Fields of Study - 0 4131
Contact Us
Phone:
800.336.1616
802.258.3510
TTY:
802.258.3388
Fax:
802.258.3500
PO Box 676, 1 Kipling Road
Brattleboro, VT 05302 USA
Contact us by email.
Frequently Asked Questions
MAT, US Public School Certification (ESL, French, Spanish) and English to Speakers of Other Languages
- How long is the course work and how long does it take to get the degree?
- When does the program start?
- How many credits will I earn in the program?
- Can I transfer credits from graduate level courses I have taken elsewhere?
- Can I do course work (or some of it) by distance learning?
- How do I find an internship?
- Is the internship paid?
- Does the program qualify me for public school teaching certification?
- Does Vermont teaching certification transfer to other states?
- Is there a thesis required?
- How do I apply for the Master's International (MI) Program?
- How much does it cost?
- What kind of financial aid is available?
- What other funding opportunities are there for international students?
- Is there a financial aid deadline?
- What kind of resources are available to help me find a job?
- What kind of work are MAT Program alumni doing and where are they?
- What are the admissions requirements?
- Do I need to take the GRE?
- Do I need previous teaching experience?
- Is there a second language requirement?
- Is there an application deadline?
- Who can I contact if I have other questions?
FAQ Answers
- How long is the course work and how long does it take to get the degree?
Course work can be completed in one year. Beginning each September and continuing through May, each academic year includes an off-campus teaching practicum or internship January to March, "sandwiched" between terms of coursework. The final component of the program, a portfolio demonstrating teaching competencies, can be written and compiled over the summer. - When does the program start?
The program usually begins in early September. The exact start date is announced in January for the coming year. (Another format for the degree, designed for working teachers, is available over two summers.) - How many credits will I earn in the program?
Minimum credits for each course of study are as follows. Each semester credit represents 45 hours of study.
- The ESOL Concentration Course of Study (ESOL Generalist) is a minimum of 33 credits.
- The ESL Certification Course of Study is 42 credits.
- Can I transfer credits from graduate level courses I have taken elsewhere?
It may be possible to transfer up to 6 graduate semester credits taken elsewhere. Both faculty and registrar confer to ensure the proposed transfer course was parallel to one offered at SIT. There is no reduction SIT tuition, nor is coursework completed faster if transfer is accepted. SIT credits are fully transferable to other graduate schools at the discretion of the receiving institution. - Can I do course work (or some of it) by distance learning?
No. The kind of learning experience that you get in this program - experiential, participatory, and cooperative – cannot be replicated in a distance-learning mode. By being part of a dynamic, group process, you learn about facilitating groups and working effectively as a teacher with your own students. - How do I find an internship?
Internship options are posted in October. They change each year, but recent options have included New England, New York City, Mexico, Costa Rica, Haiti, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, Hungary, Thailand, Bangladesh, and at the Thai-Burma border. You "apply" to your top 3 choices by submitting your resumé to MAT's internship director. Final decisions on "applicants" are usually made by the directors of the internship sites, not by the MAT faculty. - Is the internship paid?
One or two sites may offer opportunities to earn a small stipend, but the vast majority of the internships are really just that and are not paid. For instance, the internships in Morocco provide transportation and housing, while those in Mexico and South Africa offer homestays, so there are no board and lodging costs incurred. - Does the program qualify me for public school teaching certification?
You can qualify for Vermont public school ESL teaching certification (K-12) by taking the four required certification courses in the Academic Year MAT and by completing a supervised teaching internship in a US public school. The ESL teaching internships for certification take place in New England and New York City during the fall semester following a year of course work. - Does Vermont teaching certification transfer to other states?
The Interstate Reciprocity Compact allows Vermont teaching certification to be recognized in other states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. - Is there a thesis required?
The final written project is a professional teaching portfolio that demonstrates teaching competencies in five key areas. - How do I apply for the Master's International (MI) Program?
US citizens can participate in the Master's International Program combining master's degree studies with Peace Corps service. To do so, you apply to both SIT and the Peace Corps independently. There is no difference in either the application process or the program, except for the option of writing an individual thesis instead of compiling a portfolio. After the academic year of course work, you go on to a two-year Peace Corps TESOL assignment in a position, which gives you an opportunity to further explore what you learned in the program.
