Teaching English Learners Certificate

Master’s Level Certificate

Certificate Description

Teachers of English Learners (EL) are expected to have a broad and comprehensive understanding of the knowledge and skills needed for this educator license, and to use that knowledge to help students prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century. This requires the ability to identify, comprehend, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the basic principles, fundamental concepts, and essential content defined in these standards, and to apply that knowledge to the tasks of planning and delivering effective instruction and assessment.

Certificate Outcomes

Design and implement appropriate curriculum and instructional practices to enhance knowledge and awareness of language development and acquisition, cultural factors, ethics, and linguistic diversity issues.
Apply knowledge of linguistics and language acquisition and development to develop relevant curriculum and foster appropriate instructional practices and assessment to teach English Learners.
Employ academic theories, standards and frameworks to direct the selection and integration of content and research-based instructional strategies to support learning English within a discipline.
Promote the development of language acquisition skills by utilizing assessment instruments, critically evaluated materials, and targeting specific learning outcomes.
Establish a culturally relevant environment by incorporating evidenced-based instructional practices and resources, materials and technology and through the influence of social interaction.
Construct a framework for establishing and maintaining partnerships between the school, family, and community by advocating for academic and social growth for English learners within civic and global settings.

Mission Statement

The mission of this certificate is to provide students with a broad and comprehensive understanding of the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain an educator license in Teaching English Language Learners and to use that knowledge to help students prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century to support English Language Learners.

Course Sequence (16 Total Semester Credits)

EL/BSL/TESOL Courses (16 Semester Credits)

Internship

The completion of an internship is not a graduation requirement for the Certificate in TEL, however American College of Education offers optional internship courses for students whose state of residence requires the same for endorsement or certification.

A separate internship course (EBL5101 Internship Experience for ESL and Bilingual Education ) will be offered following completion of all coursework for students in states requiring an internship for endorsement or certification.
Upon completion of the certificate in TEL, students will apply and enroll for the internship course as Students-at-Large.
Students will be charged the current tuition rates.

State Specific Notes

Illinois

Some of the courses in the Teaching English Learners Certificate are recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as meeting the coursework requirements for an English as a Second Language endorsement. Illinois students must take an additional course, ED5123 , to meet the requirements for the English as a Second Language endorsement. A list of courses recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as meeting the coursework requirements for an endorsement in English as a Second Language can be found in English as a Second Language Endorsement .
Some of the courses in the Teaching English Learners Certificate are recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as meeting the coursework requirements for a Bilingual Education endorsement. Illinois students must take an additional course, BL5063 , to meet the requirements for the Bilingual Education endorsement. A list of courses recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as meeting the coursework requirements for an endorsement in Bilingual Education can be found in Bilingual Education Endorsement .

Professional Licensure, Certification, or Endorsement

The Certificate in Teaching English Learners is approved by the Indiana Department of Education and meets requirements for the addition of the English Learners content area to one’s existing Indiana teaching license. The addition of English learners’ content to one’s existing Indiana teaching license requires coursework and testing. Indiana allows the addition of certain content areas to one’s existing Indiana license by taking and passing a Praxis content test.
The Certificate in Teaching English Learners is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and meets requirements for the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) K-12 endorsement. The completion of an internship is a OH (TESOL) K-12 endorsement requirement. A separate internship course (EBL5101) will be offered following completion of all coursework for students requiring an internship for OH TESOL endorsement.
Prospective students are strongly advised to verify the benefit(s) for which they may be eligible upon completion with their state’s licensure agency prior to enrolling in an American College of Education degree or certificate program.