Teaching English as a New Language, Graduate Certificate

Purdue University
Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a New Language
Department of English and Linguistics
College of Arts and Sciences

Liberal Arts Building 145 ~ 260-481-6841 Fax: 260-481-6985

Hardin Aasand, Chair
Lewis C. Roberts, Graduate Program Director
Hao Sun, TENL Program Coordinator

The graduate certificate in Teaching English as a New Language (TENL) prepares students for teaching English to speakers of other languages in a variety of learning venues world-wide. It is intended for students who are working toward a graduate degree in English as well as for individuals who plan to live and teach abroad, and wish to obtain credentials and professional training in teaching English to speakers of other languages. The certificate will significantly enhance one’s career opportunities overseas for English language teaching.

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 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 TENL certificate can stand alone as a separate credential or be integrated with the requirements of the M.A. or M.A.T. program in English.

In addition, an add-on license in the content area of “Teachers of English Learners” 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.

Applications and Admission

To be eligible for admission to the graduate certificate in TENL, you must have completed:

A Bachelor’s degree, from an accredited college or university, with a minimum of 3.0 GPA.
At least 3 credit hours of coursework in linguistics, with a minimum 3.0 GPA (of 4.0) (e.g. LING 10300, 30300, 57500, or other approved course).
At least 3 credit hours of coursework in college-level writing (or the equivalent), with a minimum 3.0 GPA (of 4.0).

Students who do not meet these requirements may be admitted conditionally.

Students who seek to integrate the graduate TENL Certificate Program with an M.A. or M.A.T. in English must have completed the following to meet the program requirements in addition to the TENL requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree, from an accredited college or university, with at least a 3.0 of 4.0 GPA.
A satisfactory score on the general aptitude section of the GRE (Graduate Record Examination).
To receive the M.A.T., students must have a teaching license in English by the time they graduate.

Students who do not meet these requirements may be admitted conditionally to the M.A. or M.A.T. Program in English.

Note: Admission to the TENL Program does not guarantee admission to the master’s program in English & Linguistics. Students who wish to pursue a master’s will be asked to submit a separate application. If admitted to the master’s degree program in English and Linguistics, you will be able to apply all 18 credits of this certificate to the degree provided that the degree is completed within 5 years of your admission to the program.

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) may be applied toward the TENL certificate. Students must maintain a minimum overall 3.0 GPA or better in all graduate courses. Failure to do so will result in automatic dismissal from the program.

Transfer of credit hours from other accredited institutions may be considered based on evaluations of materials presented by students including transcripts, course syllabi and completed assignments.

Program Requirements

Prerequisite

One of the following linguistics courses, or an equivalent, is a prerequisite for all TENL courses at the 500-level or higher:

LING 10300: Introduction to the Study of Language
LING 30300: Introduction to Linguistic Analysis
LING 57500: Introduction to Linguistic Theory

Grammar: Credits 3

ENGL 50000 - Introduction to the English Language Cr. 3-4.
Course taken for 3 Credits.

Methods: Credits 6

Teachers of English Learners License (Add-On)

The Department of English and Linguistics, in conjunction with the College of Education and Public Policy, offers courses 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.

License Requirements

The Teachers of English Learners License (add-on) 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 the requirements listed above for the TENL Certificate, applicants will be required to submit a copy of their teaching license. Those seeking the Teachers of English Learners 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 February 10, 2014. Students will be assisted with applications through the department of English and Linguistics and the School of Education.

Total Credits: 18

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for satisfying the graduation requirements specified for your selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies and procedures governing your academic career. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the Graduate Director.