs:Teaching English by travelling to institutions abroadSecuring private clients abroadTeaching English from home to foreign clients via Skype, ZOOM, and other internet applicationsConsulting, instructing, and coaching speakers of other languages as they prep for the TOEFL to gain admissions to an English-speaking universityTutoring English language learners in Minnesota, outside of public school contextsThe Applied Linguistics certificate can complement students’ study in a wide variety of fields. For example, individuals are sometimes presented with the following opportunities as a result of studying and/or teaching English linguistics at home or abroad:Cross-language liaison for business, nonprofit, or advocacy work in the U.S.;Cultural consultant for businesses abroad;Natural language computer/AI applications development; orApplication for more advanced or senior positions within an organization.Students can also use their certificate in Applied Linguistics as a foundation for future graduate work in linguistics, which, in conjunction with study in other fields (e.g., foreign language, computer science), leads to careers such as:Cryptologic LinguistSpecial Agent: LinguistComputational LinguistSpeech System DiagnosticsSemantic OntologistTranslatorsDialect Analytic LinguistAnalytical Linguist