This page lists our current (credit-bearing) course offerings for current UMass Amherst students by category and semester.
Graduate students can enroll in any of our 100-level ESL courses.
To enroll in a course, please visit SPIRE and search "English as a Second Language." Enroll as you would in any other university section course at UMass.
PLEASE NOTE: There are NO prerequisites on ANY of our courses.
SPRING 2025
ESL126 Vocabulary & Comprehension of Academic English (3 credits)
This course aims to increase the size and expand the range of vocabulary of advanced ESL students for academic writing, speaking, and listening. In addition, the course aims to improve students reading ability of university level texts; this includes improving comprehension, reading speed, and the use of reading strategies.
ESL128 America through Academic Readings (3 credits)
In this course, students will explore various key topics in American life through academic readings to improve both their reading comprehension skills & vocabulary knowledge, as well as to develop a deeper understanding of culture and context.
ESL127 Investigating Media & Academic English (3 credits)
In this course, students will explore current issues and discussions in popular media and learn to identify, evaluate and thoughtfully engage with key ideas from a variety of sources. Students will focus on expressing their opinions and forming clear arguments.
ESL131 Academic Presentations (3 credits)
In this course, students will explore, practice, and master a broad range of skills associated with delivering effective presentations.
LLC125 Intercultural Communication: Language & Identity (4 credits- Gen. Ed. SB, DG)
We live in an increasingly globalized world, where living and working with people from various cultures is nearly an everyday occurrence. These interactions, combined with ever-growing opportunities for students to explore and study in foreign settings, make it important to master effective ways to engage and learn from these experiences. This course will engage students interested in developing intercultural competence with an eye towards fostering diverse and vibrant communities that coexist peacefully.
SPRING 2025
ALL TESOL courses are ONLINE asynchronous courses even for currently enrolled on campus students. To enroll without the UWW fee, please select the university section of the course.
LLC321 The Practice of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (3 Credits)
This course provides an introduction to practice of teaching English as an additional language. The focus throughout the course will be on how aspects of language teaching can be realized in practice, in a range of contexts or educational settings, and for learners of various proficiency levels and backgrounds. Students will gain experience creating lesson plans, classroom materials, and assessments. A significant component of the course consists of practicum-related tasks, such as classroom observations, teaching evaluations, tutoring and teaching demonstrations/practice.