Teaching English as a New Language Certificate

Program: Certificate in Teaching English as a New Language
Department of English and Linguistics

Liberal Arts Building 145 ~ 260-481-6841 ~ ipfw.edu/engl

The undergraduate certificate in Teaching English as a New Language (TENL) prepares students for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in a variety of learning venues world-wide. It is intended primarily for students who, while they work towards a baccalaureate degree, wish to develop credentials for teaching English as a new or additional language. Other potential audiences include individuals who wish to obtain professional training in teaching English to speakers of other languages for career opportunities overseas.

Our TENL program matches most other such academic programs nationwide. The required courses will familiarize students with major theoretical perspectives, pedagogies, and resources of English language teaching. The capstone course TENL Practicum provides students with real-world experience through teaching English language learners in classroom settings. There is also a summer practicum in China as an option for those students interested in the program, but this option is not available every year.

The undergraduate TENL certificate will be available to any student who has completed the program requirements successfully. It can stand alone as a separate credential or be integrated within the requirements of the B.A. program in English as an option in the English Language Concentration. Some courses may also apply to a degree from the College of Education and Public Policy.

In addition, an add-on license in the content area of “Teachers of English Learners” license is available to TENL certificate students who are licensed teachers, candidates who are already licensed in specific content area(s) at specific grade levels, or prospective teachers who are in the process of obtaining such a license. Please see the special requirements below.

Certificate Requirements

The TENL certificate will require satisfactory completion of eighteen credit hours of course work in the areas of TESOL pedagogy and materials preparation, second language acquisition theories, sociolinguistics and cultural issues, English grammar, and practical classroom experiences. No course with a grade below 2.3 (effective Fall 2014) will count toward the TENL certificate. Satisfactory completion of LING L103 or equivalent is a prerequisite for all courses at the 300-level and higher.

Courses Required for the Undergraduate Certificate in TENL

(LING L103 or equivalent is a prerequisite for all TENL courses, 300-level or higher.)

Methods Credits: 6

Practicum Credits: 3

LING L470 - TENL Practicum Cr. 3.

Total Credits: 18

Admission Requirements

The existing requirements for admission as an unassigned or non-degree-seeking student apply to those who wish to earn the certificate as a stand-alone credential. Existing requirements for admission, completion, residency, and eligibility apply to those who wish to earn the certificate as part of a degree program.

As of Fall 2009, up to and no more than nine credit hours of required courses taken prior to formal admission to the TENL Program will be accepted as applying to completion of certificate requirements.

Teachers of English Learners License (Add-On)

The Department of English and Linguistics, in conjunction with the College of Education and Public Policy, offers a specialization in Teaching English as a New Language to licensed teachers, candidates who are already licensed in specific content area(s) at specific grade levels, or prospective teachers who are in the process of obtaining such a license.

Licensure Requirements

The Teachers of English Learners (add-on) license will require satisfactory completion of eighteen credit hours of course work in the areas of ENL pedagogy and materials preparation, second language acquisition theories, sociolinguistics and cultural issues, English grammar and practical classroom experiences.

In addition to regular IPFW admission standards as presented in the IPFW Bulletin, students must meet the College of Education and Public Policy’s requirements for admission to the teacher education program and meet the following criteria:

Successful passage of PPST/CASA Exam
Minimum GPA of 2.7
Satisfactory completion of LING L103

Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 or better (of 4.0) in the program. No course with a grade below 2.7 will count toward the Teachers of English Learners License (Add-On).

After completion of all coursework in the TENL certificate program, applicants will be required to submit a copy of their teaching license. Those seeking the Teachers of English Language License (add-on) must apply to the State of Indiana. Applicants must also pass the Praxis II exam: English to Speakers of other Languages (0361), or the Pearson English Learners (019) exam, effective Feburary 10, 2014. Students will be assisted with applications through the Department of English and Linguistics and the College of Education and Public Policy.