Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Our TESOL Program

Learning to teach English as a second language is important in today's world for practical, cultural, and intellectual reasons. Those who have the ability to teach a second language have a clear advantage in many fields, becoming "citizens of the world" in a time when communication with and an understanding of other cultures are paramount.

The minor in TESOL requires 18 hours of linguistics courses. To see the specifics, visit the online catalog. 

Faculty Expertise

The Applied Linguistics and TESOL faculty in the Department of Modern Languages has expertise in several fields, including second language phonology, foreign/second language teaching methodology, sociophonetics, classroom and professional discourse, language teacher education, linguistic anthropology of education, and academic literacy in second language learners. The linguistics faculty is enthusiastic, supportive, and committed to working closely with its students.

Student Resources and the Linguistics Communities

RESEARCH How-To: UM Library Search APA Formatting Guide Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts Database	YOUTUBE CHANNELS The Linguistics Channel Alliterative Artifexian NativLang The Ling Space
BLOGS Language Log All Things Linguistic Superlinguo The Ling Space Lingua Digitalis Citizen Sociolinguistics The Educational Linguist	PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS American Association of Applied Linguistics Linguistics Society of America International Society for Language Studies Society for Linguistic Anthropology American Dialect Society International Phonetic Association International Pragmatics Association
PODCASTS A Way with Words Talk the Talk Speculative Grammarian Podcast National Museum of Language Podioma Code Switch The Allusionist	Lexicon Valley Word of Mouth That’s What They Say Lingthusium Conlangery Podcast Words for Granted

Welcome to the TESOL Program

We are delighted to have you join our dynamic community of language educators! Pursuing a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is an exciting step toward understanding the complexities of language teaching and making a positive impact in the lives of English learners worldwide. Through this program, you will gain knowledge of linguistics, language pedagogy, and cross-cultural communication. You’ll explore innovative teaching strategies, learn how to support diverse learners, and prepare to work in different educational and professional contexts. Whether you're planning to teach abroad, work in multilingual communities, or enrich your career in education, the TESOL minor will provide you with the skills and experiences you need to succeed. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss the program!

Tamara Warhol

Associate Professor of Modern Languages

• twarhol@olemiss.edu
• 662-915-5029

Meet the Faculty

These faculty teach and research in the area of applied linguistics and TESOL.

Christiana Christodoulou

• Research Assistant Professor of Modern Languages

Felice Coles

• Professor of Modern Languages

Donald Dyer

• Associate Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs and Distinguished Professor of Modern Languages

Stephen Fafulas

• Associate Professor of Modern Languages

Maria Fionda

• Associate Professor of Spanish

Jimin Kahng

• Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics

Whitney Sarver

• Senior Director of the Intensive English Program and Instructional Associate Professor

Vance Schaefer

• Associate Professor of Modern Languages

Ala Simonchyk

• Instructional Associate Professor of Linguistics

Daniel Valle Arevalo

• Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics

Tamara Warhol

• Associate Professor of Modern Languages

Robyn Wright

• Associate Professor of Spanish

Henrietta Yang

• Associate Professor of Chinese and Linguistics

Beyond the Classroom

Community English as a Second Language (CESL) Program

TESOL students have the opportunity to work in the CESL Program as teachers and administrators. A student association, the CESL Program is jointly sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages and the Intensive English Program, and offers weekly classes for family members of international faculty and scholars at the University of Mississippi.

Global Ambassadors

Students have opportunities to interact with international students. For example, the Global Ambassadors program connects students from the United States and across the world to spend time each week building friendships across language and culture.