EPDES 940 is a required course for the Advanced Certificate in TESOL and the WA ELL Endorsement. This course is a “field experience”or “practicum” course. It does not meet physically at S-TESL.

Before beginning this course, you must decide if you are going to take the online version or the paper version. You may not combine the two versions. Only the paper version can be taken as graduate status.

In both formats, there are 9 “modules” of assignments. Each module consists of reading assignments and writing assignments.

Paper version

In this option, the student registers for the “paper version" and receives the packet of assignments. Then, the student works independently on the 9 modules. Upon completion, all course assignments are submitted to S-TESL and an S-TESL instructor is assigned to read and evaluate the project. The student receives feedback upon completion of this evaluation.

In this format, the student has approximately 9 months to complete the assignments (“N” grades will be issued to indicate that the course is in progress). This class works well for students whose classroom contact time is either less than 10 weeks or who require more flexibility for the completion of the assignments.

Online version

In this option, the student registers for the online class (there are four quarters/year). Modules are due weekly and the student receives weekly feedback from the assigned instructor. The course is completed over 10 weeks. This format works well for students whose classroom contact time fits into the ten week schedule of the STESL online class.

Contact time requirements for EPDES 940

• You must have access to non-native speakers of English for at least 40 hours while enrolled. This may be your own class of ESOL students (children, young adults, or adults – at least 5 ESOL students), or you may be a volunteer in another person’s class. This may be a combination of hours spent observing, assisting, and teaching. Another person must be able to sign an affidavit that you completed at least 40 hours in an ESOL classroom in connection with course EPDES 940 (this course). The contact time must be over a span of no less than four weeks.
• If you are taking this course for the WA State ELL Endorsement, your contact time must be in a K-12 school setting. This may be a class that has all ELLs or a mix of ELLs and native speakers. The contact time must be over a period of time no less than four weeks.

Final Project Information for Paper Version

Due dates for your completed EPDES 940 project are as follows:

What do I do when I complete the project?

When you are ready to submit your project, please call the office to schedule an appointment to submit it. You may also mail it to the office.

How is my project evaluated?

Your project will be assigned to an S-TESL instructor, who will read and evaluate the project. You will be mailed a copy of the instructor’s evaluation approximately 6 weeks after you have submitted the project.

How do I know my grade?

Until your final grade has been submitted to SU by our office, your transcript will reflect an “N” grade indicating the course is “in progress”. Once the instructor’s report has been submitted a final grade will be posted to Seattle and reflected on your SU grade report and transcript.

What if I want to take this course for graduate status credit?

Complete the graduate status for course request form when you register. Then, follow the instructions in the course packet for graduate status credit.

Note: Graduate credit is not required for the ELL Endorsement or the Advanced Certificate in TESOL.

If you need advising about this course, contact Bernice Ege-Zavala at bezavala@seattleu.edu or (206) 781-8607.