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Certificate/Minor in TESL
PURPOSE:
The Certificate in TESL is a professional credential intended to provide a foundation for teaching English as a second or foreign language in non-public school settings. It is designed for undergraduate students and graduate students in UIUC degree programs and is also available online for those who are located anywhere in the world.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:
The candidate must be either a native speaker of English, or an English language learner who has taken the Illinois English Placement Test and completed all language courses required by the test. See Illinois English Placement Test (EPT) .
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
The certificate consists of six courses, three of which are required, and three of which are elective, chosen from a pool of EIL options. Except for the introduction to linguistics, only EIL courses satisfy course requirements; no equivalencies with other courses will be considered. Students must maintain a B average or better (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) for all UIUC courses in order to receive the certificate.
| REQUIRED(3) | ELECTIVE(3) |
|---|---|
|
Introduction to Linguistics: LING 489 Theoretical Foundations of SLA (second language acquisition) (Fall, Spring, & online Summer 2) EIL 411 Intro to TESL Methodology |
EIL 422 Engl Grammar for ESL Teachers (Fall & summer) EIL 445 Second Lang Reading & Writing (Spring) EIL 456 Language in Social Interaction - I --OR-- LING 450 Introduction to Sociolinguistics (Fall) EIL 460 Principles of Language Testing (Fall, Spring, Summer) EIL 487 Technology for Language Teaching (varies) EIL 488 Phonology for Second Language Teachers (Spring) |
AWARD CONFERRED:
Certificate candidates are awarded a certificate from the Department of Linguistics, signed by the Department Head and the Program Director.
CERTIFICATE IN TESL FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Undergraduate students may pursue the Certificate in TESL as a stand-alone certificate, through a Minor in ESL or Teacher Education Minor in ESL, or through a specialization in TESL as part of a Major in Linguistics.
DECLARING A MINOR:
The undergraduate candidate pursuing the Certificate in TESL via a Minor in ESL must declare a Minor in ESL at the beginning of course work for the minor. See this listing from the Office of the Provost for the form.
Undergraduates pursuing a Certificate in TESL via a Major in Linguistics are advised to contact the Program Director at the beginning of course work for the Certificate.
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS:
18 credit hours. Completion of the three required and three elective courses listed above satisfies course requirements for the stand-alone Certificate. Completion of the Minor in ESL satisfies course requirements for the Certificate. Completion of requirements of the Certificate in TESL satisfies course requirements for a specialization in TESL within the Major in Linguistics.
COURSE AVAILABILITY:
Required and elective courses listed above are available each fall and spring semester on campus. EIL 486 - Linguistics for Language Teachers, offered online during Summer 2 session, will satisfy the requirement for an introduction to linguistics. EIL 411, EIL 422, EIL 460, EIL 487, and LING 489 are also online at different times. To learn more about online courses, see this page.
APPLYING FOR THE CERTIFICATE:
The candidate must submit the following to the Program Director (contact information below):
a. An official UIUC transcript showing the award of the baccalaureate degree and completion of all requirements for the Certificate in TESL
b. E-mail address
c. Phone number
d. Name as the candidate wishes it to appear on the certificate
e. Address to which the certificate and letter of completion will be mailed
f. Major department
g. Advisor for the Minor in ESL (for those who complete the Minor in ESL)
CERTIFICATE IN TESL FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Graduate students in a UIUC degree program may pursue a Certificate in TESL concurrently with their primary degree work.
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS:
20-24 hours. Students who have completed an introduction to linguistics course before starting the Certificate program may offer that course to satisfy the introduction to linguistics requirement. A transcript showing the course (completed within five years of starting the certificate) and a syllabus of the course must be submitted to the Program Director for consideration. If the course is accepted, five courses (20 credit hours) remain to be completed. Otherwise, students may take either LING 400 on campus or EIL 486 - Linguistics for Language Teachers, offered online during Summer 2 session, to satisfy the introduction to linguistics requirement.
COURSE AVAILABILITY:
Required and elective courses listed above are available each long semester on campus. Many of these courses are also available online. For information about online course offerings, please see this listing.
PROGRAM LENGTH:
Students can finish the certificate in ten months by taking courses on the UIUC campus in Fall and Spring semesters.
Most UIUC EIL and LING courses completed as part of the certificate (and not used for another degree) may be applied to meet course requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language in the Department of Linguistics at UIUC. Contact the Program Director for details.
APPLYING FOR THE CERTIFICATE:
The candidate must submit the following to the Program Director (contact information below):
a. An official UIUC transcript showing completion of all requirements for the Certificate in TESL
b. E-mail address
c. Phone number
d. Name as the candidate wishes it to appear on the certificate
e. Address to which the certificate and letter of completion will be mailed
PROGRAM CONTACT:
Zach Reed
Undergraduate Advisor
Department of Linguistics
4072A Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics Building
707 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 300-7282
E-mail: zreed2@illinois.edu