Professional engagement is an important part of the M.A. in TESOL experience at Cal State LA. Students connect coursework with practice by developing classroom projects, conducting research, sharing their work with professional audiences, and participating in the broader TESOL and applied linguistics communities.
Faculty mentor students as they prepare conference proposals, research posters, presentations, instructional materials, and other professional work. These experiences help students develop confidence, build professional networks, and contribute to ongoing conversations about language teaching and learning.
Professional Opportunities
- Present research and classroom innovations at local, state, national, and international conferences.
- Participate in TESOL International Association and CATESOL events.
- Present at the Cal State LA Student Research Symposium and other university research events.
- Develop classroom-based inquiry projects and research-informed teaching materials.
- Build leadership experience through the TESOL Society student organization.
- Gain exposure to scholarly publishing and editorial work through Issues in Applied Linguistics.
- Receive individualized faculty mentoring on proposals, presentations, academic writing, and professional goals.
Examples of Student Scholarship
Past student presentations have addressed topics such as:
- Language identity and the experiences of bilingual speakers
- Second language anxiety and learner participation
- Online and hybrid language-course design
- Pronunciation, prosody, and speaking instruction
- Content-based instruction and English for academic purposes
- Discourse, interaction, and cross-cultural communication
- Multilingual education, teacher identity, and equity
- Curriculum, materials, and language assessment
Get Involved
Current students should speak with TESOL faculty and TESOL Society leaders about upcoming conferences, proposal deadlines, research opportunities, and student leadership activities.