Teaching English to speakers of other languages has been a natural core competency at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, the baccalaureate campus with the highest percentage of international students in the United States. Now that offering will continue to expand its global influence with the establishment of the new Center for English Language Learning at the university.
“We want to assist students on our campus in their efforts to continue learning English after they complete requirements in the English as an International Language (EIL) program,” says Neil J Anderson, professor of English Language Teaching at BYU–Hawaii. Anderson will serve as the Center’s first Director.
“Language development takes a long time. A graduate with a degree from BYU–Hawaii with a high level of English language proficiency will be more employable in the marketplace. We want potential employers of our students to be confident that their English language skills are fully developed.”
The Center for English Language Learning has three foci. First, to facilitate the production of quality online and face-to-face instructional materials for English language learners. Second, to support faculty within the Church Education System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who work with English language learners to encourage continued development and growth in language proficiency. And finally, to prepare English language learners for vocational and/or academic learning opportunities.
At his recent inaugural address, new BYU–Hawaii president John S. Tanner referenced the university’s role in teaching English. “I see a school that looks not only upward to Heaven but outward toward the Pacific and Asia, a school whose international mission informs all we do, including the students we pursue and the programs we provide. . . . I also envision a university that is really good at helping international students learn English. And I see a school that shares this expertise with other Church schools and entities, thereby playing a critical and distinctive role in the larger Church Educational System. . . . I see a school that serves its vast target area by leveraging resources through collaboration and technology.” (Go to http://president.byuh.edu/Inauguration for the full text of John S. Tanner’s address.)
International students make up more than 40 percent of BYU–Hawaii’s student body with the majority of these students being non-native English speakers. The university started teaching English to international students in the early 1960s, making it one of the oldest EIL programs in the world. From the beginning, the faculty teaching EIL at BYU–Hawaii have been developing high quality curricula and resources to advance the university’s prophetic vision of sending graduates forth to make a significant difference in the world. High levels of language proficiency are needed to make a difference in the world. The bachelor’s degree program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) began in 1967 and was designed to prepare teachers to be professionally prepared to address the linguistic and cultural challenges of second language learners of English. Offering one of the few TESOL undergraduate programs in the world, BYU–Hawaii has produced many graduates who have gone on for successful careers in English Language teaching in countries like Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Samoa, South Korea, Tahiti, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
The TESL Reporter, a well-respected publication that focuses on pedagogical applications in the EIL classroom, has circulated valuable information to teachers in over 100 countries since 1967. With this rich history, BYU–Hawaii is uniquely situated to help coordinate efforts across the university’s sponsoring organization, the LDS Church, to strengthen English language teaching and learning throughout the world.
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LINK: BYU–Hawaii Quick Facts 2015-2016
LINK: More on TESOL education at BYU–Hawaii
More about BYU–Hawaii: http://about.byuh.edu/