You will gain valuable experience in a position which is usually at a far higher level of professional responsibility than you would normally expect from an entry level teaching job in the States. In your Peace Corps assignment you are likely to find that you become a resource person or are involved with some level of teacher training. Students combining Peace Corps service and MAT have been placed in the Cape Verde Islands, China, Kiribati, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, and Ukraine. At the end of the Peace Corps service you will have a master's degree and 2 years of professional experience. - How much does it cost?
Tuition total for the 2005-2006 Academic Year MAT Program is $23,100 for the ESOL Generalist course of study and $28,300 for the ESL Certification course of study. Tuition is paid in two installments (a third, smaller tuition charge is assessed those conducting a second internship toward public school certification). Room and board costs and internship expenses will vary depending on your choices. - What kind of financial aid is available?
Financial aid is available in the form of SIT grants, small scholarships, and campus employment opportunities. US citizens and permanent residents also qualify for up to $18,500 in federal loans. A typical financial aid award made last year totaled $25,000 (including loans and work study) for US students and permanent residents, and $9,200 for international students. - What other funding opportunities are there for international students?
International students are encouraged to explore other sources of funding, such as the Institute of International Education (Fulbright Scholarships), American Association of University Women, Rotary International, NAFSA, AMIDEAST (Middle East), and government-sponsored scholarships and loans. Please check SIT’s Financial Aid website for further information. Advance planning is essential. - Is there a financial aid deadline?
The Financial Aid office considers financial aid applications beginning March 1 each year. To apply, you must be accepted to SIT. - What kind of resources are available to help me find a job?
Because the MAT Program at SIT has such an outstanding international reputation and among its faculty some of the most well known names in the field, our graduates often find that doors readily open for them. SIT's Professional Development Resource Center offers help in career planning, job-searching, and networking, and is available to students and to graduates throughout their careers. The active worldwide alumni network is also a great resource for finding out about jobs and career opportunities in specific areas. - What kind of work are MAT alumni doing and where are they?
MAT graduates are living and working in over 62 countries around the world. Many of them have devoted their lives to teaching - in public and private schools, language institutes, colleges and universities, adult education programs for recently-arrived immigrants in English-speaking countries, corporations, and development projects - while others have continued into the fields of teacher training, program administration, textbook and educational materials development, cross-cultural counseling, or doctoral studies. - What are the admissions requirements?
Each candidate is considered on an individual basis and assessed as to their readiness for and potential to succeed in the MAT Program. Criteria include:
- US bachelor's degree (or equivalent) demonstrating academic ability
- Relevant experience, including language learning and language teaching (minimum one year preferred)
- Excellent communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to use experience as a source of learning
- An understanding of the structure of philosophy of the MAT program
- Applicants for whom English is not a first language are required to demonstrate literacy and oral proficiency enabling them to successfully complete degree requirements. While SIT has no minimum score that would automatically eliminate an MAT application, both a standardized test and an oral proficiency interview are required. SIT considers official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International Education Language Testing System (IELTS). The average computer based TOEFL score for students enrolling in September 2003 was 238. The average IELTS band was 8. Oral proficiency for the same group averaged Advanced on the ACTFL scale (seventh level of a nine-level scale).
- Do I need to take the GRE?
No. The GRE does not measure the qualities faculty look for in candidates. - Do I need previous teaching experience?
No. All of your previous experience will be considered, especially your language learning and intercultural experience in considering your readiness for the program. It is recommended that you look for ways to get some basic exposure to language teaching through setting up some classroom observations, volunteering as a tutor or as an aide in a literacy or adult learning program, or working in a summer language program before coming to SIT. Even the most minimal experience will improve your preparedness for the MAT Program.
Another suggestion is to obtain a TESOL certificate. You can consider the SIT TESOL Certificate on the Brattleboro campus and in many other locations. SIT TESOL Certificate holders who enroll in the MAT program are given tuition reductions. - Is there a second language requirement?
MAT does not require specific language proficiency to graduate. It is the study of a second language combined with study of language teaching that proves valuable.
All students take a second language class during the fall semester. Non-native speakers of English seeking the ESOL concentration are required to take Academic English. Others can take language classes or foreign language content classes to meet this requirement. All students are encouraged to continue studying the language they took in the fall term. Students who wish to obtain an oral proficiency evaluation should contact SIT’s renown Center for Intercultural Programs. - Is there an application deadline?
There is no application deadline and we will continue to consider applications until programs are filled. - Who can I contact if I have other questions?
To contact a counselor about this program, you may send an e-mail message to one of the following people:
marshall.brewer@sit.edu
minhee.kang@sit.edu
