Amy Marrah, senior elementary education foundations major and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) minor, hopes to teach language learners both abroad and at home in Minneapolis.

What drove you to enroll in the TESL minor program? 

I have always loved to travel and the idea of teaching abroad is appealing, potentially during the summers when I am not teaching in my own classroom. Not only does this minor prepare me to teach overseas, but it makes me a better teacher for the kids in my future classroom who are emerging bilingual learners of English. 

How has your experience been with the faculty? 

I love that this minor has faculty with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Many of the instructors know multiple languages and/or have had experiences teaching abroad. They are all invested in this program and it really shows. 

Where do you see yourself in five years?

 In five years, I hope to be teaching in an elementary classroom in an urban, public school. I also hope to have many opportunities to travel and experience new things. 

Which part of the program did you find the most valuable? 

I really enjoyed the service learning portion because even though it is not the exact context I want to be in, it pushed me out of my comfort zone when I was a teaching assistant in an adult education classroom for beginner learners of English. I also loved the grammar and pronunciation class. It gave me many valuable tools and examples of how to help students learn and interact with language. 

Any other thoughts you want to share about your experience? 

Even if I am not an ESL teacher myself, the knowledge and confidence I have gained in this program will make me a better teacher for all of my students especially those learning English as a second language.

Learn more about the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) minor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.