An Evaluation of Brigham Young University’s Local TESOL Internship Program

Laura Kathleen Steeby Robins Department of Linguistics and English Language Master of Arts An evaluation of BYU’s Local TESOL Minor Internship program shows the strengths and weaknesses of this academic internship program. Students are required to complete 150 hours of TESOL-related work outside of their courses. The interns volunteer in different English-teaching programs in the area. Internship hours include the time in the classroom, preparation, materials development, as well as the time in the Linguistics 496R course. The interns are required to have most of their minor classes finished before they complete their internship so that their internship can be a capstone to and an application of what they have learned thus far. This MA evaluation project reports findings of a formal program evaluation of BYU’s Local TESOL Internship program, which has been in place for four years. It specifically looks at how effective the internships are by addressing the program’s criteria which are: The internship enhances the student’s education, reflects what the students have been taught in their TESOL minor classes, helps the interns become more confident teachers, helps the interns feel more prepared to teach ESL, and creates ties with the community. The paper presents quantitative data collected from surveys of past and present interns as well as program administrators. It also presents qualitative data from the same surveys as well as from summary papers in which the interns have discussed their internship experience. The evaluation also offers suggestions and recommendations for the program, as well as future research recommendations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to express thanks to my husband, Radley Beau, for continuing to support and encourage me while working on this project, especially as it got close to the end. I am deeply appreciative of his unconditional love and support. I would also like to thank my chair, Dr. Diane Strong-Krause, for the continual help and advisement as well as expertise. I am also grateful to my committee members, Dr. David Williams and Dr. Lynn Henrichsen. Dr. Williams’ expertise was especially beneficial while putting together this evaluation. It is also necessary to thank Maryruth Farnsworth for her countless hours of time spent helping me to make sure this project was a success. Her never-ending support, encouragement, and willingness to help will never be forgotten. None of this could have been possible if it weren’t for my family who supported me and always told me that I was capable of doing great things.