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Certificate in
Teaching English Learners

This program is designed to prepare educators to bridge cultural gaps and differentiate curriculum to meet the needs of the fastest growing student population: English language learners.

Total cost at ACE

$4,550

(tuition + fees)

Applications due April 3 for April 6, 2020 Term

Estimated Time to Completion:
7 Months

View Tuition Details

Key Features

  • Flexible: Study on your schedule. Our online format allows you to plan your coursework around your life.
  • Transferable: If you choose to continue your education, you can apply most of the credits earned in this certificate program toward our M.Ed. in Teaching English Learners and get your degree faster.
  • Relevant Coursework: All courses center around the teaching needs of English learners and cover concepts that are immediately applicable.
  • State-Approved: This certificate is approved by the Indiana Department of Education for adding the English Learners content area to your existing Indiana teaching license. This certificate is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education as leading to the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) K-12 endorsement.

For more information about this program, view the College Catalog. You can also ask questions anytime via chat.

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Understand Admission Requirements

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Department Chair

Tiffany Hamlett, Ph.D.
Administrative Faculty and Chair,
Department of Teaching and Learning

Dr. Tiffany Hamlett has worked in higher education for eight years in various educational fields. Her background includes early childhood education, curriculum development, and research methods. In addition, she serves as a reviewer for Social Development and the Southern Early Childhood Association. She is particularly interested in studying developmentally appropriate practice, lifespan development, and constructivist teaching practices.

Quality Without Question

We are, and have always been, regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This accreditation guarantees that our programs meet certain levels of quality standards.   

A Note About Licensure:

Students who complete certificates that are approved to lead to licensure, endorsement, or certification may be subject to additional requirements for the receipt of initial licensure, endorsement, or certification in the state in which they intend to teach or administrate.

Students are strongly encouraged to check licensure requirements in the state in which they intend to teach or administrate to determine whether they are eligible for licensure, endorsement, or certification.

It is vitally important that students know and be continually aware of the requirements for licensure in their state. State licensing requirements and licensing agency information may be found here.

Home / Teaching and Learning / Certificate in Teaching English Learners

Tuition

Certificate in Teaching English Learners

Total Tuition

16 semester credits x $235 per credit

$3,760

Fees

$50 Application Fee

$640 Technology & Library Fee ($40 per credit)

$100 Program Conferral Fee

$790

Total Program Cost*

$4,550

*This is an estimated value of the cost for tuition and fees. Amounts may vary depending on number of transfer credits applied to the selected program hours, the pace and satisfactory completion of the selected program credit hours, receipt of scholarship and/or grant amounts, and adjustments to tuition or fees as described in the Catalog Right to Modify Tuition section.

State of California Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)

It is a state of California requirement that a student who pays his or her tuition is required to pay a state-imposed assessment for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund. For more information and to see if you must pay the state-imposed assessment for Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) click here.

Home / Teaching and Learning / Certificate in Teaching English Learners

ACE General Admission Requirements

  • Complete and submit all application components including the admission application, including the enrollment agreement, and payment agreement.
  • Submit the nonrefundable application fee.*
  • Provide official transcripts from a regionally accredited institution indicating successful completion of the level of education required for entry to the program.**

*The application fee is valid for one year from date of submission.
**Additional evidence may be required to fulfill state requirements, including but not limited to verification of professional experience, test scores, or an interview.

Program Admission Requirements

Certificate in Teaching English Learners

  • ​Bachelor's degree   
  • Minimum grade point average cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for full admission
  • Number of courses per certificate restricted

International Transcript Requirements

All applicants must submit to the Admissions Office official, sealed college transcripts from each institution attended.

  • Transcripts that are international and/or not in English must be evaluated through an NACES-recommended agency.
  • Texas applicants may only submit evaluations from agencies approved by the Texas Education Agency.
  • International applicants must request the course-by-course evaluation. The evaluation report must show that the non-U.S. education is equivalent to the education/accreditation level required for the program.

English as a Second Language Applicants

All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate competence in the English language as demonstrated in one of three ways:

  1. Submission of an official transcript showing a degree from a United States secondary school or regionally accredited college/university.

  2. Submission of an official minimum score on the paper or internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams.
    • The minimum TOEFL score required for the internet-based version is 80, and the paper-based version requires a minimum TOEFL score of 20 for each of the three skills: Reading, Listening, and, Writing.

    • The minimum IELTS score required is 6.5. Note: IELTS is not acceptable for Texas programs leading to certification.

