LCC International University‘s MA TESOL program runs through the school year, providing students with a balanced program for 12 months. Each month our students learn valuable skills and theories of teaching English to speakers of other languages. The full program takes 2 years to complete from beginning to end. Let‘s walk through the only the FIRST school year, month by month, so that you can get a sense of the rhythum of the program. The exact dates of the 2024-2025 program can be found here: https://portal.lcc.lt/lcc-calendars/ma-program-schedule/

August

The MA TESOL program begins in early August with the Summer Residency Session (SRS). During the Summer Residency Session, students and faculty meet in person on LCC’s campus in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Each weekday morning, students begin their first two (2) courses face to face. During this time, we learn to know each other academically and personally. We spend time in the classrooms and dormitory, sharing meals, and enjoying Klaipeda. After thesis presentations and graduation, everyone returns to their homes.

September

From their own homes, students continue studying online with one (1) of the courses that they started during SRS, ENG 520Second Language Acquisition. Students continue online and complete this course in six (6) weeks.

October

After completing the first course, students continue online with the second course that they started during SRS, ENG 500 Teaching English as an International Language.

November

After six (6) weeks, the second course finishes. There are no more classes from mid-November until early January.

December

There are no classes in December.

January

We start the new year with ENG 510 Linguistics. This course runs fully online asynchronously for 7 weeks.

February

In mid-February, students begin the next course, ENG 540 Methods of Pedagogy, fully online asynchronously. This course runs for 7 weeks.

In February, some students also begin their practicum course. During the practicum course, novice teachers join a mentor teacher, to plan and teach lessons in classrooms. More experienced teachers can complete the required practicum hours in their own classrooms. Officially students register and pay for ENG 580 Integrated Skills Practicum in the summer; however, students may begin counting practicum hours in February and continue as needed through July. 

March

ENG 540 Methods of Pedagogy continues.

April

We take a one (1) week spring break in April, typically around Easter. In mid-April, we begin ENG 530 Curriculum Design, which is fully online asynchronously for 7 weeks.

May

ENG 530 Curriculum Design continues.

June

The final course of the first year starts in early June and continues through July, fully online asynchronously for 7 weeks.

August

In early August, it is time for everyone to return to LCC International University campus in Klaipeda, Lithuania, in person. Students reunite on campus! It is super fun to see everyone face to face after a year of messages, forums posts, and chat groups! During this Summer Residency Program, first year students become second year students! They begin their second-year courses in person in classrooms with their professors, live in the dorms together, and enjoy time at the beach.

Whew! That is a snapshot of the MA TESOL program month by month. We hope you can join us!

Author: Robin Gingerich, Ph.D., MA TESOL Program Director at LCC International University.