TESOL Certificate

Certificate TESOL instructor tutoring a young adult student.

Teach English to speakers of other languages

Program facts

Stackable to degree: No
Potential job outcomes: ESL instructor

Develop the skills and knowledge needed to teach English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) with this certificate program. As a TESOL teacher, you can help immigrants learn English, work with people of different cultures in a study abroad program, or travel to other countries to teach English. The program will prepare you for work in both domestic and international contexts.

Coursework focuses on theoretical linguistics, language and culture, English as a second language (ESL) teaching methods, language classroom observations and electives in other areas such as humanities, education, anthropology, psychology, philosophy and literature.

Certificate program requirements

This 16 credit-hour certificate provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in both domestic and international contexts. This certificate provides course work and hands-on experience in theoretical Linguistics, language and culture, English as a Second Language teaching methods, pedagogical grammar, second language assessment, second language acquisition, language classroom observations and (depending on students' choices of elective courses) in other areas such as humanities, education, anthropology, psychology, philosophy, and literature.

Admission Requirements: Students must be eligible for college-level credit courses in order to pursue the TESOL certificate. (If needed, remediation for students will be provided by Harper's Academic Support Services and the Writing Center.) Because the certificate is most often complementary to a college degree, those students who have completed a degree or are pursuing an Associate's degree would be most successful.

Program Requirements

Program Requirements (Hours required: 1)
Number	Course Title	Credits
Required
A grade of C or better is required in all LNG, ECE and EDU courses for all students.
LNG 105	Introduction to Language and Linguistics	3
LNG 205	Language and Culture	3
LNG 220	Methods of Teaching English as a Second Language	3
LNG 299	Tesol Practicum	1
Linguistics and Education Electives
Choose 1 or 2 courses (3 or 6 credit hours) from the following:		3-6
ECE 101	Introduction to Early Childhood Education
EDU 201	Introduction to Education
EDU 220	Diversity in Schools and Society
LNG 230	Second Language Assessment
LNG 235	Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
LNG 240	Introduction to Pedagogical Grammar
Other Electives
Choose 1 course from the list of courses below: ¹		1-4
ANT 101	Introduction to Anthropology
ANT 202	Cultural Anthropology
ECE 102	Child Development
ECE 209	Language Development and Activities for the Young Child
EDU 202	Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience
EDU 211	Educational Psychology
EDU 219	Students with Disabilities in School
EDU 230	Introduction to Language Arts in Elementary/Middle School Teaching
EDU 250	Introduction to Technology in Education
FRN 201	Intermediate French I ²
FRN 202	Intermediate French II ²
FRN 205	French Conversation ²
FRN 210	Introduction to French Literature ²
GER 201	Intermediate German I ²
GER 202	Intermediate German II ²
GER 205	German Conversation ²
GER 210	Introduction to German Literature ²
GER 230	German Civilization and Culture
HST 243	Far East in the Modern World
HUM 105	Great Ideas of World Civilizations
HUM 106	The Cultures of Asia
HUM 107	The Cultures of Africa
HUM 115	International and Regional Studies in Humanities
JPN 201	Intermediate Japanese I ²
JPN 202	Intermediate Japanese II ²
JPN 205	Japanese Intensive Oral Practice ²
LIT 208	Non-Western Literature
LNG 225	Language and Health
PHI 160	Non-Western Philosophy
SGN 201	American Sign Language III ²
SGN 202	American Sign Language IV ²
SGN 205	American Sign Language V ²
SGN 210	American Sign Language: Cultural Perspective
SGN 212	Introduction to American Sign Language Literature ²
SPA 201	Intermediate Spanish I ²
SPA 202	Intermediate Spanish II
SPA 205	Spanish Conversation ²
SPA 210	Introduction to Spanish Literature ²
Total Hours		14-20

¹: If 2 education courses (6 credit hours) were chosen from the Linguistics and Education electives, then no credits are required from this category (0 or 3 credit hours).
²: This course has a prerequisite that must be met prior to enrollment.

Resources

For more information about the TESOL program, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.