ESL certification requirements vary by location and grade level. Accredited programs and passing standardized exams are necessary for certification. International certifications can be used in the US, but state approval is required. Some states have more stringent requirements.
English as a Second Language (ESL) certification is determined by the teaching location and grade level of students involved in instruction. General ESL certification requires training in courses specifically designed for teaching English to non-native speakers. A prep program, internship training, and a prescribed list of education courses are required as part of the ESL certification for an officially recognized ESL teaching credential. Kindergarten teaching certificates for student levels through grade 12 are issued in the United States (US) by state departments of education. Each state department determines specific requirements for accreditation.
An additional requirement for most teaching credential holders includes a co-certification to teach English or a foreign language. ESL teaching degrees are earned at colleges, universities, and online schools accredited by professional language and teaching organizations. Program accreditation involves examination of other ESL teachers and school administrators to assess the quality of the program prior to approval for issuing credentials or certificates.
Online schools offer second language courses and training, but care must be taken to match graduation requirements with potential employment requirements. Certification is offered by training organizations such as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Teaching English as an Acquired or Additional Language (TEAL), TESOL International Accreditation of Qualified Organizations (IATQuO), and Teaching English as a Foreign Language ( TEFL). Each group has unique standards and training requirements.
Meeting online standards does not automatically mean that the ESL certification meets US state department of education standards. California and Texas are pioneers in teaching ESL in public schools. ESL certification in these two states is among the most stringent in coursework, testing, and fieldwork requirements.
ESL courses for certification include linguistic fundamentals, teaching methods and materials, cross-cultural communication, and second language acquisition. Also required are courses in teaching pronunciation, grammar fundamentals, and an internship that requires the teacher candidate to go into the field to practice ESL teaching principles. ESL courses and ESL teaching credentials are available from accredited colleges and universities in traditional brick-and-mortar schools, as well as Internet education programs.
Most states require passing a standardized exam demonstrating competency in ESL theory, teaching methods related to English teacher certification, and proficiency in second language curriculum development. State departments of education frequently use the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – a commercially prepared exam offered by the Educational Testing Service of New Jersey – to assess competency. Computer-based reading, speaking, listening, and writing exams are also administered by international organizations and universities, including programs at schools in the University of California higher education system. A minimum score is required to pass any of the standardized ESL exams, including the TOEFL. Some programs provide course credit for passing these exams, while other education programs require passing but do not release the teacher candidate from any required courses.
In countries outside the US, an international certification for teachers of English and an English as a Second Language certification are earned with ESL courses in General Language Acquisition. These English and ESL courses leading to an ESL certification are offered at business schools and through online study. Instructors who hold one of these certifications from an international school can apply for K-12 teaching or community college certification in the United States using the certificate.
Approval of the certification is the responsibility of the state in which the teaching request is submitted. The Department of Education determines whether ESL, training, exam, and preparation courses meet state guidelines. A state may issue conditional approval and require additional courses or internships before full certification is granted. Partial certification in the US often occurs in geographic regions with emergency requirements for certified ESL teachers.
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