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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrad student Julian Horner launched his career as an English as a Second Language instructor at North Orange Continuing Education. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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After arriving at Cal State Fullerton as a business major, Julian Horner discovered a passion for language, culture, and education that ultimately led him to pursue linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Today, he is both a graduate student in the TESOL program and an English as a Second Language instructor at North Orange Continuing Education. <\/p>\n
As a recipient of the Nancy \u201cTerry\u201d Baden Scholarship and a member of the Guardian Scholars Program, Horner\u2019s journey reflects the value of exploring new interests, gaining hands-on experience and following an unexpected path.<\/p>\n
Can you tell us about yourself and your academic journey?<\/p>\n
I am currently a TESOL graduate student at CSUF, and I am also an English as a Second Language instructor at North Orange Continuing Education, a local adult school.<\/p>\n
I came to CSUF in fall 2022 as a business student. At the time, I majored in business because I thought I would have difficulty finding a job otherwise. I was not the strongest in math and did not feel confident pursuing other STEM majors.<\/p>\n
However, I had been interested in teaching English abroad since I was a teenager. I always wanted to travel and live abroad. As a result, I enrolled in CSUF\u2019s undergraduate TESOL certificate program in addition to my business major.<\/p>\n
The truth was that business did not feel like what I was called to do. I increasingly faced this realization as I continued as a student. After a time of prayer, I left the business program and changed my major to linguistics in spring 2024.<\/p>\n
I really enjoyed CSUF\u2019s undergraduate linguistics program. I especially enjoyed learning about sociolinguistics. I continued with the TESOL program and enjoy it as well. I particularly appreciate the program\u2019s hands-on classroom experience. My linguistics degree and TESOL certificate qualified me to work as an adult noncredit ESL instructor.<\/p>\n
What inspired you to pursue your area of study?<\/p>\n
In a way, it started when I was very young. As a child, I enjoyed learning about different countries. I used to check out books about countries such as Venezuela and Indonesia from my elementary school\u2019s library. I also watched travel shows.<\/p>\n
Over time, that interest in other countries expanded into an interest in foreign languages and cultures. This connected very naturally with the fields of linguistics and TESOL.<\/p>\n
Was there a class, professor, research project, internship or experience that had a major impact on you?<\/p>\n
Yes. The Project SHINE program, which is a partnership between CSUF and NOCE, provided me with valuable hands-on experience at the school where I would eventually work after graduation.<\/p>\n
I was an ESL volunteer in Daniel Rueckert\u2019s beginning literacy ESL class at NOCE. I observed how Rueckert, associate professor of\u00a0 modern languages and literatures, engaged with his students, and it is something that I still strive to emulate in the classes that I teach.<\/p>\n
\u00a0What are your plans for the future?<\/p>\n
I am currently an adult noncredit ESL instructor at NOCE and a graduate TESOL student at CSUF. This is my third semester teaching at NOCE.<\/p>\n
What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time at CSUF?<\/p>\n
I do not have one specific accomplishment that I am most proud of, aside from graduating. However, I am thankful for the opportunity to explore my academic interests and put them into practice through both the linguistics and TESOL programs.<\/p>\n
I had the opportunity to study Vietnamese for a year, present on the vitality of ethnic minority languages in China at the Linguistics Student Association Academic Symposium and gain hands-on experience through service learning in the TESOL program.<\/p>\n
What advice would you give current or future HSS students?<\/p>\n
I would advise students to take advantage of opportunities to gain hands-on experience. This can include service learning, volunteering or internships.<\/p>\n
Practical experience outside the classroom can help you better understand what your future career may look like and make you more competitive in the job market.<\/p>\n
If you enjoy teaching and working with people from different cultures, TESOL is a great field, and CSUF has an excellent program that I highly recommend.<\/p>\n