Certificate Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Certificate

The Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate provides candidates with specialized knowledge of English language fundamentals and emphasizes the relationship between language and culture, communication across cultures, and how to approach the teaching and assessment of English as a second language (ESL). It is designed for candidates who are pursuing or who hold a teaching license and wish to prepare for adding an ESL endorsement to it or who wish to teach English abroad, work for private businesses and schools, or teach ESL to immigrant populations in the USA. In such contexts, candidates will benefit from a solid knowledge of language fundamentals coupled with cross-cultural communication and practical pedagogical training.

The TESL certificate is available to undergraduate students and non-degree seeking professionals who meet the requirements. It can be completed in two modalities: online and face-to-face.

Requirements

This certificate requires 12 credit hours of coursework from the following courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
ENGL 350	Aspects of the English Language	3
or ENGL 442	English Grammar
ENGL 370	English Linguistics	3
or ENGL 440	General Linguistics
ENGL 371W	Language and Culture	3
ENGL 390	TESL Methods, Materials, & Assessment	3
Total Credit Hours		12

For completion of the certificate, students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in each course specified as a requirement for the certificate. A minimum of six credit hours in upper-level courses required for the certificate must be completed at Old Dominion University.

To apply for the certificate, contact Staci Defibaugh (sdefibau@odu.edu).