Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language

About

This program is primarily designed to prepare secondary and post-secondary teachers in a variety of settings and can also serve as preparation for doctoral studies. Core courses can be applied toward the state endorsement in ESL.

TESL graduate career opportunities include:

  • Teaching ESL in the United States and abroad
  • K-12 opportunities in multi-lingual schools
  • Community college and  university professorships

Individuals with the TESL certificate are highly marketable in the ESL field around the world in countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, Poland, France, and many others.

All students must demonstrate reading competence in a foreign language appropriate to their program of study at a level equivalent to completion of one year of college foreign language. Competence may be demonstrated through coursework, a standardized test or a written test arranged with the Modern Languages Department. Students may also satisfy the foreign language requirement by successfully completing ENGL 530, Old English, with a grade of 3.0 or better

We encourage you to complete a supervised practicum in teaching English as a second language. This includes:

  1. Observing a master teacher;
  2. Preparing, teaching and assessing materials; and
  3. Doing systematic self-observation and evaluation (normally videotaping).

The practicum would normally include the journaling of classroom practices, procedures and interactions.

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate, Undergraduate

The English as Second Language Program offers a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate for those students preparing to teach English as a Foreign Language overseas. 

Required Core
ENGL 360LANGUAGE STRUCTURE AND USE5
ESLG 470JOINING THE TESOL PROFESSION1
ESLG 472TEACHING ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES3
ESLG 480SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION4
ESLG 481METHODS AND MATERIALS IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE4
ESLG 488SECOND LANGUAGE PRINT LITERACY THEORIES3
ESLG 489CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSROOM4
ESLG 492SECOND LANGUAGE LITERACY PLACEMENT AND ASSESSMENT3
Required Practicum6
Note: the 1–3 variable credit practicum must be repeated for three quarters (1, 2, 3 credits) for a total of 6 credits.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PRACTICUM (Note: the practicum is a 1-3 variable credit course must be repeated for three quarters (1, 2, 3 credits) for a total of 6 credits.)
Total Credits33

Sample Courses

ESLG 470. JOINING THE TESOL PROFESSION. 1 Credit.

Pre-requisites: junior standing.
This course introduces the TESOL profession to students including overseas contexts of employment, and professional resources and values. Students develop a curriculum vita, a professional development plan and gather resources for the realities of teaching overseas.

Catalog Listing

ESLG 481. METHODS AND MATERIALS IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE. 4 Credits.

Pre-requisites: ESLG 480 or permission of the instructor.
This course provides an overview of the current major concepts shaping the choice of language teaching methods. This course covers the following elements: teaching language within content areas such as math, science and social studies; developing individual language skills as well as integrating them; and, choosing, developing and using materials effectively to support the language learning process.

Catalog Listing

ESLG 488. SECOND LANGUAGE PRINT LITERACY THEORIES. 3 Credits.

Pre-requisites: ESLG 480 and ESLG 481.
This course examines current and seminal research that provides insight into the factors affecting the development of literacy by second language learners. Topics covered include prior literacy backgrounds, home-school connections, orthographies, and vocabulary development.

Catalog Listing

ESLG 492. SECOND LANGUAGE LITERACY PLACEMENT AND ASSESSMENT. 3 Credits.

Pre-requisites: junior standing.
This course provides a foundation of concepts integral to considering the assessment of language learners including cultural validity and developing proficiency. Students will apply the concepts as they analyze, evaluate, compare and create language assessments.

Catalog Listing