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Transform Classrooms With an ESL Teaching Certificate

English learners (ELs) require more from their educators and learning environments. Whether you’re based in the United States or teaching abroad, equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to support these students as they overcome language barriers, feelings of alienation and achievement gaps.

Start earning your Online Post-Professional Certificate in ESL/Bilingual Education* and gain the skills to better support students and teach culturally and linguistically relevant content. Through William & Mary, you’ll understand methods addressing dual language and biliteracy, in addition to today’s best practices for fostering equitable classroom environments.

About the Certificate

  • Classes Begin Spring 2022
  • 15 Credit Hours
  • 100% Online

Accomplish More

The number of ELs in most states is growing, and so is the need for educators with thoughtful experience. In the 2014-15 school year, 10% of U.S. K-12 students were ELs.1 With our online ESL teaching certificate, you can learn from faculty who are experienced ESL teachers and researchers while continuing to work in your full-time career.

This online program will prepare licensed educators to earn an endorsement in ESL teaching. Through the Virginia Department of Education, you will need to complete the Praxis Subject Assessment in English as Second Language and meet certain other requirements.**

Specialization Courses (3 Credit Hours Each)

To earn the Online Certificate in ESL/Bilingual Education, you will need to complete the following 15 credit hours.

To earn a Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in ESL/Bilingual Education, you must complete the following 5 courses and an additional 15 credit hours in core curriculum courses.

All online students will be required to complete a 0-hour orientation course to familiarize themselves with the online learning environment.

CRIN 519: Methods in Teaching ESL, PK-12

This course introduces the student to instructional methods and practices for teaching ESL in PK-12 classroom settings with a focus on academic language development, providing comprehensible input, increasing background knowledge, developing language and content objectives, vocabulary development, increasing oral language production, selecting culturally responsive materials, integrating language and content instruction, and differentiating according to ELs’ language proficiency levels.

CRIN 520: Understanding Language: Second Language Acquisition, Theory and Practice

This course examines first and second language acquisition, theory and practice. In addition, it supports pre-service teachers’ understandings of the role of language within the context of specific academic disciplines. Course topics include: Language development, strategies to promote literacies across specific academic disciplines, culturally responsive pedagogy, and assessment for ELs.

CRIN 521: ESL Curriculum Design: Teaching ELLs in the U.S.

This course examines key processes in curriculum design for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and how to develop and align curriculum, instruction, and assessment when applied to the PreK-12 public school setting. This course also introduces best practices for teaching content instruction to ELs, communicating with and involving families of ELs in schools, and identifying ELs for special education and gifted services.

CRIN 523: Bilingual Education and Dual Language Programs

This course introduces students to the foundational principles and practices in the field of bilingual-bicultural education in the U.S. This course provides an overview of how to implement dual language-TWI programs in K-12 classrooms. This course explores issues of curriculum development, instruction and access to resources in bilingual classroom settings.

CRIN 525: ESL Testing and Evaluation

This course introduces the students to assessment issues and experience in developing assessment techniques for English language learners. It allows students to differentiate assessments according to students’ language proficiency levels. It allows students to ensure ELs have equitable access to academic content and language instruction.

*Certificate courses begin Spring 2022.

**Students are responsible for confirming the Online Post-Professional Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction will meet the requirements to earn an endorsement in their state or region. If you plan to obtain a license or certification in a state other than Virginia or a U.S. territory after completion of your program, it is highly recommended you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency before beginning the academic program to ensure you can obtain a license of certification in your home state or territory. This website provides resources for licensure and certification boards outside of Virginia: nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory

Sources
  1. Retrieved on February 1, 2021 from ed.gov/datastory/el-characteristics/index.html#:~:text=High%20Contrast%20(508)-,Introduction,40%20percent%20in%20five%20states.

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