Clinical Field Experiences
Students in the TESL M.Ed. program participate in structured field experiences that require them to apply coursework in classroom settings, analyze P-12 student learning, and reflect on their practice in the context of theories on teaching and learning. Students deepen their understanding of the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions that foster student learning. These experiences broaden their ability to help all students learn, including children with exceptionalities and students from diverse ethnic/racial, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic groups. Upon approval from individual course instructors, these structured field experiences can take place in multiple settings such as neighboring schools or districts, day care centers and after-school programs, alternate youth centers, community outreach centers, local non-profit organizations, or in the schools and classrooms in which the candidates work.
Candidates who are lateral entry teachers and teacher assistants must move beyond their own classrooms and schools for at least two clinical experiences. Alternative settings must be approved by the instructor. A limited number of clinical experiences may be approved in significantly different classrooms within their school of employment. Employed candidates are encouraged to seek assistance and support from their administrators.
Licensure
Upon successful completion of the TESL M.Ed., students who currently hold an initial teaching license may be eligible for the North Carolina advanced Standard Professional II teaching license in TESL.