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TESOL Graduate Certificate

At a Glance

  • • 5 classes (15 credits) in 2 semesters or at your own pace
  • • Can be applied to MA TESOL degree credits
  • • Classes mostly in evenings
  • • Recognized credential for teaching abroad or adult education
  • • Demonstrates both English fluency and classroom experience to prospective employers

Join for a TESOL Grad Programs Info Session, February 20, 12:00–1:00.

TESOL classroom

You can think of the Graduate Certificate as "half a master's degree": you take courses alongside MA TESOL students, join in social and networking events, complete mostly the same practicum experiences, and you can roll all your certificate credits into the MA TESOL program if you decide to continue your graduate studies. The value of a TESOL Certificate often depends on what other educational background and experience you have. For example, someone with a K-12 certification in another discipline might only need a TESOL Certificate to begin teaching ESOL students; or someone with an international business background could supplement that with a TESOL Certificate to become a successful Business English teacher. See below for complete Admission & Course requirements with course descriptions.
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Curriculum 

Graduate Certificate students are an integral part of the AU TESOL community. They take their courses alongside MA TESOL students, participate in social and networking events, and complete some of the same practicum experiences. All certificate courses can be applied towards the MA TESOL degree, should certificate students choose to continue their studies.

Required Courses

  • TESL 600: Principles of Linguistics: Learn how all human languages are structured, and delve into how language is used in a variety of contexts for many communicative purposes. 
  • TESL 601, English Language Teaching 1: Begin exploring the TESOL profession through learner needs assessment, teaching methods, and materials for helping English learners develop communicative ability in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. 
  • TESL 602, English Language Teaching 2: Create content-based lesson plans that emphasize communicative ability in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. 

Sample Elective Courses 

  • TESL 624: Reading and Writing in the ESL/EFL Classroom: Build a range of skills in teaching reading and writing to English learners, from working with basic literacy to advanced academic literacy 
  • TESL 627: Intercultural Approaches in TESOL: Develop intercultural communicative competence and discover how to integrate culture and language in English instruction. 
  • TESL 641: Teaching Grammar: Create engaging, genre- and content-based English lessons that incorporate contextualized grammar instruction. 
  • TESL 645: Curriculum and Materials Development
    Gain professional skills in designing instructional materials for target learner populations while also exploring the entrepreneurial side of freelance design. 

AnchorPracticum experiences include ongoing tutoring or teaching and classroom observations through our community partnerships, plus networking opportunities.