Illinois English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education Certificate

Master’s Level Certificate

Certificate Description

The graduate level Illinois Certificate in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education is intended for Illinois educators interested in working with students who are bilingual and/or English Language Learners. By applying current research and best practices, educators learn strategies to support students as they learn English and master subject-specific content. Courses completed as part of this program may transfer to the M.Ed. Teaching English Learners or Teaching English Learners Certificate.

Certificate Outcomes

1. Design and implement appropriate curriculum and instructional practices to enhance knowledge and awareness of language development and acquisition, cultural factors, ethics, and linguistic variation issues. (AO3)
2. 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. (AO1)
3. Promote the development of language acquisition skills by utilizing assessment instruments, incorporating technology, critically evaluating materials, and targeting specific learning outcomes. (AO4)
4. Establish a culturally relevant environment by incorporating evidence-based instructional practices and resources, materials, and technology, and through the influence of social interaction. (AO2)
5. 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. (AO3)
6. Research issues faced by new language learners by analyzing and evaluating instructional practices to better understand their academic and social needs. (AO1)
7. Support continuous learning while fostering leadership skills through intentionally designed opportunities to engage in professional development. (AO5)

Mission Statement

The mission of the Illinois Certificate in English as a Second Language and Bilingual education is to provide educators with a working knowledge of the theories of language acquisition, the cultural implications of second language acquisition, the strategies that promote cultural understanding, and the best practices in order to meet the needs of English language learners in educational settings.