{"id":2369,"date":"2016-12-21T15:54:31","date_gmt":"2016-12-21T15:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/cas\/?p=2369"},"modified":"2024-07-12T16:11:41","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T16:11:41","slug":"2369","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/case\/2016\/12\/21\/2369\/","title":{"rendered":"UM-Flint Grad Heading to South Korea to Teach English"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Elexis<\/a>
Elexis Nelson – UM-Flint TESOL and Linguistics graduate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Elexis Nelson had always planned to teach English abroad after earning her\u00a0linguistics degree from UM-Flint. However, there was a significant obstacle\u00a0in her path: she did not have access to a TESOL\u00a0certificate program (TESOL stands for\u00a0Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)\u2014an important credential that would allow her access to better jobs and higher\u00a0benefits.<\/p>\n

“My education has, thankfully, been paid for through a full-ride scholarship I received through U of M\u2019s\u00a0Educational Opportunity Initiatives<\/a>\u00a0office,” explained Nelson, “but obviously it wouldn\u2019t cover any classes that I wanted to take outside of the university. The TESOL courses nearest me were on campuses too far away.”<\/p>\n

Things changed when Emily Feuerherm, PhD, joined\u00a0UM-Flint English<\/a>\u00a0and began establishing a TESOL program on campus. “Feuerherm was in the works of creating this course when I was doing research about off-campus options,” recalled Nelson, “and the day she told me that the TESOL program got approved was the best day of my academic life.”<\/p>\n

\"Emily<\/a>
Emily Feuerherm speaks with students about the new UM-Flint TESOL certificate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The\u00a0UM-Flint TESOL certificate<\/a>\u00a0is earned in 15-credits and is intended for any UM-Flint undergraduate student hoping to teach English abroad. While a certificate is not always necessary to teach abroad, the professional TESOL organization notes that it can serve as a gateway to the field and profession. The TESOL certificate does not certify students to teach in US public schools.<\/p>\n

“By far the best part about being a TESOL certificate holder is that I now have the documentation I need to do what I love for the rest of my life,” said Nelson. “The TESOL certificate opens so many doors and windows for me to pursue positions globally.”<\/p>\n

Shortly after graduation, Nelson will begin her first TESOL position. “I have been hired by EPIK (English Program in Korea) and I start in February! I\u2019ll be teaching in Busan (I qualified for a higher pay grade due to the above-average amount of TESOL course hours I\u2019ve accumulated in the UM-Flint TESOL program). I hope to continue my passion as a global ambassador in South Korea for at least three years. I want to teach English and further encourage globalization.”<\/p>\n

\"Elexis<\/a>
Elexis Nelson will be one of the first to hold a UM-Flint TESOL certificate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Students who want to follow in Nelson’s footsteps can start earning their TESOL certificate in the Winter 2017 semester by\u00a0joining one of the required core courses<\/a>:<\/p>\n