Teacher Features

Showcasing Events of the Union College Education Program

Union College Division of Human Development announces a summer program to acquire the K-12 ESL Endorsement.

Please contact the Education Department at Union College at 486-2522 or humandev@ucollege.edu for more information.

English as a Second Language (ESL)
Supplemental Education Endorsement
(Requires a subject or field endorsement)

Major Requirements: 16 hours

The ESL endorsement enables elementary or secondary teachers to teach English as a Second Language to K-12 students. This endorsement is recognized by the Department of Education of the State of Nebraska.

To acquire this endorsement candidates must hold or earn concurrently a teaching certificate and present proof of competency in a foreign language equivalent to two (2) semesters of post secondary foreign language or two (2) years of high school foreign language.

EDUC 225 Seminar in Education Diversity: Multicultural/HRT* 1
EDUC 302 ESL Teaching Methodology & Materials 3
EDUC 457 Methods in Language Arts (K-8)* 3
or EDUC 476 Content Reading & Writing (3)*
ENGL 202 Language and Culture 1
ENGL 302 TESL Grammar and Linguistics 3
ENGL 303 Second Language Acquisition 3
ENGL 304 Second Language Assessment 2

*Not required if taken in the past

ENGL 302 TESL Grammar and Linguistics June 9-13 M-F 8:30-4:30 Wahlen 3
ENGL 202 Language and Culture June 16-20 M-F 1
ENGL 304 Second Language Assessment June 16-20 M-F 2

ENGL 303 Second Language Acquisition June M-F 8:30 – 4:30 DB213 Guaita 3 (Undergraduate)
EDUC 302 ESL Teaching & Curriculum June M-F 8:30 – 4:30 DB203 Wahlen 3 (Undergraduate)

New Teacher Induction Program

One of the most important aspects of the success of new teachers is the mentoring they receive during their first years of teaching. Several schools report that as many as 50% of their new teachers leave the profession after three years or less. A long-standing tradition at Union College is its commitment to the success of our new teachers. In keeping with this tradition, the Teacher Education Program has developed the following induction program.

1. Gather all the schools & addresses of new graduates.

2. Gather the names of the mentoring teacher assigned to each teacher.

3. Send both the new teacher and their mentoring teacher the book 101 Answers for New Teachers and their Mentors: Effective Teaching Tips for Daily Classroom Use, by Annette L. Breaux.

4. In the fall and spring, the unit conducts a simultaneous conference call with all the new teachers. The purpose of this call is to field questions, share ideas and give the teachers a sense of community.

5. Each new teacher in the Mid-America Union Conference receives a visit from one of the unit faculty early in the second semester and those not in MAUC will be visited when feasible. The purpose of this visit is to encourage, field questions and observe the teacher in action. Each visit is followed up with a letter.

6. Each spring new teachers are asked to complete the Professional Skill Checklist and their supervisors (school principals and/or superintendents) are asked to complete the New Teacher Evaluation. The goal is to have a 100% return rate on these surveys.

The results of these surveys are reviewed by the education faculty and, when indicated, changes are implemented to enhance the program.