Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for PK-12 Practitioners

The Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for PK-12 Practitioners is designed to provide the theoretical understandings and culturally and linguistically responsive practices for teaching English learners.

Coursework emphasizes the intersection of culture, language, and identity and its application to teaching culturally and linguistically diverse PreK-12 learners. Each course requires fieldwork to provide opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills learned in coursework to teaching and learning with English learners.

This certificate will appeal to in-service, licensed PreK-12 teachers as well as instructional assistants who want to develop deep expertise for working with English learners. It also provides preparation for licensed teachers to sit for the Praxis Subject Assessment in English to Speakers of Other Languages (required by the Virginia Department of Education to obtain an add-on ESL endorsement).

Core Courses: 9 credits

• EDCI 510: Linguistics for PreK-12 ESOL Teachers (3 credits)

• EDCI 516: Bilingualism and Language Acquisition Research (3 credits)

• EDCI 519: Methods of Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners (3 credits)

Electives: 6 credits

Students select two of the following courses.

• EDCI 520: Assessment of Language Learners (3 credits)

• EDRD 515: Language and Literacy in Global Contexts (3 credits)

• EDRD 610: Content Literacy for English Language Learners, PK-12 (3 credits)

• EDUC 537: Introduction to Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Learners (3 credits)

Note: Students must earn grades of B or higher in all coursework.

Total: 15 credits