    • The testing agency must send test scores directly to American College of Education.
  3. Applicants to the Texas Educational Leadership program whose first language is not English must submit scores from the Internet-Based (IBT) TOEFL. An overall score of 80, and a score of 26 on the speaking section is required.

Admissions Appeal Process

Applicants have the right to appeal admissions decisions. Begin the process by filling out the admissions appeal here.

Home / Teaching and Learning / Certificate in Teaching English Learners

Courses

Explore the classes you'll take to fulfill this program's 16 semester credit requirement. For more information, a complete list of requirements, and course options, see the College Catalog.

EL/BSL/TESOL

(16 semester credits)

An essential course for all educators, this course provides students with an understanding of the historical, political, social, cultural, and educational concepts and issues that affect linguistically and culturally diverse students in the educational system. A review of local, state, and federal policies regarding entitlement and appropriate school services for English language learners, and important program models are analyzed. Current theories of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), bilingualism, and socio-cultural theories are explored for their pedagogical implications and specific program models within and outside the U.S. are examined for their contributions to student academic achievement.
Students in this course explore issues of assessment of second language learners within the larger framework of historical, social, cultural, and political contexts. Utilizing a variety of theoretical models related to second language acquisition and academic achievement, students 1) analyze the ways that second language students are diverse, 2) discuss equitable assessment of diverse learners, and 3) evaluate existing instruments for second language learners. Students examine and review relevant state standards for content matter learning and language proficiency, and examine how those are assessed in mandated, large-scale assessment and in classroom assessment (traditional and alternative).
This course provides teachers methods for providing language and content instruction to second language learners. Students consider historical and current English as a second language (ESL) program models and second language acquisition theories, pedagogy, and methodology. Relevant federal, state, and local learning and assessment standards are reviewed and applied to their teaching. Students are guided in creating and presenting teaching units and lessons based on various methods, approaches, and techniques. Students discuss the selection, use, and evaluation of books, multimedia, technology, and other materials. Students examine the application of relevant learning and assessment standards to their teaching of second language learners.
With the increase of limited-English-proficient students in urban environments, this course examines the impact of culture on society and the educational system, and the importance of culture in addressing the needs of immigrant students. It explores the dynamic processes of acculturation and cultural conflict. Students examine the role of culture in the American educational system and how ethno-linguistic groups contribute to the dynamics of the classroom. Students examine behavioral expectations and learning styles of students from different backgrounds, how that changes the classroom dynamics, and how teacher expectations can affect perceptual judgments of students. Students learn how to design culturally relevant instruction to further the academic success of diverse groups, and learn ways to foster collaborative and dynamic learning environments.
Students in this course cover the following essential dimensions of linguistics and the acquisition of language: language and the brain, first and second language acquisition, major components of linguistics (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics), cognition and learning, and communicative competence. Emphasis is placed on implications for ESL and bilingual education teachers.
The Capstone Experience is designed for candidates to demonstrate and document the impact of their knowledge and competencies gained throughout, and as a result of the Certificate in Teaching English Learners.

Internship

The completion of an internship is not a graduation requirement for the Certificate in TEL, however American College of Education offers optional internship courses for students whose state of residence requires the same for endorsement or certification.

  • A separate internship course (EBL5101 Internship Experience for ESL and Bilingual Education) will be offered following completion of all coursework for students in states requiring an internship for endorsement or certification.
  • Upon completion of the certificate in TEL, students will apply and enroll for the internship course as Students-at-Large.
  • Students will be charged the current tuition rates.

Notes

Indiana 

  • The Certificate in Teaching English Learners is approved by the Indiana Department of Education for the addition of the English Learners content area to one's existing Indiana teaching license. The addition of English learners' content to one's existing Indiana teaching license requires coursework and testing. Indiana allows the addition of certain content areas to one's existing Indiana license by taking and passing a Pearson CORE content test.  

Ohio 

  • The Certificate in Teaching English Learners is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education as leading to the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) K-12 endorsement. The completion of an internship is a OH (TESOL) K-12 endorsement requirement. A separate internship course (EBL5101 - Internship Experience for ESL and Bilingual Education) will be offered following completion of all coursework for students requiring an internship for OH TESOL endorsement.

Other Notes

  • Students are strongly encouraged to check licensure requirements in the state in which they live, and in the state where they intend to teach or administrate to determine whether they are eligible for licensure, endorsement, or certification.
  • Check availability in your state on the Programs by State section of the ACE website [http://www.ace.edu/admissions/programs-by-state]. 
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