English Education

Why Study English Education at Northwest

A degree in English education prepares students for meaningful careers in middle and high school classrooms. As an English education major at Northwest, students learn the skills to be successful in the classroom – classroom management, differentiated instruction, professionalism, practical strategies for teaching reading and writing – but they also learn about the teaching of English as a craft and an art.

Through books, English teachers expose students to other cultures and time periods, giving insight into how others think and have thought. Through writing instruction, they give students a voice of their own and the means to express themselves to their world. Often, English teaching is associated with spelling, punctuation, grammar and other basic skills. As an English education major, students learn how to teach those skills, but also promote social justice and give kids the tools to thrive in an evolving world through reading and writing.

Education majors get experience in the classroom starting day one. Freshman-year observation allows students to observe a professional teacher during their first year. Students interact with professionals in the field and learn classroom operation and effective teaching practices. For student’s sophomore year, students participate in a field experience, during which they outline a unit plan and teach lessons. During the junior-year practicum experience, students spend time in the classroom, teaching lessons, integrating technology and literacy, engaging in learning strategies and using assessments to guide education. The senior-year student teaching involves preparing lessons and teaching in a classroom. Northwest is dedicated to ensuring students are career-ready and prepared for the first day of their careers!